2002 September 09 -------------------- Pookey's House Rules: I have two versions of these house rules. This is the simple version, plain English, without legalese. 1. The Game: My job is to keep the game moving, and to ensure things run smoothly. This game belongs to you. I'm here to assist you in playing a game of Diplomacy, but in the end the game is yours, not mine. 2. Rules: I use the latest rules from the Hasbro edition, and I adjudicate with RealPolitik whenever possible. 3. Orders: 3.1 I assume you are trying to submit valid orders and will try to figure out what you meant. This means that the trick of deliberately submitting invalid orders might not work. If you submit deliberately invalid orders, make sure it is a move, support, etc. to an existing province that there is no way the unit could actually reach. For example, if a unit is in Paris and you order A Par - Ber, that will fail. You can then tell the person you just stabbed or betrayed or etc., that you meant to type Bre but mistyped. However, if you type A Per - Bre, I will know what you meant. Since there is no Per on the map, you must have meant Par (assuming you have an army in Par). 3.2 I do not review orders when I receive them to see if they are valid! I don't try to resolve orders until the deadline. Only after the deadline will you find out if your orders are valid. Check your orders! 3.3 I send a confirmation email when I get orders. If I don't send a confirmation, I didn't get the orders. If you don't get a confirmation within 24 hours, resend or check with me. 3.4 In the subject line of your email to me, include the following: Game number, Season, Year, Country Name. This is important, as it allows me to find your orders quickly. I reserve the right not to accept orders without this information in the subject, especially if I get sick of trying to find orders. They don't have to be in any specific order, but they should be there. Example: DC01 Spring 1901 France, or DC01 1901S France. 3.5 If you aren't sure if an order is legal, ask me. I don't comment on the stupidity or brilliance of current orders, but I will rule whether an order is valid. I will not say if an order will succeed. 3.6 After a turn is done, it is your responsibility to check the report and make sure it is accurate. The general ethical rule I work under is that if you notice a mistake, you should tell me, even if correcting the mistake will hurt you, and even if the mistake didn't even affect your units. 3.7 I will not correct a mistake after I have published the results of the next turn. For example, if you notice a mistake for the Spring 1901 turn, and I've published the Summer 1901 retreats, the mistake stands. 4. Extensions: I grant extensions for things like loss of internet access, personal emergencies, vacations, etc., not because a player needs an extra day to negotiate. 5. Deadlines: 5.1 I enforce strict deadlines. If a player misses the deadline for Spring or Fall movements, I will place that player's country in Civil Disorder. I will also contact her and make sure she is still in the game. If I don't hear back from her by the next day, I will recruit a replacement. If she contacts me before I get a replacement, she will be allowed to continue. 5.2 If a player misses a deadline for a retreat turn, I will use the civil disorder rules, i.e. disband the retreating unit. I will not contact the player to see what is going on. 5.3 If a player misses a deadline for a winter adjustment turn, I will do one of the following. If the player gets a build, I will waive the build. If the player has a disband, I will disband according to the civil disorder rules, i.e. unit farthest from home centers, fleets before armies, alphabetically by province if two are equidistant. I will not contact the player to see what is going on. 5.5 If a country in Civil Disorder has only one unit/supply center left, I will not recruit a replacement. Instead, the country will remain in Civil Disorder. 5.6 After the initial disorder, and until I have recruited a replacement player, I will allow each active player to submit orders for the country in Civil Disorder. I will select one set of orders at random and apply them. If the country falls under the rule for 5.5 above, I will also allow each active player to submit orders for the country in Civil Disorder until the country is eliminated. 6. Cheating: If you think you might be cheating, you probably are. If you want my opinion, ask. It is better to ask than to be summarily booted from the game for cheating. 7. Questions: If you have a question, ask! If I can't answer it I'll tell you. If I can answer it I will.