Letters

A couple of people have made comments recently about the lack of correspondence in the games at the moment and I must admit it is something I have noticed too.

It does seem that either most games are down to two or three players (ok G2 maybe but not the others?)  or people prefer not to write to other players any more.  If it's the latter I am surprised as its the in-game interaction I've always found most enjoyable.

I typically do several a turn, but it is a bit of a catch-22.  If you don't know who is active, who do you write to? I guess you can write to the inactives, but you aren't getting a response, so it seems a waste of time.

Completely agree on the risk of non-actives...and I know it's been explained to me why before, but it's part of the reason I regret the fact we don't get notification of new players in the paper anymore.

But it does seem there are some active players who simply don't write; G6 is an example there is one nation that (based on the paper) must have an active player yet they don't reply to letters from anyone.  

I guess not everyone enjoys the in-game communication and that's fair enough   just a bit stumped why it seems that in recent years it's gone that way...

Might be the time. I find writing the letters takes as much time as the turn itself. When I'm strapped for time, the letters are the first part of my turn that slips...

I used to write loads of players each turn till it was proved they were NPC...

I suppose years of players being at war with each other and grudges developing accounts for less letter writing. I think games 2 and 6 look light on players.

Game 8 looks good. I usually send two or three each month and recieve replies. Some players simply don't want to get involved in letter writing. I believe a certain French player is well known for this.

Most regulars pm each other i suppose and some know and send each other emails, so perhaps this also has an effect.?

nope G2 has only 2 of us, Pm and emails still need to be reflected in game otherwise actions will not happen.

Some players never sent letters they just ignored them for what ever reason made diplomacy hard in game.

I suppose game 2 has been going such a long time, this has contributed to the low number of players left. I think game 6 is low on numbers also. It makes it hard to plan too far ahead when so many players drop out. I suppose nation failure, money,time. Are the main reasons for dropping out.

I suppose when players join a game very late they are only in it short term, so diplomacy is not worth it in their eyes. Original players will be too far ahead compared to very late new players taking over often failed positions.

The newer the game, the more players and the more letters sent and recieved. Hard to see how that can be copied into more mature games.

yup its why games fold G2 was the last of the old ones, Games, 1,4, 5 gone now 2 will not last much longer. No idea how game 3 is doing that was another game i was in.

I have also noticed that the Newspaper for various games seem to include a lot less open letters & press from players than it used too.

I wonder if the old "irrate of Berlin" has now been replaced by a intensive concern about R & D. A sort of C18 version of the civilization game.

Seems if some players never answer letters I may have to adjust my long standing theory that if a active position failed to reply to my friendly, chatty letters it was a declaration of war/hostile intent towards my position.

I must admit I have stopped writing press bits so much...maybe it's time to start again...perhaps a couple of regular series?  "News From Kowloon"..."An Englishman in Edinburgh"...

looks like G2 is going to be terminated spoke to Richard today. So a fresh start for me some where else........

Well, a shame but inevitable...and you know any game would love to have you

I know its all being arranged as I type........

I hate that Game II is going out... Was about to start a war and play with my new toys!

revvaughan wrote:I hate that Game II is going out... Was about to start a war and play with my new toys!

and I was going to go to Russia to escort a princess to Berlin.......

England had a massive economy in that game and a well developed military. There were a few aspects of the civil side that were being finished off, but as far as a warring nation the reserves in cash and food were such that a long and protracted war were possible. Further, the massive economic impacts of the Royal Navy's actions against the French and any ally they possessed in the last war caused the utter collapse and starvation of the French. I guess I am not homeless with no where to go and fight!

Not much has changed in Game 3, the war continue in the Americas after the French left the peace talks. King James have public quarrels in the Newspaper with various german rulers (currently Bavaria).


It is always sad to see a game disappear, I had a lot of fun in Game 2 as Blackbeard for a few years.

Jason wrote:I must admit I have stopped writing press bits so much...maybe it's time to start again...perhaps a couple of regular series?  "News From Kowloon"..."An Englishman in Edinburgh"...

Other possible regular articles could be entitled:

- "Letter from the Harem"............Any Ottoman, Persian or Moghul.

- "Tales of the Danube"...........any member of the House of Hapsburg.

- "Crashes & Sandbanks - Confessions of a Navigator" - Stories from the Russian Navy

Stuart Bailey wrote:

Jason wrote:I must admit I have stopped writing press bits so much...maybe it's time to start again...perhaps a couple of regular series?  "News From Kowloon"..."An Englishman in Edinburgh"...

Other possible regular articles could be entitled:

- "Letter from the Harem"............Any Ottoman, Persian or Moghul.

- "Tales of the Danube"...........any member of the House of Hapsburg.

- "Crashes & Sandbanks - Confessions of a Navigator" - Stories from the Russian Navy

The last one written by a English navigator seconded to the Russians, by the name of Sub-Lieutenant Phillips?

I have always enjoyed the interaction with other players via letters, it seems a great shame that this has for what ever reason gone into decline. It does make it slightly more difficult to play simply because you don't know who is actually active within the game. PM is all well & good but it distracts from the grounding principle of the game.

Would beg you all to please put in the effort & pick up the pen, it may seem old fasioned, but maybe it will help get into the feel of the period.

I used to love writing letters the fancier the letter the better.

G2 only had 2 active players, me and England so it was destined to shut down soon.....

I sent 7 letters with my last set of Glori orders.

Mostly to players who my position has no real diplomatic or military involvement with.

However I find that if you ignore letter writting/Diplomacy with other players you not only miss out the most enjoyable part of the game but you cut your position off from a valuable source of information and the opportunity to play "swaps" with advances in R & D.

very true and some times alliances can spring up