Preparation

Bring a laptop (preferable) or at least a smartphone to the meetup.

Make sure you have a Google/Gmail account because you’ll need it to play on Backstabbr. Note that it is possible to create a Google account with any other e-mail address, you don’t need to create a Gmail e-mail address. Follow this link: https://accounts.google.com/SignUpWithoutGmail .

If you REALLY don’t want to create a Google account then register on https://www.playdiplomacy.com/ but note that I will be able to provide less support because I don’t know the platform. You’ll also have to find enough other meetup participants who want to play there.

Watch the following two game tutorials. I will assume some people don’t know the rules so I will explain them, but it will be very useful if in every group there are as many people as possible with a solid understanding of the rules.

• Video: How to play on Backstabbr (12 min)
• Video: Learn Diplomacy (22 min)

Optional:

• Short rules
• Detailed rules (PDF)
• Video: Diplomacy: The Game of Knife (38 min)

Note “Winter”: All versions of Diplomacy involve two seasons of the year Spring and Fall. The end-of-the-year phase where new units are built or removed is sometimes called Winter (for example on Backstabbr) but many sources just lump that in as a special step in the Fall season. Don’t be confused, the result is the same.

What will we do?

I will give a presentation on the game “Diplomacy”, its rules, historical background and CICERO, an AI agent that was able to successfully master the game, which is particularly impressive since the game requires negotiating strategy and treaties with human players (as well as deceiving them) using natural language.

We will then play the game in smaller groups (using an online platform for the mechanics but negotiating in person) and finally we’ll have a short discussion on what insights we gained.

Players that know the game will be aware that it takes very long to play until completion. Every subgroup will have the choice of continuing their game online in the days following the meetup, or not.

Organization

You are worried you have nothing to contribute? No worries! Everyone is welcome!

There always is a mix of German and English speakers and we configure the discussion rounds so that everyone feels comfortable participating. The primary language is English.

This meetup will be hosted by Omar.

There will be snacks and drinks.

We will go and get dinner after the meetup. Anyone who has time is welcome to join.

In the above map the location where you should leave your bikes is marked in blue and the entrance (at the end of the metal ramp) with a red cross.

Other

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Image generated with DALL·E.