Re: things looking grim from '01

Mary K. Kuhner wrote:
> 
> Every once in a while I have a game where I know from 
> the initial round of negotiations that I'm in really
> bad trouble.  A nice set of alliances has fallen together
> and it doesn't include me, and no amount of '01 negotiation
> seems likely to change anyone's mind.  People aren't
> listening anymore; they have to get going with their 
> plans (we play on a tight clock locally) and those plans
> seem to involve my immediate demise.
> 
> What are strategies to use in that situation?  I observe
> that players who give up and roll over are invariably
> rolled over, and that the really good players can sometimes
> pull out a good result from games like this.  I know I
> should be postponing my tactical destruction as best I can on
> the board.  But what are the diplomatic strategies, other
> than looking for and exploiting fault lines in the enemy
> alliances?

There are seven players at the board; if your immediate
neighbors seem determined to ally against you, then it is
time to talk to THEIR neighbors.  At the very least you
should be able to establish a relation****p with the first
target on the other half of the board and share information
and ideas.  If you can get a neighbor's neighbor to send
a Unit or two against one of your attackers while you mount
a stronger defense against that neighbor, the alliance is
much more likely to crack as one Power grows and the other
doesn't.

Eric.
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