Diplomacy Academy 4: Negotiating from a position of weakness

[@joshuahitchins1897]

I find this video interesting, as it doesn't refer to tactics. Everything is about how to negotiate. When you have no tactical advantage, that doesn't mean you have nothing to offer. The puzzle shows this exceptionally well. Playing kingmaker or spoiler gives you great power, as there's nothing to lose. Sure, Italy and Germany can agree to a 2 way and cut you out, but Germany has to trust Italy to not take the solo immediately after, and vice versa. They can trust you, because you have two options, a 3 way draw or nada. I'm still not 100% on my solution to the puzzle, but I'll give it a shot. As you pointed out, Italy has the advantage. If you don't issue any more orders, Italy's fleets will eventually take Rumania, Ankara, and Sevastopol; there are no stalemates. There is a partial stalemate line of North Africa through Bohemia where neither side can make progress, meaning you control the only theater of combat where either can progress. Because of all of this, if Germany deviates from your plan in the slightest, you throw it to Italy, and if Italy doesn't agree to a draw, you throw it to Germany. Note that the votes are public, so if there isn't an agreement, you know who disagreed, and who to throw it to. Now, for tactics. And this is where I'm kind of lost. Throwing to Italy is easy, just go home. He'll figure out the rest. So how do you throw to Germany? Germany needs 3 SCs to win: Warsaw, Sevastopol, and Rumania, or a stalemate line of which you are an integral part. Rumania seems to be Italy's guaranteed this year and holdable, so getting Germany to 18 seems impossible, and the only stalemate line I can see is Germany controlling Bohemia, Galicia, and Ukraine. If Turkey holds any of them, they will be forced to disband after Italy takes Rumania and Ankara and Germany holds the necessary Warsaw or Sevastopol. And the stalemate line is also dangerous, as Italy has no incentive to agree to the draw this season. He might let it play out and hope you screw up. So, how do you throw to Germany?

[@DanceScholar]

The short answer : There is no *guaranteed* set of orders that gives the solo to Germany!

[@tomau3946]

OK, the "default" condition is that Italy has a better path to 18, unless Turkey and Germany ally. So Germany can be persuaded to accept a three way draw. Then Turkey goes back to Italy with a threat of allying with Germany, to possibly throw the game Germany's way, unless Italy agrees to a three way draw. The danger is that Germany and Italy agree to a two way draw. But Turkey has a credible threat of throwing the game either way.

[@cringebro8628]

love the music

[@pakpukik]

Hi. Do you think these negotiation tips/skills are valid for interpersonal conflicts (between him and her, him and him...) or are these at "state-level", democracy negotiations?

[@DanceScholar]

On one level, negotiation is negotiation - whether in a game, in a relationship, or on the world stage. Ambassador Dennis Ross once said that diplomacy (the game) players have an intuitive grasp of the multivalent nature of Diplomacy (between nations), so there is probably some crossover!

[@pakpukik]

Do you have some more examples of this? For negotiating from a relatively weak spot?

[@DanceScholar]

The principles apply whenever you find yourself outmanouvered, outgunned, or outnumbered - find out what the other players want, that you have the ability to affect - sometimes its a big thing, sometimes they just don't want their partner to get the lions share of the gains. Play them off against each other, and try to get back in it. NIcolas Sahuget did a masterful job of this as England at WDC in Oxford, in 2017. I'd look that up if you want another case study!

[@pakpukik]

Thank you for the replies. I found your video here, simply straight and to the point, and would like to see more examples. Is there a way to address you privately?

[@DanceScholar]

I'm @dancescholar on Twitter, and that.is my gmail handle as well

[@28lobster28]

Slight audio sync issues after 8 min but a super informative video. Would love to see something more early game focused (ie you're the guy who got stabbed in 02 but you still have 4-5 centers). What's the best way to split a smoothly running alliance? How do you get a neighbor's assistance instead of having him pile on for the free centers? Love the videos, keep up the great work. I hope you can do another WDC top board recap too(unless you're on the board, go pro perhaps?); that series is awesome.