Turkey:  9:1
“it
could be a long game at three centers.”
Creepy.
-mike
 
 


From: Frank Martin
[mailto:fmartin(at)psomas.com]

Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2009 2:55 PM

Subject: DCI 9: Las Vegas Odds to Win


 

AP
Las Vegas:


 


Just
posted are the odds to win the famous DCI 9 Diplomacy Invitational, a gathering
of world-renowned gamers on one of the games biggest stages. The competition
will be held over the next several months and will be watched by at least
dozens of rabid (and probably slightly bored) net followers.


 


Austria:
3:1 - Until dethroned, Dan is the champ. To be the champ, you've got to beat
the champ. Dan's odds would probably even be better if he had not drawn the
typically difficult starting position of Austria. Even with that though, Dan's
abilities (see Tiger Woods) are so dominating that odds makers still see him as
the prohibitive favorite.


 


Russia:
7:2 - Nobody in the game has been hotter than Nefarious Nigel (see Brazil
futbol), and he's drawn Russia as a base. Game experts are all wishing they
could be flies on the wall when Dan and Nigel eventually start butting heads.


 


England:
9:2 - Far away from the favorites, 2009 WB Champion Garry is probably giggling
about his projected path to victory (see Dr. Evil). "Get middle countries
to fight, check. Get France and Spain on different sides of the fence, check.
Hope everybody ignores my slow and steady growth, mate."


 


Balkans
and Germany: 6:1 - Hey! They're moderator picks (see Ryder Cup Golf). They're
here for a reason. Give Drew or Max a little breathing room, and you'll wish
you were in England or Spain, where you can scream from a distance for those
closer to fall on their swords for your behalf.


 


Spain
and Turkey: 9:1 - Matt and Adam have top notch resumes, and they are
both starting in the potentially awesome starting corner positions of
Spain and Turkey. If either get an alliance from the outset with a neighbor and
get rolling, look out (see the University of Florida and Oklahoma football
teams). If they get stonewalled by their neighbors, it could be a long game at
three centers.


 



Lowlands:
10:1 - So Frank plays one game in the past two years and wins. Is this an
aberration, or is this guy so good that he can dust off his diplomacy hat and
produce an epic win over an elite field (see Bobby Fischer). Time will tell,
but from his past exploits, it certainly won't be boring.


 


France
and Norway: 12:1 - France is typically a great starting position in standard
diplomacy, but when you throw a player to your south, the position becomes much
more difficult (see Belgium in conflicts of the 1900s). And Norway, sandwiched
between Russia and England, can be a nightmare if the player doesn't get off to
a good start (see Belgium in conflicts of the 1900s). Both countries offer a
great location if they can get rolling, but both face potentially daunting
opposition at the outset. Jorge and Joe will need to be very active on the
diplomatic front early.


 


Italy:
15:1 - Mikael is an incredible player, but this is Italy we're talking about
(see Italy in 99.9% of diplomacy games). Under the best of conditions, Italy
sometimes has a hard time grabbing more than Tunis, and in this variant,
there's already a Spanish fleet there. Mikael will need to work his miracles
(see anything done by Michelangelo) to see Italy grow into a monster.


 


Hope
you all enjoyed this. Please let it be known that this is all off the cuff, and
all slights/exaggerations were not (wholly) intentional. haha


 


I
better get back to work now.  : )