THE ABYSSINIAN PRINCE #336

April 30, 2013

Jim Burgess, 664 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02908-4327 USA, (401)351-0287, jfburgess of gmail.com

E-MAIL/WEB ONLY ISSUE! PDF will be available on the website.

Web Page Address: /Postal/Zines/TAP/index.html

Some of you are still not on the E-Mail list for this szine, I keep trying to sign you up, please accept the offer! I am being a bit more systematic about that right now. I am going ahead and finishing all the games here, and then we'll see what happens.

This issue continues the szine/subszine inversion. As most of you know, this thing began as a ßubszine" to Terry Tallman's North Sealth, West George, then became its own szine with a host of subszines. The subszines remaining will appear as sub-subszines to our new flipflopped home in Doug Kent's Eternal Sunshine. Doug's incessant nagging is not keeping us on schedule, but will make it so we will charge forward and finish the remaining games that I have in here. After that, we'll see how it goes and what I do next. I'd like to keep writing and doing some game GMing. You all should see first what I actually do.

For production, in addition to the HTML's of each separate product on the web page, I will also have a PDF that you can print of the entire subszine (including my famous handdrawn maps!). You can just print the maps if you like, but remember maps are for pikers anyway, you don't need no steenkin' maps, keep them up in your head where they belong. I don't think there are very many people I owe money, but if you think I owe you money, just ask and I will pay. ONE GROUP that is definitely owed money is the players with NMR insurance. NMR insurance still continues, I will still call you for it, and when your game ends, I will refund the money.

General information about the mailing list is at: /mailman/listinfo/tap You can sign up from there, or send E-Mails to: Tap-request of diplom.org; with the word `help' in the subject or body (don't include the quotes), and you will get back a message with instructions. You must know your password to change your options (including changing the password, itself) or to unsubscribe.

THE ABYSSINIAN PRINCE LETTERS SECTION

((Let's keep talking about FTF tournament diplomacy! World DipCon is fast approaching in August 23-25 in Paris. See the WDC 2013 Facebook site or www.worlddipcon.com. At this point, I don't think I'm going to be able to go, but YOU all should. And I might still yet change my mind. This is going to be a pretty tremendous turnout, led by the inimitable Toby Harris...))
((For these and other upcoming cons around the world: /Face/cons/index.php))

Warren Goesle (Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:24:01 -0500)

Subject: That time again... ((Note that this all was before the season started....))

What if they gave a baseball season and Summer decided to not show up?

The good news is that it looks like we could be talking about the Bruins and Blackhawks well into June.

The bad news is that they might be able to play the Stanley Cup Finals in outdoor games at Wrigley and Fenway. Actually, given the Cubs' and Red Sox' predicted fortunes that might be good news.

So where do we start this year?

Goz, Warren.Goesle of Navistar.com

((OK, so what do I have to say about this year of baseball? I have always been a "the enforcement of the rules on PEDs are the enforcement of the rules" guy. I think the baseball writers are some of the most hypocritical lame writers on the planet if they won't vote for anyone for the HOF who they wrote positively on when they were playing and refused to see the glaring evidence in their faces. Within the power of the baseball writers was to force an end to the PED era. But they were enjoying the HRs too much. Period. Nevertheless, A-Rod's physical problems could not be happening to a more deserving guy, and you all saw where Manny is playing right? Yeah. Are PEDs out of baseball now? Of course not, though they are less pervasive, and it seems that those still using, like A-Rod, are mostly reaping the downside of PEDs. Yet, eternal optimist that I am, I really am looking forward to a great season of baseball this year! Who do I think will prevail?))
((AL East: I think this "love of the Blue Jays" is way out of line. Did they see how these players screwed up the other teams they were on before? But they still have enough talent to finish third. And the Red Sox don't have enough hitting, but they DO have enough pitching, the second best pitching in the toughest division in baseball, behind the Rays. So, that's the order. Rays, Red Sox (WILD CARD), Blue Jays, Orioles, Yankees, but only 13 games separating top to bottom in the division.))
((AL Central: Tigers, Indians (Yes, Tito IS a good manager), Royals, White Sox, and Twins are useless in last. The Tigers are the class of the American League and it will be fun with such great managers going up against each other. The Indians don't have the talent to win, but they have the talent to make it fun.))
((AL West: Rangers and then the Angels yet again, taking the second WC. The A's magic is only enough to be third. Then a big jump to the Mariners, and finally the Astros, who aspire to be the worst team in baseball again now, BUT watch out in three years.))
((Tigers and Red Sox go to the ALCS, and Tigers win.))
((NL East: Everyone thinks the Nationals go for it again, history suggests some regression to the mean and a WC spot. I really like the Braves team. So Braves, then Nationals, then Phillies, then Mets, and the other team that wants to be last, the Marlins, taking up the rear.))
((NL Central: Cardinals surprise and beat out the Reds, with both teams doing poorly enough so the Reds don't get the WC. Then Pirates, then Brewers, finally Cubs, another team playing for three years from now.))
((NL West: Giants, then Dodgers as WC, Diamondbacks, Padres, and Rockies take up the rear.))
((Playoffs: Giants and Braves come through to play in NLCS, and the Giants win again as Tim Lincecum makes a brilliant comeback.))
((Giants repeat World Series.))
((A-Rod is waived by the Yankees, they keep paying people to try to get out of the basement and spend $300 million. Verlander and Lester vie for Cy Young in the AL, a Nationals pitcher does NOT win it in the NL, probably a Phillies pitcher wins it, if Lincecum doesn't. MVP is Miguel Cabrera in the AL, unless it is Longoria; NL I am tempted to take PED superstar Ryan Braun, but bet he gets injured and Bryce Harper surprises here.))
((I'm looking forward to it!))

Rick Desper (Sat, 30 Mar 2013 20:19:28 -0700 (PDT))

You're picking the Yankees for last? ((Why not??)) Well I guess that's not as weird as picking the Blue Jays to finish ahead of and behind the Red Sox. ((Yeah, I fixed that typo above.))

AL East: Rays, Yankees (WC), Orioles, Red Sox, Jays really, I have no idea.

AL Central: Tigers, White Sox, Indians, Royals, Twins

AL West: Angles, Strangers, Aaaas, Mariners

NL East: Nats, Braves (WC), others

NL Central: Reds, Brewers, Cardinals, bad teams

NL West: Giants, Dodgers, whatever

Jim is pretty badly wrong about the Nats, who have the best pitching in the NL. Strasburg should be able to give the team an entire season this year. Regression to the mean doesn't mean that the team with the best run differential should suddenly get worse.

((UPDATE at Press Time: As of this date, my predictions for the NL East are right on... we'll see how it goes for the rest of the season.))

OTOH, the Orioles are likely in trouble, since regression to the mean does mean that a team that won an unusually large number of close games is likely to lose more.

I'll randomly pick an Angels-Nats WS, that the Nats win.

The Red Sox are not going to make a huge comeback this year. Some of the pitchers should rebound under Farrell's management, but others won't, most notably Lackey, who is about five years removed from being a strong starter. But Lester and Buchholz will be good. Too bad they don't have any good young power hitters. Well, I suppose they had to let Adrian Gonzalez go to get rid of two hideous contracts (Crawford and Beckett).

Rick, rick_desper of yahoo.com

Warren Goesle (Sun, 31 Mar 2013 19:30:37 -0400 (EDT))

So in a very unpredictable year it surprises me that my predictions really aren't all that different from either Rick or Jim-Bob. For a change I see a leveling of the playing field, and for a change I see a lot more teams in it. I did have to alter my philosophy of picking teams that spend the most money to picking the teams that spend the most money to players who will actually be playing, and playing for those teams paying them...

AL East: Sitting down? I think NEITHER the Yankees or Red Sox make the playoffs. In fact I think that, to their eventual detriment, the Yankees stay close enough in a very down division to NOT be sellers at the deadline, even though they should be. I'm not sold on the Blue Jays either, but I am on the Orioles. Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Toronto, NY Yankees, Boston. NO wild card from this division.

AL Central: Ok, it's Detroit and then everyone else. But some of those everyone else's aren't bad, Twins excepted. Detroit, Cleveland (WC), Chicago, Kansas City, Minnesota. Royals get to 80-82 by losing their last 6 games, after being in it most of the year.

AL West: The Astros move took 4 wins away from each of the other NL Central teams and gave them to the AL West. They might have BOTH wild cards, but I'll take Los Angeles, Texas (WC), Oakland, Seattle, Lastros. Is that trademarked? Houston could break the record for futility this year.

NL East: I think the Nationals come together BETTER than last year, and might wind up with the best record after 162. Washington, Atlanta (WC), Philadelphia, NY Mets, Florida.

NL Central: The only division worse than the AL East. Cards are down, Brewers are down. Pittsburgh can't get enough wins without Houston. Cincinnati, Milwaukee, St. Louis (below .500), Pittsburgh, Chicago. My Cubs are better than last year's 61-101...so make it 67-95. Tell me about this Theo guy again?

((Yeah, well, we'll see, won't we?? We in Boston think we're doing just fine without Theo. I like him as a guy, but maybe he really isn't such a good GM?))

NL West: 3 legitimate WS contenders. Here I think the Giants take the dive far enough to miss the playoffs. Los Angeles, Arizona (WC), San Francisco, San Diego, Colorado.

ALCS: Tigers over Angels.

NLCS: Dodgers over Nationals.

WS: Detroit.

Goz, warrengoesle of wowway.com

Warren Goesle (Wednesday, May 1, 2013 1:26 PM)

Subject: Ok, so it was a bad idea to begin with

I put a Cubs' sticker on my laptop.

Now it won't Save or Close.

Goz, Warren.Goesle of Navistar.com

Dave Partridge (Wednesday, May 01, 2013 12:59 PM)

The choke on my car wasn't working so I put a Red Sox sticker on it.

Dave, rebhuhn of rocketmail.com

Warren Goesle (Wed, 1 May 2013 15:36:33 -0500)

< RIM-SHOT >

Goz, Warren.Goesle of Navistar.com

TEMPLECON 2013 REPORT

(First Round of Four Tournament Nor'Easter)

Thanks to everyone and to the great TempleCon hosts, I reserved two crash rooms this year for five people. I think having crash rooms is a really important part of helping travelers who come from a distance to the con.

FINAL RESULTS:

NAME

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Raw Total

Adj.

Final Total

Randy Lawrence-Hurt

110

26.32

20.34

156.66

Robert Rousse

15.09

12.96

31.58

35.59

95.22

-12.96

82.26

Bill Hackenbracht

33.33

22.81

15.25

71.39

Roland Cooke

26.42

7.41

8.77

15.25

57.85

-7.41

50.44

Colin Davis

33.33

Jim Burgess (TD)

15.09

7.41

22.50

Alex Amann

15.09

6.78

21.87

David Burgess

15.09

5.26

20.35

Carl Ellis

7.55

0.5

6.78

15.83

-0.5

15.33

Paul Camina

5.56

5.26

10.82

Will Abbott

5.67

0.75

6.42

Jim Burgess 2 (TD)

0.00

Daniel Feagans

0.00

Adam Sigal

0.00

Here are the game results with detour09 basic points in parentheses)

Round 1, Board 1

Austria (Jim Burgess TD):

(15.09)

England (Alex Amann):

(15.09)

France (Robert Rousse):

(15.09)

Germany (Carl Ellis):

( 7.55)

Italy (Will Abbott):

( 5.67)

Russia (David Burgess):

(15.09)

Turkey (Roland Cooke):

(26.42)

Round 2, Board 1

Austria (Adam Sigal):

10*

(0.00)

England(Randy Lawrence-Hurt):

11*

(110.00)

BEST ENGLAND

France (Will Abbott):

(0.00)

Germany (Alex Amann):

(0.00)

Italy (David Burgess):

(0.00)

Russia (Jim Burgess-2 TD):

(0.00)

Turkey (Daniel Feagans):

(0.00)

@Carl Ellis took over for Daniel Feagans in 1906.

Round 2, Board 2

Austria (Roland Cooke):

( 7.41)

England (Colin Davis):

(33.33)

France (Paul Camina):

( 5.56)

Germany (Jim Burgess TD):

( 7.41)

Italy (Robert Rousse):

(12.96)

BEST ITALY

Russia (Carl Ellis):

( 0.50)

Turkey (Bill Hackenbracht):

(33.33)

BEST TURKEY

Round 3, Board 1

Austria (Carl Ellis):

( 1.00)

England (Robert Rousse):

(31.58)

France (Randy Lawrence-Hurt):

(26.32)

BEST FRANCE

Germany (David Burgess):

( 5.26)

Italy (Roland Cooke):

( 8.77)

Russia (Bill Hackenbracht):

(22.81)

BEST RUSSIA

Turkey (Paul Camina):

( 5.26)

Round 4, Board 1

Austria (Robert Rousse):

(35.59)

BEST AUSTRIA

England (Roland Cooke):

(15.25)

France (Alex Amann):

( 6.78)

Germany (Bill Hackenbracht):

(15.25)

BEST GERMANY

Italy (Carl Ellis):

( 6.78)

Russia (Randy Lawrence-Hurt):

(20.34)

Turkey (Will Abbott):

( 0.75)

This is also the first tournament in the regional sub-Grand Prix tournament that is in its fifth year that we've dubbed the "Nor'Easter". The next tournament in that group is the new Philly Massacre in Philadelphia the first weekend of July; the new NYC/Brooklyn con in September; and Carnage, November 8-10 in Vermont, now at Killington. We will again have a First Place Nor'Easter prize to be awarded and with more help from Robert Rousse (Carnage co-organizer) we should have Second and Third Place prizes as well. More on that to come.

Drop Dead Time Deadlines: These worked like a charm as usually, this is the way to play tournament dip, you're always moving, no waiting around while people write orders. The games really moved along, I again used my loud voice with reminders to people as needed, and people respected other players' space with need for order writing time. And the atmosphere was great. I ended up going again with the 17 minute spring, 15 minute fall continually running clock that gives more time for beer after the games.

More experience on selling Diplomacy on site: I was still not as successful as I would like to be here. I was very careful to post notes on the game forums on the web site so that people knew we were there. These generated discussions but only one actual player. I did a lot of my usual tricks, trying direct E-Mails to Judge players and other players I could identify as being in the area, this again was not successful, but I will keep trying again. I didn't try walking around the Con playing Edi Birsan's Teaching Videos from You Tube again like I did a few years ago.... don't believe me, yes, I really, really did this a few times, but it didn't really gain anything but laughs, especially from the miniatures players, so I didn't do that this time around.

Although the TempleCon people are lovely, having TempleCon on SuperBowl weekend just doesn't get the travelers that it might. We all agree that an early year northeastern tournament is a good idea, but we wondered if we should have just held it ourselves outside of a gaming convention. We will continue that discussion as the year progresses.

Some time I'd like to run a DipCon or World DipCon, but that probably won't be able to be at TempleCon.

DIPLOMACY WORLD CUP TOURNAMENT IS ONGOING - YOU CAN STILL JOIN!

This is the latest incarnation of this team based tournament. I am helping to lead the Nor'Easter team for people in the Northeast part of the United States. https://www.facebook.com/groups/123795024327261/ is the Facebook page for the event.

And you can sign up for the Tournament at: http://aqmn.asciiking.com/. Other US regional teams are the ones in the Pacific, Dixie, and Chicago. Its unique aspect, that is proving to be a bit distorting but in interesting ways, is its "solo only" feature. You advance from the preliminaries to the finals only by soloing, and then need solos in the finals against the other soloists. Though this started in January, it probably will be going on for at least two years, and there is PLENTY of time to jump in. As usual, for those who know me well, I screwed up my first game and allowed a solo to someone from team US. I still don't have a solo in over three decades, but maybe I can do it in my next game.

So, really, come join, it is being operated on a web-assisted Judge platform that is really pretty easy to use. Ask me if you have any questions.

THE ABYSSINIAN PRINCE GAMES SECTION

I am continuing to note cut or failed support orders with a small "s" instead of a capital "S". This will make it easier on the E-Mailed version of the szine to see what happened, since the italics don't show there. The italics DO show on the web page just fine. Since I'm not postal mailing the szine any more, I've dropped back to just reporting the disguised E-Mail addresses. As someone notes, if you need some more contact information, go back to past issues or ask me.

Standby lists:

Mike Barno, Dick Martin, Brad Wilson, Jack McHugh, Glenn Petroski, Steve Emmert, Mark Kinney, Vince Lutterbie, Eric Brosius, Paul Rauterberg, Bob Osuch, Doug Kent, Sean O'Donnell, Heath Gardner, Paul Kenny, and Jeff O'Donnell stand by for regular Diplomacy. Let me know if you want on or off these lists, especially OFF given the new policies.

GAME OPENING INFORMATION

I'm going to start the game opening list over. Under the new regime, who wants to play?

DIPLOMACY: First off, another regular Diplomacy game is open. Doug Kent and Brad Wilson are in, anyone else?

BREAKING AWAY: Also, a new Breaking Away game is open. Currently Andy York is on board. This is the game I really like running and want to start another one. It's easy, very low maintenance.

THE PHIL REYNOLDS MEMORIAL: 2006B, Regular Diplomacy

THE DUE DATE FOR FALL 1907 IS MAY 18TH, 2013

Pre-Fall 1907

AUSTRIA (Burgess): has f ION, a GAL, a VEN, a VIE, a TRI, f NAP, a SER, a BOH.

ENGLAND (James): has a DEN, f NTH, f TYH, f NWY, a HOL, f ROM, f SWE.

FRANCE (Williams): has a GAS, f MID, a BUR, f GOL, a MUN.

GERMANY (Ellinger): has a KIE, a BER.

ITALY (Crow): has f TUN, a PIE.

RUSSIA (Barno): has a SEV, a WAR, a SIL, a FIN, f CON, a PRU, f GRE, a RUM, f GOB.

E-Mail Addresses of the Participants

AUSTRIA: David Burgess, burgesscd of roadrunner.com or dburgess of glensfallshosp.org

ENGLAND: Drew James, kjames01 of twcny.rr.com or karelanddrew of gmail.com

FRANCE: Don Williams, wllmsfmly of earthlink.net or dwilliams of fontana.org ($5)

GERMANY: Marc Ellinger, mellinger of blitzbardgett.com

ITALY: John Crow, johnny.crow of hotmail.com

RUSSIA: Mike Barno, mpbarno of gmail.com

TURKEY: Fred Wiedemeyer, wiedem of telus.net or wiedem of shaw.ca

Game Notes:

1) I have orders from about half of you, I will follow up with people in the next week or so, so you will be sure what orders I have on file for you. I know some of you really wanted the maps and that's what you have with this issue.

Press:

SPIRALS OF PARANOIA: 2005A, Regular Diplomacy

THE DUE DATE FOR FALL 1910 IS MAY 18TH, 2013

Pre-Fall 1910

FRANCE (Jim Tretick for Buddy Tretick): has f ENG, f NTH, a GAS, f GOL, a BUR, f TYH,

f ION, a MAR, f LON.

GERMANY (Ozog for Tallman): has f KIE, a MUN, f HOL, a TYO, a PIE, a SER, a TRI,

a VEN, a ROM, f DEN, a APU, a BEL, f EDI.

ITALY (Kent): has a NAP, f ADR, a GRE.

RUSSIA (Sundstrom): has f NWY, f BLA, a UKR, f AEG, a RUM, a BUL, a CON, a SEV.

E-Mail Addresses of the Participants

AUSTRIA: Paul Rauterberg, paul.rauterberg of att.net

ENGLAND: Fred Wiedemeyer, wiedem of telus.net or wiedem of shaw.ca

FRANCE: Buddy Tretick, 5023 Sewell's Pointe Way, Fredericksburg, VA 22407

FRANCE: Temporary Standby is Jim Tretick, jtretick of gmail.com

GERMANY: Terry Tallman, ($2) terryt of whidbey.net

GERMANY: Temporary Standby is Eric Ozog, ElfEric of Juno.com

ITALY: Doug Kent, dougray30 of yahoo.com

RUSSIA: Matt Sundstrom, Matt.Sundstrom of bbdoch.com or mattandzoe of earthlink.net

TURKEY: Vince Lutterbie, melvin4852 of sbcglobal.net

Game Notes:

1) We now have two medical replacements, as Buddy's son Jim (who some of us played with many years ago as James Alan) will be playing for Buddy as Eric is playing for Terry.

2) I have orders from about half of you, I will follow up with people in the next week or so, so you will be sure what orders I have on file for you. I know some of you really wanted the maps and that's what you have with this issue.

Press:

FLIP FLOP: 2003G, Regular Diplomacy

TURKEY WON, CONGRATULATIONS AL LEVINSON! SC CHART NEXT TIME

Supply Center Chart

ENGLAND (Kent):

EDI,LVP,LON,por,den,kie,

nwy,swe,ber,stp

FRANCE (McHugh):

PAR,MAR,BRE,spa,bel,hol

TURKEY (Levinson):

ANK,SMY,CON,bul,sev,ser,gre,

(18, WINS!)

tun,rom,rum,nap,ven,tri,mos,bud,vie,war,mun

Neutral:

none

(Total=34)

E-Mail Addresses of the Participants

AUSTRIA: Brad Wilson, bwdolphin146 of yahoo.com

ENGLAND: Doug Kent, dougray30 of yahoo.com

FRANCE: Jack McHugh, jwmchughjr of gmail.com

GERMANY: Matt Sundstrom, Matt.Sundstrom of bbdoch.com or mattandzoe of earthlink.net

ITALY: Don Williams, wllmsfmly of earthlink.net or dwilliams of fontana.org

RUSSIA: Sean O'Donnell, sean_o_donnell of hotmail.com

TURKEY: Alexandre Levinson, al of tolkin.nl ($5)

Game Notes:

1) Congratulations, Al, for sticking this out to the solo!!! I'll have a Supply Center Chart next time and I still am interested in endgame statements. I know this has been hanging for a while, and I might have some endgame statements in hand, if you think you sent one and you're unsure if I have it, check with me.

LAST WORD: COME TO WORLD DIPCON in PARIS, YOU CAN DO IT!!! Or go to DixieCon in North Carolina this Memorial Day weekend coming up, get out and play some Dip!!!

File translated from T_EX by T_TH, version 3.85.
On 05 May 2013, 05:39.