THE ABYSSINIAN PRINCE #384

May 31, 2017


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


Yes, we're late again, I sm still in the hospital. Logistically, it means Charlotte has to bring me my steenkin' maps to hand draw and then take them back home to scan. That also added a bit of time to the process and this map looks slightly different than usual. Health details are in the last word. Let me know if you have problems or questions.


E-MAIL/WEB ONLY ISSUE! PDF will be available on the website when I fix the new website index.html at http://www.diplomatic-pouch.com/Postal/Zines/TAP/index.html, almost there. At this point, I'm not wasting time figuring this out. Eventually I will get one of the other new admins to help me, probably Mario Huys. All the back issues are there in http://www.diplomatic-pouch.com/Postal/Zines/TAP/TAPxxx.pdf or .html. My poor html programming is making the move to diplomatic-pouch.com more problematic since I hardcoded links in. Sigh... Eternal Sunshine is running down to a fold, mostly governed by me, since I'm in the last game... and Doug is NOT including TAP any more in ES, I am sending this out to more people as a result. Doug stopped in January, but didn't tell me he did that. That means this E-Mail with this issue is going to more people in the style of Conrad von Metzke's WIMM list. Since I'm just "doing this" it may even be "coming out of the blue". Let me know if you want the back issues since January in ES sent to you (ES REALLY is running to a fold as soon as the last game I'm in there ends), and ON or OFF this E-Mail list.


Web Page Address: http://www.diplomatic-pouch.com/Postal/Zines/TAP/index.html


I also am not going to hold this for full final TotalCon results, so that will be in next time.
This issue continues the szine/subszine inversion. As most of you know, this thing began as a "subszine" to Terry Tallman's North Sealth, West George in NSWG #16, then became its own szine with a host of subszines. Since Terry's passing, we lose our thirty year fervent hope that someday NSWG would have been resurrected and I could go back and swear my fealty to the Toadfather. The subszines remaining will appear as sub-subszines HERE and with the fold of Doug Kent's Eternal Sunshine there are some "rumblings" in that direction, we will see where they go. I'm set on continuing my GMing, and I'm starting to write a bit, hope there might be more, especially when I feel better. Feel free to communicate with me about how you want to help or what you want to play, or if anyone else wants TAP subszine status. Especially since after ES's fold-essentially that is NOW-we will be independent again.
For production, in addition to the HTML's of each separate product on the web page, I also have a PDF that you can print of the entire szine (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'm having trouble with the new upload interfaces. I'll get it fixed as soon as I can. I need to stay within the security of the site (which is very important!!!!) while getting access to change the web site's index and files for the szine. It shouldn't be that hard, but my first, second, and third attempts didn't work.


The general diplom.org/DiplomaticPouch website address is now: http://www.diplomatic-pouch.com.


There are currently 77 members of the official TAP subscriber list, but I cannot access it-so it as if lost to me. I hope I also can make it work again, but cannot right now. YOU needed to make sure you're on this list, I'll let you know when I'm using it again. I'll add some of the newer subscribers who aren't there when I do that. When this works, there you can check your subscribing options and whether you're registered. Please let me know about other issues, but it puts priority on getting the link up again. Apologies for the recent confusions.


THE ABYSSINIAN PRINCE FEATURES SECTION (CONS/LETTERS/MUSIC)
((For upcoming cons around the world, we're now using Alex Lebedev's site: http://diplomacy.world/ while we're getting the new DP site working again: http://www.diplomatic-pouch.com/Face/cons/index.php, which will be back up soon, David Norman is working on it. And there remains lots of interest in the FTF community, and linking E-Mail/Web players to FTF. Also, the Facebook page for European Tournament Diplomacy, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500292310187264/, Diplomacy in Europe, has been really active and the place to be in the hobby these days. If you're on Facebook, hook up there! The Nor'Easter sequence of four tournaments will be continuing this year, culminating in North American DipCon this November at Carnage in Vermont! It already is late to book hotel rooms, so if you're going, decide now!))


FEATURE: ROCK AND ROLL BANDS AND MOMENTS THAT MATTER
((If anyone from TAP or ES has ideas for more things to talk about here let me know. I do have four or five ideas lined up here already that I just have to write. I have been nudged... comments from any of you also are welcome. Obviously, my fatigue has gotten in the way here...))


THE ABYSSINIAN PRINCE LETTERS SECTION
No letters this time.


THE ABYSSINIAN PRINCE GAMES SECTION
Standby lists: Brad Wilson, Jack McHugh, Drew James, Paul Rauterberg, Doug Kent, Paul Kenny, and Hugh Polley stand by for regular Diplomacy. Just let me know if you want on or off these lists. I would like a few more interested parties, once we get back on the web.


GAME OPENING INFORMATION
I'd love to do another game of Spy Diplomacy, but it requires commitment that seems in short supply. Especially with Doug Kent bowing out who ran lots of variants, is there some other Variant in which there is interest for me to run? Please ask!!!
REGULAR DIPLOMACY: One game continues. Is there something else we want to start? Fred Wiedemeyer, Doug Kent, Mark Firth, Brad Wilson, are IN for the next one, only three to go. I should be able to fill this for NEXT issue. It IS going to be random draw.
BREAKING AWAY: Please get your orders in for next turn!!!
KENDO NAGASAKI: We started a new Kendo game this time, it is EASY to join in Turn 2!


THE TERRY TALLMAN MEMORIAL: 2016A, Regular Diplomacy
THE DUE DATE FOR SPRING 1905 IS JUNE 17TH, 2017
Winter 1904
AUSTRIA (Black): bld a bud; has a BUD, a VIE, a RUM, f ALB, f GRE, a GAL, a BUL.
ENGLAND (Cohen): bld f lon; has f LON, f ENG, f BEL, f NTH.
FRANCE (Rauterberg): bld a par; has a PAR, f POR, f BRE, a MAR, a SPA.
GERMANY (Polley): rem a hol; has a LVN, f BAL, a SIL, a DEN, a BUR.
ITALY (Ellinger): rem a ven; has f GOL, f WES, f MID, a PIE.
RUSSIA (Zarr): has a WAR, f NWY, a FIN, f SWE, a SEV, a BOH.
TURKEY (Wiedemeyer): has f CON, f BLA, a ARM.


E-Mail Addresses of the Participants
AUSTRIA: Thaddeus Black, thaddeus.h.black of gmail.com
ENGLAND: David Cohen, zendip18 of optonline.net
FRANCE: Paul Rauterberg, paul.rauterberg of att.net
GERMANY: Hugh Polley, hapolley of yahoo.ca
ITALY: Marc Ellinger, mellinger of blitzbardgett.com
RUSSIA: Harold Zarr, skip1955 of hotmail.com
TURKEY: Fred Wiedemeyer, wiedem of telus.net


Game Notes:
1) So, some of you have been VERY disappointed at how fast the game goes with season separations the default. Some of that was driven by being IN Eternal Sunshine which is now folding us free. I want to go back to the TWO issues a month style I had for a big chunk of time before that once I went to the web PDF from ACTUAL postal mailings. Russ Rusnak used to be the one who would PUSH postal adjustments the most. But with E-mail, I'm really not pushing. I am setting our Spring deadline in 17 days. If I get even ONE complaint, I will push it back 14 more days to July 1. To look ahead, I will then set SUMMER for July 1, and Fall for mid-July. Private or open discussion and vetoing welcome.


Press:
None to be spotted!


THE DON WILLIAMS 57 MEMORIAL: 2014A, Regular Diplomacy
THE FINAL SUPPLY CENTER CHART FROM ME IS COMING JUNE 17TH, 2017
ERIC OZOG (AUSTRIA) AND PAUL RAUTERBERG (RUSSIA) SHARE TWO-WAY DRAW
NEW GAME STARTING, LOOKING FOR A COUPLE MORE PLAYERS!!!


E-Mail Addresses of the Participants
AUSTRIA: Eric Ozog, elferic of juno.com
ENGLAND: Fred Wiedemeyer, wiedem of telus.net
FRANCE: Marc Ellinger, mellinger of blitzbardgett.com
GERMANY: Will Abbott, wjja9 of yahoo.com
ITALY: Brad Wilson, fullfathomfive675 of gmail.com
RUSSIA: Paul Rauterberg, paul.rauterberg of att.net
TURKEY: David Burgess, burgesscd of roadrunner.com


Game Notes:
1) All three remaining players vote yes on the A/R Two Way Draw, so that is how the game ends! Thanks to Marc for playing it out COMPLETELY. Thanks to Fred, Will, Brad, and David for playing their countries out to the end! I do have a new game starting, Fred and Brad of the players here are in. Any of the rest of you want to play? I expect to get to seven pretty quickly, but you never know!


Press:
None, endgame statements will be due the next issue, after I do the SC chart, feel free to write press you want to appear with the SC chart, OR with the Endgame statements. I'll print any I get next time.




THE DIPLOMACY GAME II: Breaking Away, Designer's Rules
Turn 2
DEADLINE FOR TURN 3 IS JUNE 17TH, 2017
18 (replenish with a 3) Rousseau (BREAKING AWAY!)
17 (no replenishment) Empty
16 (no replenishment) Empty
15 (replenish with a 3) Cardinal Richelieu, Thomas Jefferson, Gai-Jin
14 (replenish with a 6) Lafayette, Travis, Hitler, Mussolini
13 (replenish with a 10) Lindisfarne, Crockett, Mao
12 (replenish with a 13) King Rat, Bowie
11 (replenish with a 15) Avebury, Drax
10 (replenish with a 17) Gamora, TaiPan, Houston,
9 (no replenishment) Empty
8 (replenish with a 3) Trump
7 (replenish with a 4) Christian Doppler, Skara Brae, Sutton Hoo, Peter Quill, Rocket Raccoon
Noble House
6 (replenish with a 10) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Daniel Swarovski,
5 (replenish with a 12) Billy Wilder
Addresses of the Participants - Their Teams and Their Cards
TEAM AUSTRIA II (Andy Bate): andydbate of gmail.com (0 points)
A: Arnold Schwarzenegger 9, 15, 8, 10 (3)
B: Billy Wilder 5, 15, 12 (3)
C: Christian Doppler 3, 13, 4 (3)
D: Daniel Swarovski 10, 8, 10 (3)
Total Replenishments: 22 + 36 = 58
TEAM ANCIENT ENGLAND (Jim Reader): jim_reader of hotmail.com (0 points)
A: Skara Brae 15, 11, 4 (3)
B: Avebury 14, 8, 15 (8)
C: Sutton Hoo 13, 12, 4 (5)
D: Lindisfarne 3, 14, 10 (12)
Total Replenishments: 37 + 33 = 70
TEAM FRANCE (Hank Alme): almehj of alumni.rice.edu (0 points)
A: Marquis de Lafayette (Captain): 1, 15, 3, 6 (9)
B: Cardinal Armand Jean du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu and Fronsac: 4, 14, 3 (8)
C: Jean-Jacques Rousseau: 2, 3, 3 (13)
D: Thomas Jefferson: 2, 8, 3 (9)
Total Replenishments: 23 + 15 = 38
TEAM CLAVELL (Marc Ellinger): mellinger of blitzbardgett.com (0 points)
A: TaiPan 15, 3, 17 (5)
B: King Rat 10, 2, 13 (3)
C: Gai-Jin 13, 1, 3 (9)
D: Noble House 10, 2, 4 (3)
Total Replenishments: 17 + 37 = 54
TEAM (Rick Desper): rick_desper of yahoo.com (0 points)
Team Name: Guardians of the Galaxy
A: Peter Quill (Star-Lord) 2, 15, 9, 4 (3)
B: Gamora 15, 14, 17 (9)
C: Rocket Raccoon 13, 12, 4 (5)
D: Drax 1, 12, 15 (8)
Total Replenishments: 37 + 40 = 77
TEAM REPUBLIC OF TEXAS (Andy York): wandrew88 of gmail.com (0 points)
A: Crockett 10, 10, 10 (3)
B: Travis 10, 7, 6 (6)
C: Houston 10, 3, 17 (5)
D: Bowie 4, 3, 13 (8)
Total Replenishments: 15 + 46 = 61
TEAM DICTATORS (Brendan Whyte): BWHYTE of nla.gov.au (0 points)
A: Hitler 11, 10, 6 (5)
B: Mussolini 8,9,6 (6)
C: Mao 7,9,10 (7)
D: Trump 5,6,3 (3)
Total Replenishments: 23 + 25 = 48


Game Notes:
1) The rules are on the TAP website in the Tinamou section. Ask if you have any questions. Rules at:
http://www.diplomatic-pouch.com/Postal/Zines/TAP/Tinamou/rules/BreakingAway.htm
Up above in parentheses is the card you played to get to where you are in the field. The replenishment card is the last card in your list. Be careful to note that the card you played (the one in parentheses) is not available for you, for next turn. Just for fun, I keep track of total replenishment, by turn, which is a rough measure of how the teams are doing. Of course, it is lining up to get across the sprint and final lines in the right places that really counts. We can calculate an "efficiency score" later, which will be the ratio of scoring points per replenishment.


Press:
(COACH GROOT): I am Groot. (gesturing at the button)
(BOOB to GROOT): Sorry, can't figure out how to insert the Groot button in here... but there ïs" one...


WHERE IN THE WORLD IS KENDO NAGASAKI
DEADLINE FOR THE TURN 2 OF KENDO NAGASAKI IS JUNE 17TH, 2017
Kendo Nagasaki for me comes from the series in Eternal Sunshine... The full rules for Where in the World is Kendo Nagasaki are in: http://www.whiningkentpigs.com/DW/es58.pdf. Send a guess for the new game!!!


TURN 1
Brendan Whyte: Tom Howell:
Ben Jonson the playwright in Funafuti, Tuvalu Cardinal Richelieu in Paris, France

Hank Alme: Marc Ellinger:
Angela Merkel in Brisbane, Australia Tom Brady in Praha, Ceska Republika

Rick Desper: Doug Kent:
Quentin Tarantino in Berchtesgaden, Germany No Guess This Time

Andy York: Andy Bate:
Jim Burgess in Marlborough, MA Kurt Warner in Stockholm, Sweden

HINT to the Person with the Closest Geographic Guess: In our modern era, this guess is about as balanced in "fame" as you could be to my identity; however, you have the WRONG gender!


LAST WORD: I am adding a LOT of people to the E-Mail list for this szine, if there are back issues that you want to see, just ask me, and I'll send them to you. The deciders are the current Diplomacy players, but I'm going to shrink down the deadlines for the szine to twice a month. This will still be where I am breaking things out by having ALL Winter and Summer deadlines will be separate, so this really will be the same model as before. If anyone else has comments on that, I'll certainly listen to them. Also TAP #383 has my big health issues update. If you're seeing this issue, have not seen that one, and want to, just let me know!
I also REALLY want to get the new regular Diplomacy game started, with my style of GMing and hand GMING. The House Rules for those are at:
http://www.diplomatic-pouch.com/Postal/Zines/TAP/houserul.html
My aim really is just about everyone having fun, don't get too much caught up in what the house rules actually say, though certainly ask about them if you like. So, I have FOUR players signed up, ONLY three more to go and I want to start the new game in July! If for whatever reason, you would prefer to wait until the end of the summer with vacations and the like, I realize that is what may happen. Let's play in any case starting by September 1! The Game Openings Announcement is up there a little higher and you can see what four players we currently have.


File translated from TEX by TTH, version 3.85.
On 31 May 2017, 22:04.