- GALICIAN GAMBIT (1) [MN:May93]
- Richard Sharp's name for the opening:
F(Tri)-Alb, A(Vie)-Tri and A(Bud)-Gal. I used it in the first two
ftf games I played, but how come I got Austria both
times... See Austrian Openings (KW).
- GAMBOLE STUNT (1) [MB:Jun80]
- A curiosity opening whereby France opens A(Mar)-Spa, and then is convoyed
to Kie by French, English and German fleets. See
English Openings (KW),
French Openings (KW),
and German Openings (KW).
- GAME DELAY (1) [MB:Jun80]
- These are not rare, and are a good reason not to tell any secrets until the
zine actually arrives. GMs vary
widely on what type of requests will produce this. These include player
illness, vacation, or delay of delivery of the zine. Some GMs will
automatically delay the game if the NMR rate is too high.
- GAMEFEE (1) [TNP/MN:87/Aug94]
- Charge made by most GMs to players in a game. Used to offset
production costs. Conrad von Metzke claimed to have
invented the concept of running a dipzine, charging a subscribtion but *not*
charging a gamefee.
- GAME OF DIPLOMACY, The (1) [MB:Jun80]
- The first hardback book (150 pp) ever to appear on the game, written by
Richard Sharp and published by Arthur Barker Ltd,
London, 1978. (7.50). It provides a highly comprehensive view of the hobby, and
although it has some weaknesses, is extremely well-written and highly
entertaining.
- GAME OF DIPLOMACY, The (2) [MN:Jan92]
- One of only two books on Diplomacy to be commercially published, it quickly
went out of print, it has been an item of desire ever since. Every Diplomacy
fan should have a copy, but it has dated and many would argue that the book is
not very well balanced; presenting a distorted picture of the game. You can
obtain a photocopy of this book by writing Fred C. Davis
Jnr (3210 K Wheaton Way, Ellicott City, MD 21043. USA). Within North America
the price is $7. If ordering from elsewhere you are advised to ask one of the
above for a quote.
- GAME OF THE YEAR (1) [MN:Jan94]
- One of Larry Peery's less successful ideas. An attempt at forming a set of
awards that recognised positive achievement within the International Hobby.
Nominees, nomators and voters were to have been anyone, anywhere except in the
first year when Larry picked the winner. See also
Event of the Year,
Hobby Awards (KW),
Personality of the Year
and Publication of the Year.
Year Winner
1991 Game 21, DipCon XXIV
"I didn't pick this game because I won it. Well, that's not true. I did pick
it because I won it. But, not for the reason you might think. When Gary Behnen,
Steve Cooley, or David Hood win a Diplomacy game it's no big deal. It certainly
isn't news. When Larry Peery wins one; that's news. If I can win a game,
anybody can win a game. So this one is for Everyman, not me. It's for the
fellow who has made the Top Board at six MidCon's, but has never won. If you
play long enough and try hard enough, anything is possible. I proved it."
Larry Peery, _World Diplomacy_ 4, Winter 1992.
- GAME OPENING FLYERS (1) [JM/MN:Jul92/Sep93]
- One of the most important hobby services to people who want to play in
games is a central clearinghouse for zines offering games. The first attempt to
offer such a service was _Pontevedria_ founded in 1971 by
Rod Walker. Published on and off by Rod through
the mid 1980's, it was a prime source of publishers offering new games.
Another game opening service was Robert Sacks' _Known Game Openings_. It was
active from 1974 to about 1989. Today, the old _Ponteverdia name lives on; Phil
Reynolds has been publishing the one page monthly since 1990 and it is the main
place for game opening announcements in the hobby. In the Summer of 1993 Andrew
York took over as publisher of _Pontevedria_.
- GAME REPORT (1) [MB:Jun80]
- This gives the Supply Centers held for each country, the
players for each country with their dates, GMs and
zines, and the game's outcome. Usually printed when
the game ends and is reprinted in _Everything_ or _The New Statsman_.
- GAMER'S GUIDE TO DIPLOMACY, THE (1) [MB:Jun80]
- Written by Rod Walker for
Avalon Hill, it is a 36-page professionally
printed booklet, covering virtually all aspects of the game and hobby. Well
organized, it reflects Walker's personal view of Diplomacy. Detailed review in
_DD_ 14/15.
- GAMER'S GUIDE TO DIPLOMACY, THE (2) [MN:Apr92]
- The second edition is dated March 1979 and is still available in the States
direct from Avalon Hill. Much of the material
in this book really describes how Diplomacy was played in the 1960's. Other
parts are rather idiosyncratic. However, every Diplomacy player should own a copy!
- GAMER'S GUIDE TO DIPLOMACY, THE (3) [PG:Nov93]
- A completely new work with this title has just been realeased.
- GAMES AND PUZZLES [PB:1980]
- A.k.a. G&P. Founded by entrepreneur Graeme Levin
in 1972, and must take some of the blame for the 'explosion' in the hobby in
1973. Featured articles on the game by Don Turnbull
and also an advert for the 'British Diplomacy Club' (became the
NGC) which brought in an unexpected high number of
enquiries for a magazine with 30,000 circulation. Recently went quarterly,
ceased to be sale or return. Dying. A pity, because it filled a hole. Near the
end, though, Levin's refusal to pay a going rate for writers took its toll.
- GAMES CENTRE [PB:1980]
- Shops run by entrepreneur Graeme Levin who is
finally making some money. Ask for 10% discount, mention 'the hobby' casually
and you might get it.
- GAMES DAY [PB:1980]
- Annual meeting run by Games Workshop at profit
for them. Look for the bar, which is where we will all be. Frequently overrun
by eight-year-olds, gives games a bad name. Last one had Frisbee throwers in
the middle and massive crowds on the outside.
- GAMESMASTER (1) [MB/MN:Mar82/Aug93]
- A postal GM sets the deadline, collects the orders and
adjudicates them. He writes up the results, and
either mails them to the players or makes sure someone else does. He also
creates and interprets house rules, makes decisions on
season separations, badly written orders, and deadline extensions. He arranges
for the correction of errors and may write the headline or other commentary. He
also should find a new GM if he cannot continue, assign
standbys if he needs them and explains
adjudications in complex situations. He also reports changes of address. He
should also supply the Boardman Number Custodian with
the full names of the players and country assignments, and publish the
SC and player charts when the game is completed.
Usually also the editor of the zine, but not necessarily in which case the GM
is really a GGM (Guest GM).
- GAME SUMMARY [PB:1980]
- What the GM types up at the end of a Diplomacy game,
including a list of supply centre holdings throughout the game, and players'
endgame statements.
- GAMES RESEARCH INC (1) [MB/MN:Jun80/Aug93]
- A small game company that bought Diplomacy from
Calhamer after he was unable to successfully
market it for himself (1960), and later sold it to its present owners,
Avalon Hill (in 1977). Aside from putting the
flyer in the dippy sets, GRI had no role in the postal hobby, though they
briefly "sponsored" _Diplomacy World_.
- GAMESTART (1) [TNP:87]
- List of names and addresses and starting positions, usually published in a
zine, but sometimes players are notified privately.
- GAMES WORKSHOP [PB:1980]
- Produced _Owl Weasel_ fanzine, then Steve Jackson (driving force) couped in
on British rights to D&D. Start of business growth.
TSR transferred rights of D&D to Don Turnbull in
early 1980, to general acclaim. Cut Games Workshop soldiers on with solid base.
- GARRISONS
- See Fortresses,
Standing Armies and
VariantJargon (KW).
- GASCONY OPENING (1) [MB/MN:Jun80/Sep95]
- Richard Sharp's name for the pro-German A(Mar)-Spa,
A(Par)-Gas, F(Bre)-MAO. This denies France any say in Belgium, allowing him a
self-standoff in Mar or in Bre if there are units in Pie or ENC. It does give
France the ability to take both Iberian builds and still have the fleet free to
enter English or Italian waters in F01 or S02. The drawback is that the armies
will be holed up in Iberia in W01, and will take a while to return to action.
Known in the States as The Iberian
Indecision, name given by Greg Ellis in an article in DW. A(mar)-Spa,
A(Par)-Gas and F(Bre)-Pic is the Picardy variation. See
French Openings (KW).
- GASPIC OPENING (1) [MN:Aug95]
- Richard Sharp's name for the opening: F(Bre)-MAO, A(Par)-Pic
and A(Mar)-Gas. It is more systematic to call this the Gascony Variation of the
Picardy Opening. See
French Openings (KW).
- GEMIGNANI AWARDS (1) [MB:Mar82]
- Run by Robert Sacks, awards were voted in various categories of hobby
disservice, serious and humourous, in the mid 70's. Named after Margaret
Gemignani, one of the most persistent but maladroit hobbyists. Categories
included "Most Infamous Person", "Least Reliable Ally", "Award for Confusion",
and "Publication most in need of improvement." See
Hobby Awards (KW).
- GEMIGNANI, Margaret (1) [MN:Dec92]
- First woman to play an active part in the diplomacy hobby. Played in many
games and "participated in hobby discussions as well as a functional state of
near illiteracy permitted" (John Boardman, _Graustark_
573... January 1990) See Personalities (KW).
- GEMIGNANI, Margaret (2) [CW:Jul95]
- Peggy was one of the nicest people ever to play the game. If she happened
to come across in print as not overly educated she was quite normal sounding on
the phone. She was also the inspiration for the Gemiganani 25-player variant
(designed by me) which was one of the first Anarchy-style
variants. (Imagine a five-by-five square cut into twenty-five smaller squares
with a player in each one. It was introduced in the fake issue of _Runestone_
(_Ruinstoned_) back in the 70s.
- GENCON (1) [MB:Jun80]
- A wargaming convention which has hosted DipCon (1977), sponsored by SPI,
usually in the summer in Lake Geneva, Wisc.
- THE GENERAL [PB/MN:1980/Aug93]
- Magazine produced by Avalon Hill. Weakened
with the advent of SPI because of concentration on
Avalon Hill games. Resuscitated by regrowth of Avalon Hill. Once contained a
regular column on Diplomacy written by Rod Walker.
Has produced several Diplomacy dominated issues.
- GENERAL ORDERS (1) [MB:Jun80]
- Player's instructions to the GM on how to create
substitute orders in case of NMR. If permitted (not
all GMs will bother, or approve) the HRs usually will
describe what they must have. GMs often assign the task of translating these
into actual orders to an outsider, to avoid the appearance of being involved in
the game.
- GENZINE (1) [MB:Jun80/Nov82]
- A zine which is devoted to dippy but runs no
games. Examples include _Diplomacy Digest_, _Diplomacy Review_, _Utopia_,
_Ltd_, _Diplomacy World_ and _The National_. Sometimes used more narrowly to
include only those zines with a general discussion of Diplomacy matters, thus
excluding more specialized zines like _Everything_ and _U.S. Dollars_. The
first was Don Miller's _Diplomania_.
- GEORDIECON [PB:1980]
- 1979 national hobby meeting. See also
MidCon and PolyCon.
- GERMAN ATTACK (1) [MB:Jun80]
- Any Russian opening based on A(War)-Sil. This usually only makes sense as a
part of a blitz, or if the players are fairly certain that Germany will be
opening anti-Russian. See Russian Openings (KW).
- GERMAN OPENINGS (KW) (1) [MN:Dec93]
- If you want to play Germany you might be interested in reading:
Anschluss,
Baltic Openings,
Barbarossa,
Blitzkrieg Opening (Danish Variation),
Blitzkrieg Opening (Denmark Variation),
Blitzkrieg Opening (Dutch Variation),
Blitzkrieg Opening (Heligoland Variation),
Blitzkrieg Opening (Holland Variation),
Burgundy Attack (Den Variation),
Burgundy Attack (Hol variation),
Frederich Opening,
Gambole Stunt,
Holland Opening,
Interior Alliance,
Jutland Gambit,
Konigratz Freakout,
McKejo Opening,
Munich Gambit,
Northern Tier Alliance Opening,
Prussian Opening and
Silesian Openings.
- GESTA DANORUM (1) [MN:Jun80]
- John Leeder's 8 player variant set in 9th century Britain. There is also a
madman type unit, which players can bid to control.
- GGM (1) [MN:Nov92]
- Abbreviation for Guest GM.
- GHOSTZINE (1) [MB/PG:Jun80/Nov93]
- Zines which are planned, talked about, etc but
which never actually appear (or just have a preliminary issue). Examples
include _Overstop_ and _Pressgang_. The most infamous ghost zine of the 1990's
was _Ishkibble_.
- GIBRALTAR II (1) [MB:Jun80]
- Janta-Polczynski's 9-player variant using a more finely divided, but only
slightly larger, map. It has special rules for straits, canals, and islands,
and some intricate "helping" orders. Details in _DW_ Vol 3 #2. See Variant (KW).
- GLADYS AWARDS (1) [MB/TNP/MN:Mar82/87/92]
- British awards for zines in various categories,
usually 10; Best for news, Diplomacy games, best variant,
best GM, most efficient, best letter column. Voters choose in
each category from a list of, generally, 3-6 nominees. The "Oscars" of postal
Diplomacy, originally intended as a light-hearted adjunct to the
Zine Poll. Run originally by John Miller in _Mr
Gladgrind_ and then by Nick Shears in _Down Alien Skies_ amd in 1986 by Geoff
Challinger in _Home of the Brave_. For a few years in the 1980's they also
included the Pimley Award. Run from 1991 by
John Miller. See Hobby Awards (KW).
- GLASCON (1) [MB:Jun80]
- A large west coast gaming convention (LA) that hosted DipCon in 1978.
- GLOBAL VARIANT (1) [MB:Jun80/Mar82]
- One whose map embraces the entire planet. Usually the left and right sides
are connected or overlap so that the map is actually a cylinder. The first one
was Rod Walker's Imperialism VIII, other examples are Colonia, Holocaust,
Mercator, Small World II and 2001. See Variant Jargon.
- GLOSSARY OF TERMS, A (1) [MN:Aug93]
- A novice package produced in 1980 by Pete Birks for the British Hobby. It
contained a list of terminology, descriptions of zines and pen portraits of
well known hobby members. Some of the entries have been reproduced in this
document. See Zine Names (KW).
- GM (1) [MN:Nov92]
- See Gamesmaster.
- GMs (1) [MN:Jan93]
- What is the most number of GMs used for one game? 1984H had five GMs in 13 game years!
- GO [PB:1980]
- A great Japanese game of skill. Not really popular over here, even amongst
games players. As chess is a battle, so Go is a war. Takes years to appreciate.
- GOLDEN AGE (1) [JM/MN:1992/Aug94]
- Also know as the Golden Age of the Hobby. The first 'Golden Years' of the
North American Hobby were the period 1971-1973 which saw a large number of
Diplomacy zines being launched and some of the most creative articles,
commentary and zine design were produced. Noteworthy zines of the time included
_Hoosier Archives_, _Impassable_ and
_Runestone_. Humor had always been a big part of the hobby, which included
fake zines --- the most spectacular being a fake of
a Belgian zine, _Moeshoeshoe_, in 1972 by John Leeder,
Conrad von Metzke and Michael Liesnard. But along
with the hilarity and the growth came the inevitable push for a formal
organization. The first Golden Age ended with the rise of prominance of the
IDA in the mid 1970s.
The Second Golden Age started soon after Avalon
Hill started distributing diplomacy in 1979. Over the next few years some
of the best zines ever appeared: Brutus Bulletin, Europa Express, Fol Si Fie,
Retaliation, Voice of Doom, Whitestonia/Kathy's Korner and half
a dozen others. What separated these zines from their predecessors was not the
creative talent that went into their content, but the size of them. Some of
them ran over a hundred pages an issue. Advancing technology was reponsible for
this more than anything else. The xerox machine was still something of a
novelty in the early 1970s, and while available at a place of work it was still
prohibitively costly. But by 1980 the cost was low enough to allow publishers
to fill a subscriber's mailbox with a product that had long letter columns,
volumes of press, reprinting of commercial cartoons, etc. etc. So going into
the 1980s, zines got bigger. The Second Golden Age was shattered by the
Great Feud.
- GOLDEN FROG AWARDS (1) [MB/MN:Mar82/Nov93]
- Given by Jack Masters, the 1980 awards included _Murd'ring Ministers_ as
best zine, _Lone Star Diplomat_ as best new zine,
_Emhain Macha_ as sophomore zine, Linsey as Hobbyist of the Year, proliferation
of fake zines as "event of the year" and "Caruso vs Linsey" as controversy of
the year. Discontinued in 1982 due to Masters leaving the hobby.
- GOLF/GOLFBALL [PB:1980]
- A kind of typewriter. Editors, dealing with typewriters a lot, may often
natter on in technical terms (as they will about printing).
- GOOD-BYE-CHARLIE (1) [MB:Jun80]
- A method of handling S01 NMRs in which the
offender is immediately expelled and a new player brought in, and the S01
deadline reset. Commonly used in British no-standby games.
- GRAND TOURNAMENT DIPLOMACY (1) [MB:Jun80]
- Drew McGee's 22-player variant which uses a
standard board, except that who controls the pieces is a collection of rulers
of Kingdoms, principalities, etc. Players may defect from alliances, must
designate rulers for additional pieces, etc. Won one of the 1976 Variant
Awards. See Variant (KW).
- GRANITE ARCHIVES (1) [MB:Mar82]
- The zine archives kept by Elmer Hinton Jr.
- GRAUSTARK [PB:1980]
- The first zine. Started in 1963 by Dr. John
Boardman. Still running! (over 300 issues). (Still running, over 600
issues! --- MN Aug 1993) See Zine Names (KW).
- GREAT FEUD, The (1) [JM/MN/MN+BL+MB:1992/Dec92/Feb07]
- Name given to a long running set of feuds, some interlocking, some loosely
connected, between various North American Hobby members which shattered the
Second Golden Age. It rumbled off and on throughout the
1980's and at its peak split the US Hobby into two camps, destroyed
reputations, drove people from the hobby (including Doug Beyerlein) and burned
up enough creative energy, time and money to produce a score of top flight
zines (the mass hat mailings by both sides were minizines in themselves).
The extreme level of vitriol this feud generated is blamed by some for the
decline in the size of the North American Hobby over this period. The aftermath
was a black hole that few people care to revisit.
- GREAT NORTHERN HEDGEHOG
- See Hedgehog, Alpine Variation.
- GREY PRESS (1) [MB:Jun80]
- Press that is labeled as coming from a
particular place (e.g. datelined Switzerland or Malta). Allows press to be anonymous.
- GRI
- See Games Research, Inc.
- GROUP GAME (1) [MB:Jun80]
- A game in which some or all of the countries are played by groups of people
rather than one person. One example is 1977JB in the zine _W&G
Bank DipClub_, with different branches playing different countries, and the
"computer section" playing Turkey.
- GROW (1) [MN:Dec92]
- A company in Sao Paulo that used to publish Diplomacy (and other games) in
Brazil. Sometimes they even paid royalties on the games they reprinted. See
also Brazilian variant.
- GUERILLA BUILD (1) [MB:Jun80]
- A variant rule permitting players to build in any of their open home
centers, even if owned by another. Adds some fluidity to the game. See
Variant Jargon.
- GUEST GM (GGM) (1) [MB/TNP:Jun80/1987]
- Someone who runs a game in another's zine, usually using the host's
HRs. This permits someone to try his hand at
gamesmastering without the full commitment of publishing, and permits the
editor to expand the number of games without as much extra work, especially if
the GM prepares the stencil. Disadvantages include a generally shorter
deadline, divided authority over the game, delays if the GM does not get his
report in, and possibilities of GM-editor confusion and conflict. Zines which
have used GGMs extensively include _Claw and Fang_, _The Mixumaxu Gazette_ and
_Dragon and Lamb_. Remember to send your orders to the guest GM and not to the
editor, especially if he's playing in the game!
- GUNBOAT DIPLOMACY (1) [MB/RE/MN:Mar82/89-90/Jan92]
- When played face-to-face a variant played without
the intervals between seasons for discussion and hence no diplomacy whatsoever.
FTF Gunboat tournaments have been run at several American conventions.
In the postal version the players are anonymous and press may, or may not,
be allowed. There are several different versions of postal gunboat depending
upon what the exact rules are on press e.g. black press, grey press or white
press option; is there a pre-Spring 1901 press turn etc.
Gunboat is an almost purely tactical exercise, it not only emphasizes
appreciation of the game mechanics as against the players' communication
skills, but also allows a face-to-face game to be played to the finish within a
relatively short time--perhaps a couple of hours. In postal play Gunboat is
sometimes run as a "Round Robin Tournament" where the seven players play in
seven games, one as each power, simultaneously. The first such tournament was
run by Vern Shaller in 1980-81 was won by Karl Shuetz.
It's worth noting that in 1980 the term wasn't in use and this variant was
not mentioned in Mark Berch's
"Lexicon of Diplomacy". Gunboat became very
popular in the US postal hobby in the 1980's (interest has now declined) with
many games and Round-Robin Tournaments started; the number of gamestarts was
over 100. The popularity of this variant stems from the laziness of most
players who would rather play in a game with no diplomacy and the fact that
this variant requires no special effort on the players' part to set up a map.
See Variant (KW).
- GUNBOAT DIPLOMACY II (1) [MN:Dec92]
- Those gunboat games which specifically bar the use of press releases for
negotiation. The different versions of Gunboat were
codified by Fred C. Davis in April 1989. See Variant (KW).
The whole A-Z, in pdf format, is
HERE