Hallöle allerseits,

you will find the new Realpolitik module for 1648 attached. But the extracted 1648 folder into RP's "Variant Files" folder and you're ready to go. You may load the Spring 1649 .dpy file I sent you with the adjucation and then try out various moves. I've already tested what amounts to my best hunch of what the fall moves might look like and you might find doing a similar exercise quite instructive.

On a more general note, recognise that with the DP mechanism the need to communicate with the whole board is far more pronounced than in Standard Diplomacy! I don't think I'm overstepping the boundaries set by being the GM by encouraging you to communicate a good deal with those who might be on the other side of the board. Next to the clear DP-related advantages that might arise from this, influencing the wider evolution of the board according to your interests ought not be neglected. Don't let talks with those further afield die off. You know, that timeless Dippie mantra: Write early, write everyone and write often!

Furthermore, while I didn't ask so previously, I suggest as a matter of fairness that those players who are currently playing with/against each other elsewhere ought to communicate that to other players. I trust we all are strictly against any form of metagaming and know to keep what happens in one game not affecting what happens in the next.

Lastly, I believe I'll be off to Scotland for a couple of weeks in August. Don't worry, I'll seek a temporary replacement GM should those holiday plans work out. Please let me know whether you might yourself not be able to dip. For the sake of all players (especially since nine players are involved), I would like you to organise a temporary replacement in such a case.

Grüsse aus Berlin,

Charles