How to use point and click for orders

[Nanook]

Under the Guides>quick start tab, there's a link to the rule book as well as to introductory videos, and under the Guides>game rules tab there are the game rules (there's a link in the quick start tab to the game rules tab). Also under guides, there's a new player tab and an FAQ tab. That seems pretty straightforward, and if you don't like to read, well...online diplomacy is probably not for you then.

The point about the forum being byzantine is fair. That's why I listed it as the least likely to happen or work. It definitely has a learning curve to navigation if you've never used it or one similar to it before.

Edit: Seward beat me to it.

[Carebear]

Yup. Check out the Guides tab and walk through the first 3 or 4 tabs and you will see. The truth is that the Quick Start tab videos are all anyone needs for a first game.

I don't recall any of those videos being about the PlayDip interface or the fact it will allow illegal orders. Most online game interfaces (including other Diplomacy sites) don't allow entry of illegal moves. I like that it does as it reflects the F2F aspects. But, for newbies that can be confusing.

During the registration process, does it send the player to this tab?

[WHSeward]

I don't know what the PlayDip reg process does. The Quick Start Page explicitly states that illegal orders are allowed. I am not aware that we have many users that can't figure out how to use the interface. The issue is that people try to play without knowing the rules.

Let me quote a well worn IT maxim: software will not solve your people issues.

[Foibleson]

I'm just wondering what kind of people are in the nonranked games, it seems like it's hard to find a good non-ranked game that doesn't have "newbies" in them. Lots of people forgetting build orders, NMR's, illegal orders. Not very many messages either. But the more experienced players seem to always play ranked.

I know this is a bit off-topic. Perhaps I'll start a few ambassador-only non-ranked games and see if anybody joins.

[ColonelApricot]

For anyone unsure of the validity or effect of theirs and opponents orders I recommend going to the "Orders Solver" immediately to the right of the "Games" tab.

The game positions for an active game (except Fog) can be downloaded into the orders table and proposed orders entered to give the result that will show outcomes including any illegal orders.

[Redhouselawyer]

Is there a way to waive a build and finalize? I am in a situation where I have more builds than open home centers. game let me finalize orders but won't process the next turn, saying I have 1 order remaining even though finalized. Please let me know.

[Nanook]

Is there a way to waive a build and finalize? I am in a situation where I have more builds than open home centers. game let me finalize orders but won't process the next turn, saying I have 1 order remaining even though finalized. Please let me know.

You've done it correctly--the turn isn't moving forward because you aren't the only one with orders to enter. You don't have to finalize to waive the builds (or in your case, extra builds), that is optional. When you do finalize, even in an orders phase, it does not matter whether you have entered all your possible orders or not (so for example, by not entering any orders and clicking finalize, you will NOT receive an NMR but all your units will Hold, as they haven't received any orders).