IOT for Dumbies

[NickyJ]

I have no experience with IOT, and I couldn't find any instructions on how to play it, so I started this topic. I'm a bit interested in how this works.

Could someone give me the basic idea of how it is played? (I understand that it takes diplomacy and all that, but what does the diplomacy involve? How do you eliminate nations, and things like that?)

 

[JohannaK]

Think RISK. Then add in some overcomplicating factors. You now have more or less a typical IOT.

 

[Sonereal]

Diplomacy usually involves signing NAPs, alliances, and making demands against another player.

Eliminating nations usually means you conquer the player completely. However, the player would usually surrender or ragequit before that happens. Some games make complete annexation a bad thing through a revolt/stability system.

There are many different IOTs and they're all played differently, with different rules and all. Tiberian Dawn, for instance, is a team-based war game with units, buildings, and the like. However, Valkyrie is a realpolitick-esque game set in 1923. Iron and Blood, of course, is the industrial-era game that had a ruleset for industry, culture, expansion, etc.

Most GMs are nice enough that if you read the rules and the last update or two and join, they will, or players will, help you out with the rest.

I would recommend Tiberian Dawn since I'm running it, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention IB3 Rapidfire, which a simplified version of Iron and Blood with more of a focus on war and simplified economics. That would be a good game to jump in on and get a grasp on some parts of IOT too hard to explain.

 

[NickyJ]

To attack a country, is it like Risk in that you have to "roll dice" to simulate a battle?

 

[hoplitejoe]

It is (mostly) a province based game, You get an income from a factor, be it the amount of provinces something built in the province. This income can be spent on things like armies. Armies are used to expand making a province yours (either neutral or another players) expansion can also be done peaceful ways in some IOTs. Players are (mostly) defeated by being wiped from the map.

It is really hard to explain as things change so much IOT to IOT, the best way to learn is to jump in, as long as you are willing to try and learn the rules the GM will happily help you

I&B3 would be a great game to start on.

 

[Sonereal]

To attack a country, is it like Risk in that you have to "roll dice" to simulate a battle?

Depends on the game, but most GMs don't use dice rolls. Most games use RNG rolls now with modifiers.

 

[SamSniped]

Welcome to Imperium Offtopicum, nickyJ. Leave your sanity at the door

Basically, what you do is create a nation, and try and make it the greatest in the world and/or win, much like civilization. However, unlike Civilization, there's multiple stats, understandable diplomacy, coherent economies, good wars, RP, and christos (just kidding, he's not all that bad when he's your ally).
For examples of what many in the future will be like, I will suggest looking at Multipolarity Rearmed (for a complex IOT) and Iron & Blood 3 (for a simple and more Risk-like IOT).

 

[Double A]

The object of the game is to troll the hell out of everyone else.

 

[SamSniped]

Well, for Double A at least. But don't listen to him, he's just a battery.

 

[Ailedhoo]

The true notion is to work out where Poland is.

 

[NedimNapoleon]

NickyJ join IOT Valkyrie (in my sig), you'll have fun.

 

[SamSniped]

*note to self- make Poland in Canada*

Also, make sure you never take one half of all the posts here seriously.

 

[NedimNapoleon]

Or personally.

 

[Mosher]

NickyJ join IOT Valkyrie (in my sig), you'll have fun.

You'll have a once in a lifetime chance to dogpile Spain.

 

[NedimNapoleon]

The dogpile is gone Mosher.

 

[Double A]

Poland is obviously in Canada.

 

[Ailedhoo]

Poland is obviously in Canada.

No: its in SPAAAAAAAACE!

 

[JohannaK]

No, everyone knows it's on the birth of river Congo.

 

[Ailedhoo]

No, everyone knows it's on the birth of river Congo.

Is that in New York?

 

[kiwitt]

To attack a country, is it like Risk in that you have to "roll dice" to simulate a battle?

Some games require you to do a DoW first in the main game thread. Then you PM detailed orders of your attack to the GM.

I would recommend Tiberian Dawn since I'm running it, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention IB3 Rapidfire, which a simplified version of Iron and Blood with more of a focus on war and simplified economics. That would be a good game to jump in on and get a grasp on some parts of IOT too hard to explain.

I&B3 would be a great game to start on.

Thanks.

I would say a good IOT takes commitment from both the players and the GM. Iron and Blood 1 had this, although it had a smooth GM changeover to me, it played for over 6 months, before it crashed and burned in a rule exploit. It got voted top IOT game and I was also voted GM of 2011 for running it.

I will probably do an Iron and Blood 4 next year, if I have time.