[DonCorazon]

I think this is an example of where the problem is the question. To win an MP game you really need to have mastered several elements, not just one. I have survived to the endgame in almost every MP game with diplomacy but could not pull off a win because my endgame knowledge was totally inadequate.

I witnessed Ironhawk’s mastery of diplomacy in Epotara. His coalition of the willing led to him pulling off a challenging VP victory. Nevertheless, it was also his ability to put together a force that could win the final epic clash in Utgard that cinched his victory.

In contrast, I managed to stay in the race in Epotara with diplomacy and opportunistic conquests, but my first real endgame battle was a disaster and revealed how ill prepared I was to really pull off a victory. In my case, I think it wasn’t diplomacy I needed but a better understanding of what endgame battles look like.

So my two cents are you need diplomacy to get to the endgame, and you need to understand how to fight MP endgame battles to ultimately pull off a win. Because no matter how silver-tongued you are, eventually you have to fight. The challenge for noobs is that it can take several months to get to the point where you are fighting MP endgame battles. And you really need to see how those are fought to know how to develop your nation and strategy. So unless you have time for the fast learning blitz experience (which I usually don’t), you are in for a long harsh learning experience when the armies and nations you so lovingly crafted as a noob in a long MP game get obliterated by a horde of Army of Leaded Vine Ogres backed with Mistformed Tartarians etc.