Omar Bennett
Italy has a reputation for being one of the weakest countries to start with in Diplomacy, with statistics showing that Italy has the least number of wins. However, Italy has a lot of strategic potential, being easy to defend by land, having available oceans for naval supremacy, and having home centres placed near several stalemate lines. Italy's most common winning strategy is to invade Austria and then Turkey, or vice versa, with an early alliance with Austria being crucial. Italy's chance for greatness will most likely come in the mid-game, when it can be a significant power broker if it has remained viable.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Italy's position in the game | Italy is a central power with a paucity of centers available. |
| Italy's wins | Italy has the least wins, least shared draws and second-most eliminations. |
| Early alliances | Austria is Italy's best early ally. |
| Italy's chance for greatness | Italy's chance for greatness will most likely come in the mid-game when it can be a significant power broker. |
| Italy's neighbours | Germany is an impractical option for an initial strike. The remaining three neighbours, Austria, Turkey, and France, are more reasonable options. |
| Common winning strategy | Invade Austria and then overpower and invade Turkey, or vice versa. |
| Italy's expansion | Italy can expand to England in the north and as far into Russia as Warsaw and Moscow in the east. |
| Italy's plan | Take over most of the South (Italy, Tunis, Austria, the Balkans neutrals, Turkey, and Sevastopol) plus Marseilles and some combination of other centers. |
| Italy's winning line | Italy will hold Venice, Rome, Naples, and Tunisia. |
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What You'll Learn
Italy's starting position
Italy's central position, both geographically and politically, is a key factor in its starting position. While Italy has limited early growth potential with only one available neutral centre, its centrality allows it to form alliances or change sides fairly easily. Italy's flexibility and patience are crucial to its strategy, as it is not well-positioned for early aggression or expansion. Instead, Italy should focus on fostering peace and biding its time until the mid-game, when it can become a significant power broker.
Italy's defence by land and access to oceans for naval supremacy contribute to its strategic potential. Its home centres are placed near stalemate lines, allowing for quick reinforcement or sudden breaches. Additionally, Italy has several easily defended centres that can be seized in the initial strike and converted into a strong power base. These include southern Balkans, Turkey, Iberia, Marseilles, and combinations of other centres such as Spain, Portugal, Warsaw, and Moscow.
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Early alliances
Italy has a reputation for weakness in Diplomacy, with the least number of wins and the second-most eliminations. However, Italy can definitely win the game with the right strategy and alliances.
Italy's position in the middle of the board, both geographically and politically, gives it the luxury of picking sides and changing them with relative ease. Its one available neutral centre can be taken uncontested, so Italy is not often an early target. Patience and flexibility are key to Italy's strategy, as it is not in a good position to gain much from an early war.
The most common winning strategy for Italy is to invade Austria and then Turkey, or vice versa, using a "Lepanto" invasion. This involves Italy convoying an army into Syria. An alliance with Austria is considered essential by some, as Austria can be a significant threat if left unchecked. However, others suggest that Italy should aim to eliminate this threat by invading Austria first, with the help of Russia. This strategy can be risky, as Austrians can be vengeful if stabbed by Italians.
An alliance with Russia is also important, especially if Austria or Germany attempts an early blitz. Russia can be convinced to attack Austria or Turkey, and Italy can benefit from encouraging Turkey to attack Russia. Italy should also aim for a truce with France in the early game and try to stir up strife between the Western powers without engaging directly.
Overall, Italy's early alliances depend on its long-term strategy and whether it aims to invade Austria or Turkey first. Diplomacy and careful negotiation are key to securing these early alliances and setting Italy up for a winning position in the mid-game.
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Strategies for mid-game
Italy has a reputation for weakness in Diplomacy due to the nuanced diplomacy and strategic foresight required to play as them. However, in the hands of an expert, Italy is one of the most powerful countries in the game.
Italy's chance for greatness will most likely come in the mid-game, when it can be a significant power broker if it has remained viable. With these principles in mind, peace with France and Germany is very important. Nothing much can be gained from an early attack on either. The necessary commitment of forces north or west leaves you extremely vulnerable to attacks from Austria and Turkey, and if you are successful, you will instill fear in Austria and Turkey and become a target.
An alliance with Russia is an important goal. Russia can also be a valuable ally in case Austria or Germany attempts an early blitz. While Russia may enjoy seeing Austria or Germany moving west, an experienced player will see the long-term potential of an Austria or Germany grown fat with Italian centres.
Austria is your best early ally, an alliance that will give you the staying power to become a power broker in the mid-game. It is very difficult to win as Italy without stabbing Austria, but the stab has to be timed correctly, and usually, it is done in conjunction with Russia, around 1905 or so. Turkey is your greatest threat. France has better pastures to plunder. But Turkey, with Austria's help or after Austria's fall, can attack you with impunity. So be friendly with Turkey, learn what you can, encourage them to attack Russia (never Austria), but don't trust them and keep your knife sharp!
You need to make sure you have leverage over the Balkans. The Balkans have the highest density of centres. You will not win or top without them. This doesn’t mean attacking Austria right away. Sometimes it means not attacking Austria at all. Just make sure that, whether your ally is Austria, Russia, or Turkey, you get more Balkan centres (or Turkish centres to make up for the loss of the Balkans) than your allies.
At mid-game, Italy might find itself having to deal with England around Iberia, or Germany in France. You will want to play them off of each other, allying with one over the other or flip-flopping between the two, to try and make the most ground. Be careful about going against Germany with England–Germany might be in a good spot against Russia or some other eastern Power, and you wouldn’t want to strengthen England at your own expense.
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Avoiding elimination
Firstly, Italy's geographical and political centrality makes it crucial to maintain peace with France and Germany in the early game. Any aggression should be limited and controlled, as Italy is vulnerable to attacks from Austria and Turkey. Fostering a long-term alliance with Austria is often advantageous, as it provides staying power and the opportunity to become a power broker in the mid-game. However, this alliance must be carefully managed, as Austrians can be vengeful if they feel betrayed.
Secondly, Italy's flexibility and patience are essential. Italy often has the luxury of picking sides and changing alliances, so it is important to assess which neighbours are trustworthy and which seem uncooperative. Geopolitically, Turkey is usually at odds with Italy, so a strict and dedicated alliance is necessary if the two countries aim to coexist. Russia can be a valuable ally, especially if Austria or Germany attempts an early blitz. Encouraging Russia to attack Austria or Turkey can be beneficial for Italy's position.
Additionally, Italy should focus on securing key territories, such as Tunis, in the early game. While growth may be slow, accumulating 5-6 centres of power and forming alliances can make Italy a formidable force. Italy's naval capabilities are also important, as they provide the means to attack other powers and establish dominance in the Mediterranean.
In summary, avoiding elimination as Italy in Diplomacy requires a combination of strategic alliances, flexibility, and a strong focus on defence and territorial expansion. While Italy may not be an early target, careful navigation of its relationships with neighbouring countries is essential to survive and ultimately, emerge as a significant power broker.
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Italy's chance for greatness
Italy has a reputation for weakness in Diplomacy, but it can be a significant power broker if played with nuance and flexibility. Its chance for greatness will most likely come in the mid-game, when it can be a power broker if it has remained viable.
The key to Italy's success is diplomacy and the ability to secure allies for the long term. Italy should foment peace and bide its time in the early game, only committing to limited and controlled aggression. It should focus on maintaining good relations with its neighbours, especially Austria, Turkey, and Russia.
Austria is Italy's best early ally, as it can help Italy become a power broker in the mid-game. However, Italy must eventually stab Austria, and this must be done at the right time, usually in conjunction with Russia around 1904 or 1905. Italy should also be wary of a vengeful Austrian response to any betrayal.
Turkey is Italy's greatest threat, and Italy must never let its guard down with Turkey, even if they are allies. It is in Turkey's interest to attack Italy, so Italy should always be prepared for this eventuality.
Russia can be a valuable ally, especially if Austria or Germany attempts an early blitz. Italy should aim to keep Russia informed and coordinate their actions, such as attacking a common target.
Italy should also focus on maintaining peace with France and Germany in the early game, as attacking them will leave Italy vulnerable to attacks from Austria and Turkey. Italy should aim for a mid-game push, taking advantage of its central position to expand westward or northward into France and England.
Italy's goal is to secure 18 centres, and it has the flexibility to pick its targets. It should aim to seize easily defended centres in the initial strike and convert them into a strong power base through the middle and end games.
Overall, Italy's chance for greatness lies in its ability to maintain alliances, exploit its central position, and carefully time its betrayals and expansions. With the right strategy and a bit of luck, Italy can definitely win the game.
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Frequently asked questions
Italy's most common winning strategy is to either invade Austria and then overpower and invade Turkey, or to invade Turkey and then turn to overpower and invade Austria. Italy can also expand westward, eventually creeping into the North, though this is rare.
Italy is easy to defend by land and has available oceans for the kind of naval supremacy that any winning power must develop. Italy also has home centres placed near several stalemate lines for quick reinforcement or sudden breaches. However, Italy has a paucity of centres available and limited early growth potential.
Italy is in the middle geographically and politically, so it will not often be an early target and has the luxury of picking sides. Italy's chance for greatness will most likely come in the mid-game, so peace with France and Germany is very important in the early game. It is very difficult to win as Italy without stabbing Austria, but this must be timed correctly, usually in conjunction with Russia around 1904 or 1905.
