Simone Lawson
In the board game Diplomacy, a convoy is a type of order that can be given to a fleet to move an army across a body of water to a coastal province. A fleet can convoy an adjacent army to another land space that is adjacent to the fleet, as long as the player also moves the army to that space. Multiple fleets can work together to create a chain of convoys to move an army further. Convoys are useful for moving armies across water, supporting coastal battles, and blockading sea spaces. However, convoys have their drawbacks. They require extra units, can restrict the movement of other fleets, and leave the convoying fleet vulnerable to disruption by the enemy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Units | There are two types of units: Armies and Fleets. |
| Convoy | A fleet can convoy an army that is adjacent to it into another land space that is adjacent to the fleet. |
| Support | A unit can be ordered to support another unit either to hold its position or to attack a province. |
| Convoy and Support | A fleet can convoy or support but not both. Convoying fleets cannot move that turn. |
| Multi-fleet Convoys | Multi-fleet convoys tie up extra units and the previous move before the convoyed move can be harmed. |
| Security | Convoying fleets cannot support each other and are less secure. |
| Routes | If an army could arrive at its destination either overland or by convoy, one route must be considered and the other disregarded, depending upon the intent of the player governing the army. |
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What You'll Learn
Convoying an army across a body of water
In the board game Diplomacy, a fleet can be used to convoy an army across a body of water. Convoying is one of the four basic orders in the game, the others being "Hold", "Attack", and "Support". A fleet can convoy an army that is adjacent to it into another land space that is adjacent to the fleet. The player must also make the army move to the space. Multiple adjacent fleets can create a chain of convoys to move an army further.
A fleet in a body of water may convoy an army from any province on the coast of that body to any other province on the coast of that body. Convoys are useful for moving armies to the mainland, such as in the case of England. Convoys are also useful for keeping the enemy guessing, as a fleet that can convoy an army to a space can itself attack the same space if it does not convoy.
However, convoys have their drawbacks. Firstly, they tie up extra units. Even an unsupported convoy uses a minimum of two pieces, and a long convoy that fails is a waste of resources. Secondly, for multi-fleet convoys, the move previous to the convoyed move can be harmed. Thirdly, security can be an issue. A fleet that is convoying cannot support, and since each fleet involved can only convoy or hold until the move is completed, their impact on the board can be negligible until the convoy is completed.
There are also some special cases and tricky situations to be aware of when it comes to convoys. For example, if an army could arrive at its destination either by land or convoy, one route must be used and the other disregarded, depending on the intent as shown by the totality of the orders written by the player governing the army. Additionally, a convoyed army does not cut the support of a unit supporting an attack against one of the fleets necessary for the army to convoy.
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Convoys and support
In the board game Diplomacy, there are four basic orders: hold, attack, support, and convoy. A fleet can convoy an adjacent army into another land space that is adjacent to the fleet. The player must also make the army move to the space. Multiple adjacent fleets can create a chain of convoys to move an army further.
A fleet that is convoying cannot also support, and so a fleet can convoy or support but not both. Each convoying fleet cannot move that turn and must remain where it is, or it risks losing its position. Convoys are not disrupted if a unit attempts to move into the territory of the convoyer, they are only disrupted if the fleet is dislodged.
A convoyed army does not cut the support of a unit supporting an attack against one of the fleets necessary for the army to convoy. For example, if a convoyed army attacks a fleet supporting an action in a body of water, and that body of water contains a convoying fleet, that support is not cut.
If an army could arrive at its destination either overland or by convoy, one route must be considered and the other disregarded, depending on the intent as shown by the totality of the orders written by the player governing the army. If at least one of the convoying fleets belongs to the player who controls the army, then the convoy route is used, and the land route is disregarded. If none of the convoying fleets belong to the player controlling the army, then the land route is used. However, the player controlling the army can still use the convoy route if they indicated "via convoy" on the army move order.
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Convoys and security
In the board game Diplomacy, a fleet can be used to convoy an adjacent army into another land space that is adjacent to the fleet. The player must also make the army move to the space. Multiple adjacent fleets can create a chain of convoys to move an army farther.
Convoys are useful for moving armies across bodies of water to coastal provinces. They can also be used to blockade sea spaces to prevent other fleets from expanding. Convoys are not disrupted if a unit attempts to move into the territory of the convoyer, they are only disrupted if the fleet is dislodged.
However, convoys have their drawbacks. They require planning ahead and can tie up extra units, delaying the movement of other fleets. They can also be less secure, as a convoying fleet cannot support another fleet at the same time. This means that only two enemy fleets are needed to disrupt a convoy. The enemy may also take advantage of the convoy to dislodge the convoying fleet or move around it.
Therefore, while convoys can be a powerful move in Diplomacy, they should be used judiciously and with consideration of the potential risks. It is important to have additional support in place to protect the convoying fleet and ensure the success of the convoy.
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Convoys and flexibility
In the board game Diplomacy, a convoy is a special type of move that allows a fleet to transport an adjacent army to another land space that is adjacent to the fleet. This is especially important for countries like England, which needs fleets to convoy armies to the mainland.
Convoys offer a degree of flexibility, keeping the opponent guessing. A fleet can choose to attack, convoy, or support, giving it great flexibility. However, this flexibility is limited as a fleet can only perform one action at a time. Therefore, additional support is required when attempting a convoy in the face of the enemy.
Convoys are also secure as they are not disrupted if a unit attempts to move into the territory of the convoyer. They are only disrupted if the fleet is dislodged. However, this security is reduced as the enemy may take advantage of the convoy to dislodge the convoying fleet or move around it. Furthermore, a convoy ties up extra units, requiring a minimum of two pieces, and can delay the movement of fleets to the front.
Convoys can be an unexpected move, but only if your opponents are not keeping a watch for them. It is important to note that a fleet can either convoy or support, but not both. Each convoying fleet cannot move during that turn and may be forced to remain in its position to avoid losing its place. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that your fleets are in a position where the enemy cannot dislodge them.
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Convoys and attack
In the board game Diplomacy, a convoy is a special type of move that allows a fleet to transport an adjacent army to another land space that is adjacent to the fleet. This is particularly useful for countries like England, which requires fleets to convoy armies to the mainland.
Convoys are an important strategic consideration in the game, as they can be used to launch unexpected attacks. However, they require careful planning, as fleets involved in convoying cannot support each other and are vulnerable to being disrupted by enemy fleets. This makes them a risky strategy, as they can tie up extra units and leave your forces less secure.
When planning a convoyed attack, it's important to remember that a convoying fleet is not considered to be giving support. This means that the army being convoyed must have separate support from other units to ensure the success of the attack. Additionally, if a convoyed army attacks a fleet that is supporting an action in a body of water, and that body of water contains a convoying fleet, the support is not cut.
Convoys can also be used to move armies farther by creating a chain of adjacent fleets, but this requires even more planning and coordination. It's important to consider the risks and benefits of using convoys in the game, as they can be powerful but also have significant drawbacks.
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Frequently asked questions
A convoy is one of the four basic orders in Diplomacy. Fleets may be ordered to convoy armies across bodies of water to coastal provinces. A fleet can convoy an adjacent army into another land space that is adjacent to the fleet.
A fleet in a body of water may convoy an army from any province on the coast of that body to any other province on the coast of that body. A convoyed army may travel multiple spaces depending on the length of the chain created by the convoying fleet.
Convoys are not disrupted if a unit attempts to move into the territory of the convoyer. They are only disrupted if the fleet is dislodged. A convoyed army does not cut the support of a unit supporting an attack against one of the fleets necessary for the army to convoy.
A convoy is flexible and unexpected. It can keep the enemy guessing and play three roles: attack, convoy, or support. However, a convoy ties up extra units and requires planning ahead. It may also be less secure and the move previous to the convoyed move can be harmed.
