Malcolm Rivera
Diplomacy is a strategic board game set in the years just prior to World War 1, where each player represents one of the Great Powers of Europe: England, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and France. The game is typically played with seven players, but can be played with as few as two. In a three-player game, one player can play England, another Italy, and the third Russia, with Italy pieces on the board but unable to support each other. Alternatively, England-Germany-Turkey can be played against France-Austria-Russia, or England-Austria can be played against Germany-Russia against France-Turkey. The game involves elements of diplomacy, such as bargaining and joint military planning, as well as the underlying economic structure of supply centers. While some players enjoy the three-player variant, others find it imbalanced and prefer to play with a larger group.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 2-7 |
| Best played with | 7 players |
| Minimum number of players for the game to function effectively | 5 |
| Countries represented | England, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Austria-Hungary, Italy, France |
| Objective of the game | Control 18 supply centers to "gain control of Europe" |
| Variants | Machiavelli, Kamakura, Colonial Diplomacy, Hundred, Ard-Rí, Classical, Intimate Diplomacy, Youngstown |
| Game length | Can be agreed beforehand |
| Rules | No diplomacy during the writing and reading of moves, retreats, or adjustments |
| Rules | During diplomacy periods, players can say anything and try to keep conversations secret |
| Rules | Conversations can include bargaining, joint military planning, exchanging information, denouncing, threatening, spreading rumors, etc. |
| Rules | Public announcements and documents can be made public or kept private |
| Rules | Players are not bound to anything they say during diplomacy periods |
| Rules | 34 provinces on the board are designated "supply centers" and are marked with a black dot |
| Rules | Orders for the first few turns are dated "Spring 1901", "Fall 1901", "Spring 1902", and so on |
| Rules | Each set of orders includes the space each unit is in, followed by its order |
| Rules | An eighth person, a "Gamesmaster," can be included to collect and read orders, adjudicate situations, and make rulings |
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What You'll Learn
Three-player variant to learn
The board game Diplomacy is best played by seven players, with each player representing one of the Great Powers of Europe in the years before World War 1: England, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Austria-Hungary, Italy and France. Each player acts independently, and the winner is the first player to gain control of 18 supply centres, thus achieving "control of Europe".
However, the rules do allow for games with as few as two players, although these are considered non-standard. For three-player variants, one option is to eliminate separate negotiations and instead use the "white press" rule, where players communicate their intentions at the board rather than in pairs. This gives players more opportunity to gain experience and practice their tactics, and while it limits the practice of diplomacy, it does not remove it entirely.
Another three-player variant is to have one player control England, with the other two players controlling Italy and Russia respectively. Italy has an additional fleet and supply centre in Trieste, and England has an additional starting army and home centre in Holland.
There are also commercially released variants of the game, including Hundred, a three-player map based on the Hundred Years' War.
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Quickest means of maximising tactical practice
Three-player Diplomacy is a variant of the standard seven-player board game Diplomacy, which is considered more fun and interactive by some players. The quickest means of maximising tactical practice in a three-player setting involves eliminating separate negotiations, allowing players to communicate their intentions directly and learn from each other's strategies and arguments. This approach, known as "white press", provides all players with equal opportunities to gain tactical experience and practice their diplomatic skills, such as lying to their opponents' faces.
In the standard seven-player Diplomacy, each player represents one of the Great Powers of Europe before World War I: England, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and France. The objective of the game is for one of the Great Powers to gain control of 18 supply centres, thereby achieving dominance over Europe. However, in the three-player variant, adjustments are made to the number of supply centres required for victory.
To adapt the game for three players, several rule changes and modifications have been suggested. One common suggestion is to eliminate Italy, as it is considered the least fun and influential country to play. In this scenario, Italian units remain in position and defend themselves but do not support each other. Another option is to eliminate both Italy and Germany, with Italian and German units following the same rules as in the Italy-only scenario.
Some players have proposed alternative country combinations for a three-player game. One suggestion is to have England, Germany, and Turkey as one team, and France, Austria, and Russia as the opposing team, with Italy remaining on the board but inactive. Another proposal is to divide the countries into three equal teams: England/France/Germany, Russia/Italy/Turkey, and Austria/Hungary. However, this setup may result in an advantage for the first team. To balance the game, adjustments such as adding extra fleets or supply centres for certain countries have been suggested.
While the three-player variant of Diplomacy offers a unique and entertaining experience, it is important to note that the game is best played with seven players to maintain balance and strategic complexity.
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Country selection and adjustments
Firstly, it is generally recommended to eliminate Italy and Germany when playing with fewer than five players, as these countries are more vulnerable and can be difficult to defend. Italian units can hold their positions and be supported by other players' units, but they do not support each other. If forced to retreat, Italian units are disbanded.
For a three-player game, one suggested country configuration is England-Germany-Turkey vs. France-Austria-Russia, with Italy pieces on the board but not actively played. This setup allows for interesting dynamics and alliances, as players negotiate and strategize to gain control of Europe. Adjustments can be made to this configuration based on player preferences and the desired level of challenge. For example, England could be given an additional starting army and home centre in Holland, while Italy could have an extra fleet and supply centre in Trieste.
Another option for a three-player game is to have each player control two countries. This setup can be more balanced and provide players with more opportunities for negotiation and strategy. One combination could be England-Austria vs. Germany-Russia vs. France-Turkey. Again, adjustments can be made to suit the players' preferences and skill levels.
It is worth noting that some players suggest that five players is the minimum for the game to function effectively. However, with adjustments and variations, a three-player game can still be enjoyable and provide a good opportunity to learn the mechanics and strategies of Diplomacy.
To enhance the gameplay experience and facilitate negotiations, players can use "white press" diplomacy, where they communicate their intentions openly at the board, rather than in pairs. This approach allows players to learn from each other's arguments and still practice their diplomatic skills, such as lying and bargaining.
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Rules and guidelines
Diplomacy is a strategic board game best played by seven players, though it can be played by as few as two. The game is set in Europe in the years just prior to World War 1, with each player representing one of the Great Powers: England, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and France. Each player acts independently, with the aim of gaining control of Europe by controlling 18 supply centers, marked by black dots on the board.
The game can be adapted for three players by having one player play Russia, and the other two players sharing control of the following triples: England/France/Germany and Austria/Italy/Turkey. Alternatively, one player takes England/Germany/Austria, the second takes Russia/Italy, and the third, France/Turkey.
For a quicker game with more tactical practice, separate negotiations can be eliminated, and "White press" can be implemented, where players communicate their intentions at the board, rather than in pairs. This allows players to learn from each other's arguments and still practice their diplomacy skills.
During diplomacy periods, players are free to say what they wish and can try to overhear others' conversations. They may make public announcements and documents, but are not bound by what they say, as deciding whom to trust is part of the game. It is suggested that an eighth person, a "Gamesmaster," can be included to collect and read orders, adjudicate, and keep time.
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Face-to-face three-player tournaments
Face-to-face Diplomacy tournaments are a great way to experience the game and meet other players. These tournaments can be highly competitive or more focused on socialising, depending on the event. For example, the Origins Game Fair or the World Boardgaming Championships are large multi-game conventions that include Diplomacy tournaments, while DipCon and Dixiecon are Diplomacy-centered conventions with a highly competitive atmosphere.
To prepare for a face-to-face Diplomacy tournament, it is important to understand the tournament format, including the time limit and scoring system. Tournaments can have fixed deadlines, such as a specific game year or a set number of hours, which can impact the gameplay strategies employed. Additionally, the scoring system may be based on supply centres or a draw. Knowing these details in advance can help players adjust their strategies accordingly.
When it comes to three-player Diplomacy, there are various ways to split the countries. One option is to have England, Germany, and Turkey against France, Austria, and Russia, with Italy pieces on the board but vulnerable. Another option is to have England vs Italy vs Russia, with England having an additional starting army and home centre in Holland, and Italy having an extra fleet and supply centre in Trieste. It is worth noting that some players find the England-Germany-Turkey side slightly imbalanced and suggest giving them additional support, such as a Turkish fleet in Naples and a German fleet in Rome, to balance the game.
There are also commercially released variants of Diplomacy that can be played with three players, such as Hundred, a map based on the Hundred Years' War, and Classical, a map based on the ancient world after the death of Alexander the Great. These variants introduce different rules and settings to the game, offering a unique gameplay experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Diplomacy is usually played with seven players, with each player representing one of the Great Powers of Europe in the years just prior to World War 1: England, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and France.
There are a few ways to play Diplomacy with three players. One way is to eliminate Italy and Germany, with Italian and German units holding their positions and defending themselves but not supporting each other. Another way is to have one player play Britain, and the other two players play the following pairs: Austria/France and Germany/Turkey, or Italy/Russia.
One alternative rule for three-player Diplomacy is the "Hail Mary" rule, where if the three core supply points of a nation are occupied, all troops and supply points of that nation are destroyed and supply points return to neutral. Another alternative rule is the "White Press" rule, where players communicate their intentions at the board instead of in pairs, allowing for more opportunities to gain tactical practice.
One variant is based on the Hundred Years' War, which teaches the same mechanics as the original game. Another variant is to have one country be neutral and the other two countries be controlled by the players.
While Diplomacy is typically played with seven players, it can still be enjoyable with three players. Some players find that certain country combinations tend to be imbalanced, but adjustments can be made to address this issue. Ultimately, the fun of Diplomacy comes from the negotiation and strategy involved, which can still be present in a three-player game.
