Omar Bennett
Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954 and released commercially in the United States in 1959. The game is set in Europe in the years leading up to World War I and can be played by two to seven players, each controlling the armed forces of a major European power. While the game is best played with seven players, it can be challenging to find enough people with the time and interest to commit to a single game. Classic Diplomacy requires seven players, each representing one of the Great Powers of Europe: England, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Russia, and Turkey.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ideal number of players | 7 |
| Minimum number of players | 2 |
| Maximum number of players | 7 |
| Number of countries | 7 |
| Countries included | England, France, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Turkey |
| Time required | Large block of time |
| Variants | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
- Classic Diplomacy requires seven players
- Fewer players can play, but rulebooks suggest this leads to a poorer experience
- Each player represents a Great Power of Europe before World War 1
- The aim is to control 18 supply centres, thus gaining control of Europe
- Diplomacy is a strategic board game with negotiation phases and no random elements
Classic Diplomacy requires seven players
Classic Diplomacy is a strategic board game that requires exactly seven players. The game, invented by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954, is set in Europe in the years leading up to World War I. Each of the seven players represents one of the Great Powers of Europe: England, France, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Turkey. These powers are independent of each other and are vying for control of Europe.
The game is known for its negotiation phases, where players form and break alliances, engage in double-dealing, and devise strategies. The absence of dice or other random elements makes the game heavily reliant on player interactions and strategy. During the diplomacy period, players are free to say whatever they wish and can go off to separate rooms to have private conversations, which often involve bargaining, joint military planning, exchanging information, or even spreading rumours.
The objective of the game is for one of the Great Powers to gain control of 18 supply centres, thus achieving dominance over Europe. Players may also agree to end the game early and consider the player with the most pieces on the board as the winner. While the game is designed for seven players, it can be played with as few as two players, each controlling multiple powers.
The versatility of Diplomacy has led to the creation of numerous variants, including different settings, maps, and rules. These variants allow for a more accessible experience, catering to those with busy lives who may not be able to commit a large block of time to the classic seven-player game.
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Fewer players can play, but rulebooks suggest this leads to a poorer experience
While Diplomacy can be played with fewer than seven players, rulebooks suggest that this leads to a poorer experience. The game is designed for seven players, each representing one of the Great Powers of Europe in the years before World War I: England, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and France. Each player is independent, and the game begins with players drawing lots to determine which Great Power they will represent. This element of chance is the only one in the game.
The game ends when one Great Power controls 18 supply centers, achieving dominance over Europe, and the player representing that power is declared the winner. While the standard game requires seven players, it is possible to play with as few as two. However, rulebooks suggest that playing with fewer than seven players may not be as enjoyable.
One reason for this suggestion is that the game dynamics change significantly with fewer players. With seven players, the game encourages negotiation, alliance-building, and strategic planning. Players spend a lot of time forming and betraying alliances, adding an intriguing layer of complexity to the game. However, with fewer players, the negotiation phase may become less crucial, and the game may rely more on strategy and tactics.
Additionally, the rulebooks suggest that playing with fewer than seven players may result in an imbalanced game. With seven players, each power has an equal chance of victory, and the game dynamics are carefully designed to create a challenging and competitive environment. However, with fewer players, certain powers may have an advantage or disadvantage, affecting the overall balance of the game.
To accommodate players who wish to play with fewer than seven people, the rulebooks offer alternative game variants. For example, the Chaos Italy Variant is recommended for six players, while the Escalation Diplomacy Variant can be played with less than six. These variants adjust the rules and game mechanics to better suit the smaller player count, ensuring a more enjoyable and balanced experience.
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Each player represents a Great Power of Europe before World War 1
Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954 and released commercially in the United States in 1959. It is best played with seven players, each 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. Each player is independent of the other and aims to move their few starting units and defeat those of their opponents to gain possession of a majority of strategic cities and provinces marked as "supply centers" on the map. These supply centers allow players who control them to produce more units. The game is won when one Great Power controls 18 supply centers, achieving dominance over Europe.
Each player draws lots to determine which Great Power they will represent, introducing the only element of chance in the game. Players are then free to form alliances and engage in negotiations, which are key components of the game. During these diplomacy periods, players can converse in private, attempting to keep their discussions confidential while also eavesdropping on others. Bargaining, joint military planning, exchanging information, and spreading rumours are common tactics employed during these negotiations.
The game is designed to be versatile, with dozens of variant maps spanning different regions and eras. Players can create their own rules and maps, such as the Fleet Rome variant, where the starting Italian army in Rome is replaced by a fleet. The Youngstown variant, for example, extends the map to include Asia and its colonies, introducing three new powers: India, China, and Japan.
While the ideal number of players is seven, it is possible to play Diplomacy with as few as two players. However, the rulebook versions for six or fewer players are generally less enjoyable. To accommodate a smaller number of players, variants like the Escalation Diplomacy Variant can be employed, or players can control multiple powers.
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The aim is to control 18 supply centres, thus gaining control of Europe
Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954 and commercially released in the US in 1959. It is best played with seven players, each representing one of the Great Powers of Europe in the years before World War I: England, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Austria-Hungary, Italy and France. Each player is independent and aims to gain control of 18 supply centres, thereby "gaining control of Europe" and winning the game.
The supply centres are crucial to the game, as they allow players to produce more units. Players start with three or four supply centres, also known as "home centres". During the game, they aim to move their starting units and defeat opponents to gain possession of more supply centres. The player who first controls 18 supply centres wins. However, the game can also be terminated by mutual agreement before a winner is determined, resulting in a draw for all remaining players.
The negotiation phases are a key feature of Diplomacy, with players forming and betraying alliances, engaging in double-dealing, and creating beneficial strategies. These negotiations occur during a designated diplomacy period before each move, lasting 30 minutes before the first move and 15 minutes before each subsequent move. Players can go to separate rooms or corners to discuss, keeping their conversations secret and even attempting to eavesdrop on others.
While the standard game is designed for seven players, variants have been created to accommodate different numbers. For instance, the Chaos Italy Variant is recommended for six players, while the Escalation Diplomacy Variant can be played with fewer than six. Additionally, map variants have been designed for specific player counts, offering the same rules but with a modified map. These variants ensure that people with busy schedules and less time for gaming can still enjoy Diplomacy.
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Diplomacy is a strategic board game with negotiation phases and no random elements
Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954 and released commercially in the United States in 1959. It is best played with seven players, each 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. Each player is independent of the other and aims to move their few starting units and defeat those of others to gain possession of a majority of strategic cities and provinces marked as "supply centers" on the map. These supply centers allow players who control them to produce more units. The game has no random elements and is primarily focused on negotiation and strategy.
The negotiation phases in Diplomacy are a key distinction from most board wargames, as players spend a significant amount of time forming and betraying alliances, engaging in joint military planning, exchanging information, and devising beneficial strategies. Each player must be willing to commit a large block of time to the game, as the negotiation phases can be lengthy. Before each move, there is a 30-minute diplomacy period for the first move and 15-minute periods before each subsequent move. During these periods, players are free to say whatever they wish and can try to overhear the conversations of others.
While the ideal number of players for Diplomacy is seven, the game can still be played with as few as two players. In such cases, each player may control multiple powers. Additionally, there are variants of the game designed for different numbers of players, such as the Chaos Italy Variant for six players and the Escalation Diplomacy Variant for less than six players. These variants may involve changes to the map or rules to accommodate the number of players.
The versatility of Diplomacy is another appealing aspect, with dozens of variant maps and settings spanning different regions and eras, including ancient, renaissance, and post-apocalyptic worlds. The game has a dedicated following, with various tournaments and events held annually, such as the North American Diplomacy Convention (DipCon) and the European Diplomacy Convention (Euro DipCon). Despite the time commitment and the number of players required, Diplomacy remains a popular strategic board game that offers a unique experience focused on negotiation and strategy.
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Frequently asked questions
Diplomacy is best played with seven players, with each player representing one of the Great Powers of Europe in the years before World War 1: England, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Russia, and Turkey. However, the rules allow for games with as few as two players, though these are used only in casual play and are not considered standard Diplomacy in tournaments or most forms of online play.
Yes, you can play Diplomacy with five players. In this case, Italy and Germany are not used.
Yes, Diplomacy can be played with as few as two players. However, it is recommended to have at least five players to make the game flow with a majority vs. minority dynamic.
