Eleanor Finch
Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhammer in 1954 and released commercially in 1959. It is set in Europe just before the beginning of World War I and involves players controlling the armed forces of a major European Power. The game can be played by two to seven players, with each player representing one of the Great Powers of Europe: England, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and France. The game is known for its negotiation phases, where players form and betray alliances, and the absence of dice or other elements that produce random effects. The objective of the game is to be the first player to gain control of 18 supply centers, which is considered gaining control of Europe.
WebDiplomacy is an online version of the game that allows players from around the world to play for free without any advertisements or paywalls. The website is moderated to ensure smooth gameplay and prevent cheating.
Characteristics and Values of Web Diplomacy:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Players | 2-7 |
| Game Type | Strategic board game |
| Setting | Europe, pre-World War I |
| Powers | England, France, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Ottoman Turkey |
| Game Pieces | Armies and Fleets |
| Territories | 56 land, 19 water |
| Supply Centers | 34 |
| Win Condition | Control 18 or more supply centers |
| Game Phases | Spring, Fall, Winter |
| Negotiation Period | 30 mins before the first move, 15 mins before each subsequent move |
| Play Style | Turn-based, simultaneous moves |
| Cost | Free |
| Platforms | Online, email, postal |
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What You'll Learn
Classic Diplomacy requires seven players
The game has three phases: spring, fall, and winter. Spring and fall are diplomacy phases when players use their armies, while winter is the build phase. After each fall move, newly acquired supply centres become owned by the occupying player, and each power's supply centre total is recalculated. Players with fewer supply centres than units on the board must disband units, while players with more supply centres than units are entitled to build new units in their open (unoccupied) home centres. Players who have lost all their home centres may not build new units, and players controlling no supply centres are eliminated from the game. If a player controls 18 or more (the majority) of the 34 supply centres at the end of a year, they are the winner.
Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhammer in 1954 and released commercially in 1959. Its main distinctions from most board wargames are its negotiation phases and the absence of dice or other game elements that produce random effects. While it is easy to learn the basic mechanics of the game, the actual gameplay is complex, built around social interactions and interpersonal skills. Players do not take turns sequentially; instead, all players secretly write down their moves after a negotiation period, and then all moves are revealed and put into effect simultaneously. During the negotiation period, players can go off in twos or threes to form alliances, exchange information, bargain, plan joint military attacks, or spread rumours.
Diplomacy can also be played online, and there are several free websites where players can arrange games to be played out over multiple weeks, with orders submitted every 12 or 24 hours, allowing for lengthy correspondence between players.
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Each player controls a major European power
Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhammer in 1954 and released commercially in 1959. It is played by two to seven players, with each player controlling a major European power. The classic version of the game is set on a simplified map of Europe in 1901, at the height of the rivalry among the great imperial powers. These powers include England, France, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Ottoman Turkey. Each player aims to move their starting units and defeat those of others to win 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 three phases: spring, fall, and winter. Spring and fall are diplomacy phases when players use their armies, while winter is the build phase, where players can disband or build units depending on how many supply centers they have. During the diplomacy phases, players can go to another room or corner in pairs or small groups to secretly bargain, plan militarily, exchange information, or spread rumours.
The game board is on the scale of an entire continent, and players must decide whether to raise an army or a fleet, with land and sea power being almost equally significant. There are 56 land territories and 19 water territories. A power can have as many units as it has supply centers, and all powers start with three supply centers, except Russia, which starts with four. There are 12 neutral supply centers, and the player who gains control of 18 supply centers first is the winner.
The game is not played sequentially, with all players secretly writing down their moves after a negotiation period and then revealing and putting them into effect simultaneously. This aspect, along with the absence of dice or other random elements, distinguishes Diplomacy from other board wargames.
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The aim is to gain control of 18 supply centres
Classic Diplomacy is played by two to seven players, each controlling the armed forces of a major European power. The aim is to gain control of 18 supply centres, which are represented on the map as strategic cities and provinces. The centres allow players who control them to produce more units. Each power starts with three supply centres, except for Russia, which starts with four. There are also 12 neutral supply centres.
To gain control of a supply centre, a player must move their units onto it. However, one unit alone cannot always conquer a supply centre, as there may be enemy units occupying it. Therefore, support from another unit is often required. If a player loses a supply centre to another player, they must disband one of their units and are left with fewer units to fight with.
The game has three phases: spring, fall, and winter. Spring and fall are diplomacy phases when players use their armies. After these phases, there are retreat and build phases. The retreat phase allows players who have lost armies to move them or disband them. The build phase occurs in the winter, when powers can disband or build units depending on how many supply centres they have.
The first player to gain control of 18 supply centres wins the game.
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Players can negotiate and form alliances
Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhammer in 1954 and released commercially in 1959. It is set in Europe in 1901, at the height of the rivalry among the great imperial powers of England, France, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Ottoman Turkey, which would eventually culminate in World War I. The game is played by two to seven players, each controlling the armed forces of a major European power (or, with fewer players, multiple powers).
The game proceeds by seasons, with each year divided into two main seasons: spring and fall (autumn). Each season is further divided into negotiation and movement phases, followed by "retreat" or "disband" adjustments. The negotiation phase is where players discuss tactics and strategy, form alliances, and share intelligence. Players are encouraged to play with friends, but this must be done in a private game with an invite code, and all players must be made aware of any real-life connections before the game begins.
The gameplay is built around social interactions between the players, each pursuing their own interests through a series of military pacts. Players can form and betray alliances, and no agreements are enforceable. This aspect of the game is what makes it so addictive and interesting, as it involves complex human interactions and strategies rather than relying on dice or other random game elements.
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The game has three phases: spring, fall, and winter
Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954 and released commercially in 1959. It is a multiplayer, turn-based strategy game that can be played with two to seven players. The game board is on the scale of an entire continent, and players each control the armed forces of a major European power.
The Spring and Fall seasons are followed by the end-of-the-year Winter phase, which is a build phase where new builds or removals are made. During the Winter phase, control of supply centers shifts hands. Any supply centers with units occupying them shift to the control of the power that controls that unit. Players issue orders on which units they would like to be created or disbanded, depending on the number of supply centers they control.
The game proceeds by seasons, beginning in the year 1901, and players can use their armies during the Spring and Fall diplomacy phases. After these phases, there are retreat and build phases. During the retreat phase, players who have lost armies can move or disband them.
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Frequently asked questions
Web Diplomacy is a multiplayer, turn-based strategy game that can be played with two to seven players. Classic Diplomacy requires seven players, each representing one of the Great Powers of Europe before World War I.
The objective of the game is to gain control of Europe by occupying a majority of the strategic cities and provinces marked as "supply centers" on the map. Each player aims to move their starting units and defeat their opponents to win possession of 18 or more supply centers, which is the majority.
Players do not take turns sequentially. Instead, all players secretly write down their moves after a negotiation period and then reveal and execute their moves simultaneously. Social interaction and interpersonal skills are essential, as players spend much of their time forming and betraying alliances.
No, web Diplomacy is completely free to play. There are no intrusive advertisements or paywalls, and you will never be charged for extra features or required to provide payment information. However, donations are accepted to cover operating costs and server maintenance.
