Simone Lawson
The classic board game Diplomacy, which can also be played online, involves expressing your dominion over men by crushing all who oppose you. Convoying is a popular move in the game, which involves using a fleet to transport an army across one or more sea or ocean spaces. Convoying is a powerful move as it provides rapid reinforcement, is flexible, unexpected, and more secure. However, it also ties up extra units and can delay the movement of other fleets. To order a convoy move, you click on the tile containing the unit you wish to order, then press the C key on your keyboard, and then click on the tiles representing the beginning and destination of the convoy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Convoying | An action that fleets can do to transport an army across one or more sea/ocean spaces |
| Who can do it? | A fleet can convoy an army that is adjacent to it into another land space that is adjacent to the fleet |
| How to do it? | The army must be ordered to the intended province and the fleet must be ordered to convoy it. The letter "C" may be used to mean "convoys." |
| Number of armies convoyed | A fleet may not convoy more than one army during one move |
| Number of fleets | Multiple fleets may be used to carry out a convoy |
| Convoyed army embarkment | A convoyed army must embark from a coastal land province and land at a coastal land province |
| Convoyed army movement | A convoyed army may travel multiple spaces depending on the length of the chain created by the convoying fleet |
| Convoy disruption | 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 |
| Convoyed attack | A convoyed attack does not cut support. 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, that support is not cut |
| Advantages | The army can move more than one space in a season; it provides rapid reinforcement; it is flexible; it may be unexpected; it is more secure |
| Disadvantages | The convoy ties up extra units; it may waste resources; it may delay the movement of fleets to the front; it may restrict the movement of other fleets; it may provide less security |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Convoying an army across a body of water
In the context of the board game Diplomacy, convoying refers to the act of using fleets to transport army units across water. To successfully convoy an army across a body of water, it is important to understand the rules and strategies involved.
Firstly, it is crucial to know that fleets can only convoy armies across water when they are positioned in water territories themselves. The army must embark from a coastal land province and aim to land at another coastal land province. This means that the fleets act as a bridge, allowing the army to move from one coast to another.
The process of issuing a convoy order is straightforward. On the Backstabbr platform, for instance, players can click on the tile containing the unit they wish to move, press the "C" key, and then click on the tiles representing the starting point and destination of the convoy. Alternatively, players can use the button designed specifically for issuing convoy orders, which is located underneath the map.
It is worth noting that multiple fleets can be utilised to carry out a convoy, extending the distance the army can travel. This is achieved by creating a chain of convoys, with each fleet serving as a link in the chain. However, it is important to remember that a fleet can only accommodate one army at a time. Therefore, careful planning is required to ensure the successful transportation of multiple armies.
In addition, players should be aware that a convoy can be disrupted if the fleet is dislodged. This could occur if the fleet is overpowered by opposing players or units. In such cases, the army would need to find an alternative route or method of transportation.
By following these guidelines and understanding the capabilities and limitations of fleets in the game, players can effectively employ convoys to transport armies across bodies of water, utilising the fleets as a strategic tool to achieve their gameplay objectives.
Hunter Biden's Political Campaign Contributions: A Comprehensive Review
You may want to see also
Convoying an army across several bodies of water
In the board game Diplomacy, a fleet can convoy an army across bodies of water. This is a complex manoeuvre that involves moving an army from a coastal land province to another coastal land province. The fleet must be in a body of water and can only convoy an army from any province on the coast of that body to any other province on the coast of that body.
To convoy an army across several bodies of water, a player needs to control two or more fleets that control adjacent bodies of water. This allows an army to be convoyed through all these bodies of water in one move. For example, if England possessed an army in Lon and fleets in ENG and MAO, they could convoy the army from Lon to Por if both fleets issued the same order.
It is important to note that a fleet may not convoy more than one army in a single move. Additionally, a convoyed army must follow a specific route and may not deviate from it unless instructed to do so. The orders for both the army and the fleet must be clear and use the proper protocol, fully identifying the units involved in the convoy.
Convoying an army is a useful strategy in Diplomacy as it allows players to move their armies large distances in a single move, potentially giving them an advantage over their opponents. It is one of the four basic orders in the game, along with Hold, Attack, and Support.
Campaign Funding: Necessary for Political Success and Democracy
You may want to see also
Disrupting a convoy
Understanding Convoys:
Firstly, it's important to recognize that a convoy is more than just a group of vehicles travelling together. In the military, convoys are utilized to transport personnel and equipment over long distances, providing mutual support and protection to each individual within the group. Proper planning and preparation are crucial to ensure the safe, timely, and coordinated arrival of all members.
Reconnaissance and Intelligence:
Before attempting to disrupt a convoy, gather as much intelligence as possible. Study the convoy's route, composition, and the number of vehicles and personnel involved. Identify potential vulnerabilities, such as flat tires or inclement weather conditions, that you can exploit. Use tools like drones to conduct reconnaissance and stay ahead of the convoy.
Ambush Techniques:
When ambushing a convoy, consider the terrain, the width of your kill zone, and your ability to stop the convoy. Targeting the first and last vehicles simultaneously can be effective, as it prevents the convoy from moving forward or backward. Employing methods like mining both sides of the road can help immobilize the convoy.
Use of Force:
Apply overwhelming force to increase your chances of success. Use weapons such as LMGs, M203 grenades, EMP drones, C4 explosives, and mines to disable vehicles and neutralize hostile forces. Focus on taking out the hardest-hitting targets first to prevent them from retaliating.
Timing and Precision:
Timing is critical when disrupting a convoy. Aim for precision strikes that incapacitate the convoy within a short timeframe. For example, causing 50% damage to a supply truck can cause it to stop entirely.
Surprise and Deception:
The element of surprise is crucial. Approach the convoy from a position of concealment, and if possible, attack from multiple directions. Use tactics that prevent the convoy from escaping or effectively retaliating.
Cutting Off Support:
Identify and target any support vehicles or personnel that could reinforce the convoy. Neutralizing these elements will weaken the convoy's overall capabilities and increase your chances of a successful disruption.
By employing these strategies and adapting them to the specific context of your operation, you can effectively disrupt a convoy and achieve your tactical objectives.
Political Campaign Participation Among Older Adults
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$33.5 $59.99
The advantages of a convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, that travel together for mutual support and protection. The advantages of a convoy system are numerous. Firstly, there is safety in numbers: a convoy is harder to find and attack than a single ship, and it presents a formidable challenge to pirates and privateers. Convoys can be accompanied by warships, further increasing their defensive capabilities. This mutual support and protection offered by convoys can lead to lower insurance premiums, as the risk of loss or damage is reduced.
Convoys also provide efficiency benefits. While convoys travel at the speed of the slowest vessel, they tend to arrive at ports on schedule, allowing for easier planning of loading and unloading operations. This can result in reduced delays and increased productivity compared to individual ships, which may spend significant time waiting for the next convoy to depart. Additionally, ports can better manage their resources when dealing with convoys as they arrive in groups, reducing the strain on port infrastructure.
The use of convoys also allows for the development of effective offensive and defensive tactics. For example, during World War II, convoys became part of the counterattack against U-boats, which could be lured into attacks and then aggressively destroyed by warships within the convoy or by free-ranging special groups. The adoption of convoys can force the enemy to adapt their strategies, providing an advantage to those utilizing convoys.
Convoys have been employed for centuries, with the first Europeans to refine the concept being the Spanish with their treasure fleets in the 16th century. The effectiveness of convoys has been demonstrated throughout history, and they continue to be a valuable strategy for mutual support and protection.
Diplomacy Saves: Compatible with Native Settings or Not?
You may want to see also
The drawbacks of a convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, that travel together for mutual support and protection. Convoys have been used for centuries, with examples of merchant ships travelling under naval protection dating back to the 12th century.
Despite their protective benefits, convoys do have several drawbacks. One significant disadvantage is the potential loss of productivity due to convoy delays. Merchant ships travelling in a convoy must match the pace of the slowest vessel, which can result in reduced speed and efficiency. Additionally, convoys may spend considerable time in ports waiting for the next convoy to depart, potentially overloading port resources. However, it is important to note that the actual analysis of shipping losses during World War I refuted these arguments, particularly for transatlantic and long-distance travel.
Another drawback of convoys is the exposure of escorting warships to hazardous conditions, such as the challenges of the North Atlantic. While protecting merchant ships, these warships may face risks with little opportunity for visible achievement, such as successfully fending off attacks. This can result in a perception of convoys as a less attractive strategy, as the benefits of safeguarding civilian ships may be less apparent than the risks incurred by the military vessels.
In certain situations, convoys can also present challenges in terms of tactical flexibility. For example, during World War I, the presence of battleships posed a significant threat to convoys. To defend against a single opponent battleship, the convoy would require an escort of another battleship, which could result in a high opportunity cost. This meant that multiple capital ships might be tied down to defend different convoys against a single opponent, limiting the overall strategic manoeuvrability of the naval forces.
Convoys can also be vulnerable to attacks by submarines or privateers, especially if they are slower than the merchant ships they target. While convoys provide safety in numbers, they may still suffer losses due to limited torpedo and shell supplies of the attacking forces.
Election Promises: Candidate Platforms and Their Meaning
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
A convoy is a fleet that transports an army across water. It is one of the four basic orders in Diplomacy, the others being hold, attack, and support.
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 convoyed army must embark from a coastal land province and land at a coastal land province.
The convoy is considered by some to be the most powerful move in Diplomacy. Its advantages include rapid reinforcement, flexibility, unexpectedness, and security.
The convoy ties up extra units, delays movement to the front of the fleets, restricts the movement of other fleets, and can actually decrease security.
