Eleanor Finch
Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954. It is set in Europe in the years leading up to World War I, and players each control the armed forces of a major European power. The game is known for its negotiation phases, where players form and betray alliances, and the absence of dice or other random elements. To make the game faster, players can agree beforehand to play a fixed number of game years, with the player having the most centres on the board at the end being declared the winner. Alternatively, players can try an abridged version of the game or ensure play proceeds at a decent pace.
Characteristics and Values for a Faster Game of Diplomacy
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 4-5 |
| Countries to eliminate | Italy, Germany, or Turkey |
| Time limit | 3 hours |
| Game years | Agree on a fixed number beforehand |
| Time limit for diplomacy | Agree on a time limit for each turn |
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What You'll Learn
Reduce the number of players
Reducing the number of players is a great way to make the game of Diplomacy faster. The game is best played with seven players, but as few as two can play. The number of players will impact the dynamic of the game, with an odd number of players creating a majority vs minority dynamic.
With fewer players, the game will be faster as there will be fewer negotiations and moves to make and process. The rules allow for games with two to six players, but these are used only in casual play and are not considered standard Diplomacy in tournaments. For example, with six players, each player plays one country, and Italy is not used; with five players, Italy and Germany are not used.
If you have fewer than seven players, you can use the Escalation Variant Rules by Edi Birsan. In this version, players put one piece down on the board in any province one at a time (starting with the youngest player). Once the maximum number of pieces is reached, players start the game with ownership of their starting provinces.
Another way to speed up the game is to agree beforehand to play a fixed number of game years. When the game years are completed, whoever has the most centres on the board is declared the winner. This is similar to some practices on the European diplomacy tournament circuit.
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Agree on a fixed number of game years
One way to make the game of Diplomacy faster is to agree on a fixed number of game years to be played. This is a popular option in tournaments, where time is limited. In a tournament setting, this also ensures that all players can play in all rounds without limiting the tournament structure to one round per day.
The game of Diplomacy proceeds by seasons, beginning in the year 1901, with each year divided into two main seasons: the "Spring" and "Fall" (Autumn) moves. Each season is further divided into negotiation and movement phases, followed by "retreat" or "disband" adjustments and an end-of-the-year Winter phase of new builds or removals following the Fall adjustments.
In a fixed-number game years format, the game simply ends after the agreed-upon number of years, and the player with the most centres on the board is declared the winner. This is similar to some practices on the European Diplomacy tournament circuit.
Experienced players can get through one game year every 30 minutes, including adjudication and build phases. Most groups of players should be able to proceed at one game year every forty minutes or so. To achieve this pace, players should aim to have their orders in the box as soon as the time for diplomacy runs out each turn (no "order writing time").
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Play an abridged version
One way to make a game of Diplomacy shorter is to play an abridged version. This can be done by agreeing beforehand to play a fixed number of game years. Once the agreed-upon number of years has been played, the player with the most centres on the board wins. This is similar to some practices on the European diplomacy tournament circuit.
Experienced players can get through one game year every 30 minutes, including adjudication and build phases. Most groups of players should be able to proceed at one game year every 40 minutes or so. To achieve this pace, players should aim to have their orders in the box as soon as the time for diplomacy runs out each turn (with no "order writing time").
Another way to shorten the game is to eliminate some of the countries. The game can be divided into England-France, and Russia-Turkey-Austria by eliminating Germany, which is the recommended choice by the game designers. However, this has the disadvantage of separating the board. Alternatively, Italy is the obvious first choice to eliminate as it is the least fun to play. In one game, Turkey was eliminated as it was not considered part of Europe, which had the advantage of keeping the countries connected and making Austria more enjoyable to play with two fewer enemies.
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Play with a time limit
Playing with a time limit is a great way to ensure that your game of Diplomacy remains fast-paced and exciting. Here are some tips to make the most of your time-limited session:
- Agree on a fixed number of game years: Instead of playing until a player reaches 18 supply centres, consider playing a set number of game years. For example, you could decide to play through three or four game years, with each year typically lasting around 30 minutes. This ensures that the game ends within your desired time frame.
- Stick to a strict time limit for each turn: Enforce a time limit for each turn to prevent players from taking too long with their moves. For instance, you could allow 5-10 minutes for the negotiation phase and another 5 minutes for players to write their orders. Adjudication and build phases can also be timed to keep the game moving.
- Encourage efficient negotiation: Negotiation is a key part of Diplomacy, but it can also be a time-consuming one. Encourage players to be concise and direct in their negotiations. Players should focus on forming alliances and making strategic decisions without unnecessary delays.
- Streamline adjudication: The adjudication phase can be simplified by using online tools or apps that automate the process of resolving moves and calculating supply centres. This speeds up the game and reduces the risk of errors.
- Consider an abridged version: If time is extremely limited, you could opt for an abridged version of the game. This might involve reducing the number of game years, shortening the negotiation phase, or making other adjustments to suit your available time.
- Keep the player count in mind: The number of players can impact the game's duration. With more players, there are more negotiations and moves to consider, potentially extending the game time. If you're short on time, consider playing with fewer players or setting a stricter time limit to keep the game moving.
Remember, the key to a successful time-limited game of Diplomacy is ensuring that all players are aware of and agree to the time constraints. By working together to keep the game moving, you can still enjoy the strategic depth and social interaction that makes Diplomacy unique, even within a shorter time frame.
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Eliminate certain countries
Diplomacy is a strategic board game that can be time-consuming. To make the game faster, one way is to reduce the number of players, which is seven in a standard game. With fewer players, you will need to eliminate certain countries from the game. The number of countries eliminated should correspond to the number of players you have. For example, in a game with five players, Italy and Germany are usually not included.
The choice of which countries to eliminate can be influenced by the shape of the board and the strategic areas of the game. The board is divided into two strategic areas or spheres: the eastern sphere, which includes Austria, Russia, and Turkey, and the western sphere, which includes England, France, and Germany. Italy sits between these two spheres and is often the first choice to be eliminated as it is the least fun to play. Germany is the second country recommended by the game designers, but this has the disadvantage of separating the board into England-France, and Russia-Turkey-Austria. Alternatively, you could eliminate Turkey, as it is not really considered part of Europe, and this keeps the countries connected, making Austria more enjoyable to play with two fewer enemies.
Another strategy to consider when choosing which countries to eliminate is the concept of a "stalemate line". A stalemate line is a position that cannot be breached or pushed back by the enemy and includes supply centres to support the units needed to form the line. Certain countries or alliances may aim to attain a stalemate line to ensure they are in a position of strength before attempting to win the game.
Finally, negotiation and strategy are key aspects of the game. The choice of which countries to eliminate can be influenced by the players' negotiation skills and their ability to choose combinations of countries and overall directions of movement that will lead to victory.
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Frequently asked questions
To make the board game Diplomacy faster, you can appoint someone who isn't playing the game to keep track of time. This can be in exchange for food and good company. Alternatively, you can play an abridged version of the game or ensure play proceeds at a decent pace.
To ensure play proceeds at a decent pace, you can have everyone agree to have their orders in the box as soon as the time for diplomacy runs out each turn (no "order writing time"). Experienced players can get through one game year every 30 minutes, including adjudication and build phases. Most groups of players should be able to proceed at one game year every 40 minutes or so.
To play an abridged version of Diplomacy, you can agree beforehand to play a fixed number of game years. Then, when these game years are completed, whoever has the most centres on the board is declared the winner.
