Simone Lawson
Colonial Diplomacy is a board game and a variant of the original Diplomacy game. It is set in Asia in the late 19th century, with a modified map and additional rules. The game is for seven players, each fighting to control the board through diplomacy and turn-based movement. The board is controlled by European colonial powers, including England, Russia, Japan, Holland, Turkey, China, and France. The game includes notable features such as the Trans-Siberian Railroad and the Suez Canal, which provide strategic advantages to the players who control them. The Suez Canal, controlled by Egypt, becomes increasingly important as the game progresses and expansion becomes more challenging. Colonial Diplomacy won the Origins Award for Best Pre-20th Century Board Game of 1995, sharing the award with The Three Days of Gettysburg.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 7 |
| Setting | Asia in the late 19th century |
| Powers | England, Russia, Japan, Holland, Turkey, China, and France |
| Map | Modified from standard Diplomacy |
| Special features | Trans-Siberian Railroad, Suez Canal |
| Victory condition | Possession of 30 supply centers at the end of any Fall retreat |
| Game type | Turn-based strategy |
| Game length | A few weeks to several months |
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What You'll Learn
The Suez Canal
The use of the Suez Canal in the game is dictated by whoever controls Egypt. The player who occupies Egypt can grant permission for their own or other players' fleets to move directly between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea through the Suez Canal. This rule variation allows for more dynamic gameplay and avoids potential paradoxes that could arise from conditional moves.
Historically, the Suez Canal was opened in 1869 and became instantly strategically important. It provided the shortest ocean link between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, benefiting European colonial powers in their trade and colonial governance. The canal was operated by the Suez Company, with the surrounding area remaining under Egyptian sovereignty.
In the context of the game, the Suez Canal's importance may increase as the game progresses and expansion becomes more challenging. This reflects real-world geopolitical tensions, such as the Suez Crisis, where Britain and France were keen to keep the canal open as a conduit for oil and maintain their influence in the region.
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Trans-Siberian Railroad
The Trans-Siberian Railroad (TSR) is a key feature of Colonial Diplomacy, a variant of the strategic board game Diplomacy. The game is set in Asia in the late 19th century, with players controlling the armed forces of major powers such as England, Russia, Japan, Holland, Turkey, China, and France. Colonial Diplomacy introduces unique elements, such as the TSR, to differentiate it from the original Diplomacy.
The TSR is a railroad that extends across Russia from Moscow to Vladivostok, with a connection to the port station of Nakhodka. This railroad is exclusively for Russia's use and allows the Russian player to move armies anywhere along it. Russian armies can even move through other Russian armies, enhancing their mobility and strategic options. However, foreign armies can block the passage of Russian armies on the TSR, creating opportunities for tactical maneuvers and alliances.
The TSR has a significant impact on gameplay strategies. For example, Russia's ability to utilize the TSR can influence its relationships with other powers, such as Japan and China. The TSR also contributes to the game's historical context, reflecting the real-world importance of the railroad in the economic and military history of the Russian Empire and the migration of millions of peasants to Siberia.
In terms of gameplay mechanics, orders for units using the TSR are written with the TSR as the "first target" for the move. For instance, a move from A Mos to Vla would be written as "A Mos - TSR - Vla." It's important to note that units using the TSR can attack another space along the railroad with the necessary support. However, if a unit of another nationality blocks the path of a unit using the TSR, a standoff occurs, and the TSR unit will be stopped at the point of blockage.
The TSR is a crucial element in Colonial Diplomacy, providing Russia with unique advantages and influencing the strategies of other players. It adds a layer of complexity and historical accuracy to the game, reflecting the challenges and opportunities presented by this vast railroad in the late 19th century.
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Game setup
Colonial Diplomacy is a variant of the board game Diplomacy. It is set in Asia in the late 19th century, and the board is controlled by various colonial powers: the United Kingdom, the Russian Empire, the Empire of Japan, The Netherlands, the Ottoman Empire, China, and France. The game introduces three special features:
- The Trans-Siberian railroad extends across Russia from Moscow to Vladivostok. The railroad can be used by Russia to move armies anywhere along the railroad. The TSR may only be used by Russia. Russian armies are allowed to move through other Russian armies, but foreign armies can block the passage of armies on the TSR.
- The Suez Canal is the only way to move between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
- Panama and Egypt contain "canals," meaning that fleets can traverse them as if they only had a single coast.
Colonial Diplomacy is played on a much bigger map than the original game (all of Asia from the Black Sea east) and develops more slowly and less intensely. The map includes the usual home centers, but France starts with a fleet in Saigon (in Cochinchina). Three new powers were added: India, China, and Japan.
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Rules and gameplay
Colonial Diplomacy is a board game that is very similar to the original Diplomacy game. The game is set in Asia in the late 19th century, with much of the board controlled by European colonial powers. The powers include England, Russia, Japan, Holland, Turkey, China, and France. The objective of the game is to control the board through diplomacy, with seven players moving their pieces simultaneously but in a turn-based manner.
The game includes some notable additions that differentiate it from the original Diplomacy. One such addition is the Trans-Siberian Railroad (TSR), a railroad that extends across Russia from Moscow to Vladivostok. The TSR can only be used by Russia to move its armies, and foreign armies can block the passage of armies on the TSR. Another important feature is the Suez Canal, which is the only way to move between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The use of the Suez Canal is controlled by whoever occupies Egypt, and its importance increases as the game progresses and expansion becomes more challenging.
The game also introduces some modifications to the map and rules. For example, Cebu, a body of water with islands, is analogous to Kiel, Constantinople, or Denmark in standard diplomacy. The Caspian Sea, Lake Baykal, and unnamed spaces are not passable. This version of the game is based on the Moulmein Convention, adding land bridges between specific territories. Hong Kong is a British home supply center, counting as a supply center for any country except China. If China possesses Hong Kong, it becomes a non-supply neutral territory.
Colonial Diplomacy offers a complex and engaging gameplay experience, building upon the foundation of the original Diplomacy game. It provides a unique perspective on the colonial era, allowing players to navigate diplomatic and strategic challenges in a competitive and interactive environment.
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Historical context
Colonial Diplomacy is a board game set in Asia in the late 19th century, when much of the region was controlled by European colonial powers. England, Russia, Japan, Holland, Turkey, China, and France are the colonial powers featured in the game. The late 19th century was a period of intense imperialism, with the industrialising powers of Europe viewing the African and Asian continents as sources of raw materials, labour, and territory for future settlement. This often took the form of brutal exploitation of natural and labour resources, and even military conscripts.
The game's focus on colonial powers and their rivalries reflects the historical context of the time. Diplomacy during this era was largely centred on maintaining and securing colonies, which led to increased tensions and conflicts between colonial powers. The outbreak of World War I in 1914 marked a turning point in diplomacy, as it led to the collapse of empires and the emergence of new nation-states. The formation of the League of Nations, and later the United Nations (UN) in 1945, marked a shift towards multilateral diplomacy, with a focus on conflict resolution and negotiation.
The historical context of Colonial Diplomacy is also shaped by the decolonisation movements that gained momentum after World War II. Many newly independent countries in Asia and Africa emerged during this period, achieving autonomy or outright independence from their European colonial rulers. This process coincided with the Cold War, which complicated diplomacy as the United States supported decolonisation but was also concerned about communist expansion and the Soviet Union's strategic ambitions.
Additionally, the game's dynamics may be influenced by the role of the Catholic Church in medieval diplomacy. Popes, as spiritual leaders, often used their religious authority to resolve disputes and broker peace treaties in conflicts between European states. They also acted as mediators by negotiating treaties and alliances.
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Frequently asked questions
Seven players fight to control the board through diplomacy. The first player to control 24 supply centers wins.
Movement is turn-based, but all players' orders are executed simultaneously. The map is modified and set in Asia in the late 19th century, with much of the board controlled by European colonial powers.
Colonial Diplomacy includes a couple of notable additions, such as the Trans-Siberian Railroad and the Suez Canal, which can be used by players to move their armies.
Colonial Diplomacy is available to play online on platforms such as vDiplomacy, which is an online, multiplayer, turn-based strategy game.
