Eleanor Finch
Diplomacy is a strategic board game that was 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, with each player controlling the armed forces of a major European power. When playing with four players, it is recommended to pick four countries and block out the rest of the map. The game proceeds by seasons, beginning in the year 1901, with each year divided into two main seasons: the Spring and Fall (Autumn) moves. Each player aims to move their few starting units and defeat those of others to gain control 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.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 4 |
| Game type | Strategic board game |
| Setting | Europe in the years leading to the First World War |
| Objective | Gain control of 18 supply centers or have the most centers on the board at a predetermined end time |
| Player roles | Each player controls the armed forces of a major European power (England, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and France) |
| Player independence | Players can team up with others for any number of moves |
| Negotiation | Players spend time forming and betraying alliances, and creating beneficial strategies |
| Movement | Players secretly write down their moves after a negotiation period, then all moves are revealed and executed simultaneously |
| Combat | No random elements, no dice or cards; each military unit has the same strength |
| Game length | 3-4 hours |
| Time limit | Agreed beforehand or use a deck of 10 cards with 4 aces to determine the end |
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What You'll Learn
Teaming up with other players
To facilitate this, the rules for teaming are eliminated, and a system of 'private' chats and arrows are enabled. These private chats and arrows are only visible to the players involved and are not moderated or archived. In addition, there are also public chats and arrows, which can be viewed by all players and even spectators.
Teaming up can be a risky strategy, as it relies on trust, and the game of Diplomacy often involves backstabbing and betrayal. However, it can also be a way to gain an advantage over other players and ultimately win the game.
When forming teams, it is important to consider the strengths and weaknesses of potential teammates, as well as the potential benefits and risks of working together. It is also crucial to be aware of the possibility of being backstabbed or betrayed by teammates, especially if they see an opportunity for personal gain.
Overall, teaming up with other players in the four-player variant of Diplomacy can be a complex and risky strategy, but one that can also lead to victory if played well.
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Negotiation phases
Diplomacy is a strategic board game that differs from most war games in that it does not involve sequential turns. Instead, it involves a negotiation period where players secretly plan their moves, and then all moves are revealed and executed simultaneously. The game is set in Europe in the years leading up to World War I, and each player controls the armed forces of a major European power. The objective is to defeat other players and gain control of a majority of strategic cities and provinces marked as "supply centers" on the map. These supply centers allow players to produce more units.
The game proceeds by seasons, with each year divided into two main seasons: Spring and Fall (Autumn) moves. Each season is further divided into negotiation and movement phases, followed by "retreat" or "disband" adjustments. During the negotiation phase, players discuss tactics, form alliances, and share intelligence or spread disinformation. Negotiations can be made public or kept private, and players are not bound to any promises made during this phase. Communication and trust are crucial, as players must forge alliances and observe their allies' actions to evaluate their trustworthiness.
In a four-player game, players can team up with others for one or multiple moves. To facilitate this, a system of ''private' chats and arrows is enabled, allowing players to communicate secretly without moderation or archiving. There are also public chats and arrows, and with the right settings, even spectators can join and participate. It is suggested that the 'Wilson' or 'Public Press' rule be applied, meaning that all discussions must be held openly with no whispers or secret signals.
The game can be played in an abridged version or with a fixed number of game years agreed upon beforehand. To progress at a decent pace, it is recommended that players have their orders ready when the time for diplomacy runs out each turn. Experienced players can complete one game year in 30 minutes, while most groups can achieve this in 40 minutes.
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Strategic cities and provinces
Diplomacy is a strategic board game that involves capturing and holding provinces and cities. The game is set in Europe in the years leading up to World War I. The map is divided into 75 provinces on water and land, with 34 of these provinces containing supply centres. These supply centres are marked with a dot or star and allow players to produce more units.
The game is played on a grand scale, with the entire continent of Europe serving as the game board. Each player controls the armed forces of a major European power, such as England, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Russia, or Turkey. The objective is to defeat other players and capture a majority of the strategic cities and provinces, or supply centres, on the map.
There are three types of provinces in the game: land, coast, and sea provinces. Land provinces can only contain armies, sea provinces can only contain fleets, and coastal provinces can contain both. Each player must decide whether to raise an army or a fleet, a decision that will significantly impact their gameplay.
In a four-player variant of the game, players can team up with other players for a set number of moves or until a certain time. This variant also includes "private" chats and arrows that are only visible to the intended recipients, allowing players to communicate and strategize without the knowledge of their opponents.
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Writing orders
Diplomacy is a strategic board game that differs from most wargames due to its negotiation phases and the absence of dice and other random elements. The game is set in Europe in the years leading up to World War I, and each player controls the armed forces of a major European power. The objective is to defeat others and gain control of a majority of strategic cities and provinces marked as "supply centers" on the map.
Now, onto the writing of orders. Each player writes their "orders" for every unit on a piece of paper, and these orders must be dated. For example, "Spring 1902" or "Fall 1903". These orders are then revealed simultaneously, and no prior discussion or diplomacy is allowed during the writing. Vague or invalid orders are ignored. Players can write down which units they will remove (disband) and what type of units must be built in the home supply centers.
During the negotiation phase, players can meet to discuss their plans, form alliances, and spread rumors. They can also make public announcements and publish written agreements and documents, although these are not binding. It is important to note that players should not be allowed to discuss or negotiate during the writing and reading of orders.
After all the orders have been revealed and read, players must resolve any conflicts, which will result in successful moves, failed moves, standoffs, retreats, and disbandments. The units on the map are then moved and removed accordingly. Any defeated or dislodged units must retreat to an adjacent province. If a unit cannot retreat, it will be removed from the map. Players can choose to disband a unit instead of retreating. Retreats are written down immediately and revealed without any prior diplomacy or discussion.
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Length of the game
The length of a game of Diplomacy depends on the number of players and their experience. The game is designed for seven players, but can be played with as few as two. Experienced players can get through one game year in 30 minutes, while most groups should be able to proceed at the rate of one game year every 40 minutes.
For four players, it is suggested that the 'Wilson' or 'Public Press' rule applies, meaning that all discussions must be held in the open with no whispers or secret signals. The Diplomacy period lasts 30 minutes before the first move and 15 minutes before each subsequent move. No more than five minutes should be allowed for writing the moves after the diplomacy period has ended.
To play a short game, it is recommended to play an abridged version or to agree beforehand to play a fixed number of game years. Alternatively, you can use playing cards to set a time limit: take the four aces and add any six other cards, shuffle, and place the deck of ten cards face down near the board. Flip over a card at the end of each turn and end the game when all four aces have been drawn.
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Frequently asked questions
Diplomacy is played by two to seven players, each controlling the armed forces of a major European power.
Each player aims to move their few 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.
Depending on the players' experience, a game year takes around 30 to 40 minutes. Most groups block off a chunk of time on a weekend for a game or block off an entire weekend to attend a convention and play multiple games.
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.
There is a four-player variant of Sail Ho that takes place during the Punic Wars. Another option is to play with a neutral Italy and remove the Russian, Turkish, Romanian, and Bulgarian territories from the game.
