Jonah Patel
Playing as England in Diplomacy can be challenging, with France and Germany posing significant threats. A key consideration for England is where to send its two fleets. One common strategy is to open to the English Channel, providing leverage against France and the opportunity to pressure them early in the game. Securing Norway is also crucial for England, as it is a natural neutral territory. This often leads to conflict with Russia, which can be mitigated through careful negotiation and diplomacy. Forming alliances is essential, with Germany being a favourable choice due to its central European land power complementing England's naval dominance. However, tensions may arise with Germany due to geographical constraints. Overall, England must balance its relationships and carefully navigate its military moves to succeed in the game.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main choice | Where to send the two fleets |
| Best anti-French possibilities | Send army to Edinburgh |
| Alliance | Germany is the best option, France is second best |
| Opening move | Send army to Edinburgh or open to the Channel |
| Strategy | Get armies onto the European mainland through Scandinavia or the Low Countries |
| Defensive strategy | Have a force composed entirely of fleets |
| Offensive strategy | Have a force composed of a minimum of armies |
| Balance of power | Germany is a good ally as it is a land power which balances England's naval dominance |
| Defensive strategy | Protect against French incursions by securing Scandinavia and reinforcing seas |
| Offensive strategy | Concentrated offense into Germany and Russia after securing Scandinavia |
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What You'll Learn
Opening moves: the Churchill Opening or the Channel
When playing Diplomacy as England, your primary concerns are France and Germany. Russia can also be a major pain if it chooses a northern approach, but this can be easily dealt with diplomatically. One way to do this is by conjuring up southern invasions (real or imagined) to make Russia pull back. If this doesn't work, you can always ally with another player against the aggressive Russian.
One of the opening moves for England is the Yorkshire Variation. This move is a response to a French move to the English Channel and a Russian move to St. Petersburg. The army can cover London or a convoy to Wales, while the fleets take Norway, despite Russian objection. However, this opening assumes that you trust France, as you are committing your fleets away from the English Channel. It also reduces your flexibility in choosing how to convoy the army.
Another opening move is the Channel Gambit, which seeks a middle ground between the aggressive French Assault and the passive Norwegian Gambit. This move involves bouncing in the Channel, which is safer than letting France take the Channel. However, it risks losing Norway to Russian harassment in St. Petersburg.
A more aggressive opening move is the anti-French Split Opening, which allows for a convoy to Norway and puts pressure on Brest. This move can leave England in an awkward position if France also goes to the Channel, resulting in a useless army in Wales.
Ultimately, the best opening move for England depends on the character of the players and the dynamic of the game. It is important to stay adaptable and make friends with your allies, as isolation can lead to fatal complacency.
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Alliances: Germany, France, or Russia?
When playing Diplomacy as England, your main concerns are France and Germany. France will almost always attack England first when given the choice, and their best route to victory involves annexing England and then conquering Scandinavia. Therefore, an alliance with France is not advisable.
Germany is a more attractive option as they are less of an immediate threat than France and their central European land power nicely balances England's naval dominance. However, an alliance with Germany can become tense as the game progresses due to the geography of the home centres, and it requires careful diplomacy.
Russia can also be a nuisance for England, particularly when it comes to fighting over Norway. However, this tension can be relatively easy to squelch diplomatically by conjuring up southern invasions, which will usually cause Russia to pull back.
Ultimately, whether you choose to ally with France, Germany, or Russia will depend on the character of the players and the context of the game. A good player will be able to adapt their strategy and form alliances where necessary.
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Anti-French strategies: Norway, Belgium, or Holland
When playing Diplomacy as England, your main concerns are France and Germany. France will almost always attack England first when given the choice. France's best route to a solo win is to annex England and then conquer Scandinavia. Therefore, it is important to pressure France early, which is the only time you can attack France and expect a swift resolution.
One strategy to achieve this is to open into the Channel and use that as leverage against France. You can threaten France in Brest if you are allied with Germany, or secure one of the Low Countries (Belgium or Holland) for yourself. This move is risky, as failure to acquire the Channel in the spring will make your army useless in the autumn. However, if successful, it provides the strongest set of moves for a French campaign, as the army may be convoyed to Brest or Picardy, or used in a supported convoy to Belgium.
Another option is the Northern Opening variant, known as the Churchill Opening, where the English army is sent to Edinburgh. This move sacrifices the ability to cover London but provides more convoying options in the autumn. This allows you to capture Norway with an army and Belgium, Holland, or Denmark with a fleet.
To counter France effectively, you should also consider forming alliances with other players. Germany is a natural ally, as it is geared towards being a central European land power, which balances England's naval dominance. Additionally, Germany is less of a threat right out of the gate than France. However, tensions may mount due to the geography of the home centers, so clear communication about unit numbers and locations is crucial.
Russia can also be a valuable ally, especially in countering French incursions. You can convince Russia to move its army from Moscow to Ukraine to support Rumania, preventing you from ending up with no builds. Additionally, ensure Russia does not move its army to St. Petersburg, where it could bounce you out of Norway. While an Anglo-Russian alliance can be challenging due to Germany often serving as a buffer, it can be achieved through careful negotiation.
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Offensive tactics: Scandinavia, Germany, or the Low Countries
As England, it is imperative to get armies onto the European mainland. This can be achieved through Scandinavia or the Low Countries. Without a ground force in Europe, England will not be able to exert much influence or stand as a powerful balancer for allies.
One strategy is to ally with Germany, which can be a good match as Germany is geared towards being a central European land power, which balances England's naval dominance. Germany is also less of a threat than France, at least initially. England can open into the Channel and leverage this against France, threatening them in Bre (if you're allied with Germany) or securing one of the Low Countries for yourself. At the same time, get an army across to Norway, which can be used to play with or against Russia. By the end of the first year, aim to control Norway and possibly another supply center. Naval power is key to security and success; controlling the North Sea and Mid-Atlantic and their neighbors will make it difficult for anyone to attack.
Another strategy is to ally with France, which can also be a good match as they balance each other in terms of land and sea power. One option is to go for the anti-French Split opening, pressuring the French homeland while providing support for a convoy to Belgium or claiming Norway with a convoy and Belgium with a fleet. Alternatively, there is the pro-French Split opening, which allows a convoy to Norway, with the Channel fleet influencing Belgium or pressuring Brest.
A third strategy is to ally with Russia, which can be beneficial as they have an extra unit and a connection to the western sphere. England can negotiate with Russia to attack the other's neutral territories (e.g., Spain/Belgium or Sweden/Norway) and raid them. England can also take advantage of Russia's connection to the western sphere by entering through Scandinavia.
It is important to note that England's position as an island nation requires a large navy to achieve victory, and their expansion prospects are limited. However, their defensive position is one of the strongest in the game, and their position in the ocean makes it difficult for them to lose.
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Defensive tactics: maintaining naval dominance
Defensive tactics as England in Diplomacy are largely centred around maintaining naval dominance. England's greatest strength is also its weakness, and this must be recognised from the outset.
The first consideration is where to send the two fleets. The Channel is a common choice, as it provides the best anti-French possibilities. This move is risky, as failure to acquire the Channel in the spring will leave the army useless in the autumn. However, it is a strong move for a French campaign, as the army may be convoyed to Brest or Picardy. The Channel also allows for support to Belgium, pressuring the French homeland.
Another option is the Northern Opening, or Churchill Opening, where the army is sent to Edinburgh. This sacrifices cover for London but allows for more convoying options in the autumn. This move can be used to capture Norway with an army and Belgium/Holland/Denmark with a fleet. London can still be covered by the North Sea fleet.
A third option is the pro-French Split Opening, which allows for a convoy to Norway and influence in Belgium or pressure on Brest.
In terms of alliances, Germany is often seen as a good choice, as it is less of an immediate threat than France and provides a balance to England's naval dominance with its land power. However, tensions can mount due to the geography of the home centres, and Germany's fleet-building can become a threat. France, meanwhile, is England's biggest worry, along with Germany. France will almost always attack England first when given the choice and has a strong route to victory by annexing England and then conquering Scandinavia.
Therefore, defensive tactics for England involve a delicate balance of diplomacy and military strategy, with a focus on maintaining naval dominance and securing key territories like Norway and the Channel.
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Frequently asked questions
England's main choice is where to send its two fleets. The pro-French Split opening allows convoy to Norway, with England using the Channel fleet to influence Belgium or pressure Brest. Alternatively, England can opt for the Churchill Opening, sending the army to Edinburgh, sacrificing the ability to cover London for more convoying options later on.
France and Germany are England's biggest threats. France's best route to victory is to annex England and then conquer Scandinavia, so France will almost always attack England first. Germany is geared towards being a central European land power, which can be a threat to England's naval dominance.
An alliance with Germany can be advantageous as it is easier to stab Germany than vice versa. However, tensions may arise due to the geography of their home centres. England should constantly weigh the costs and benefits of this alliance. An Anglo-Russian alliance can also be considered, but it requires careful negotiation.
England can either send armies through Scandinavia or through the Low Countries. Without a ground force in Europe, England will not be able to exert much influence.
