Omar Bennett
Backstabbr is an online platform that allows users to play the classic board game Diplomacy for free. Diplomacy is a strategic board game where players control one of seven nations at the start of the 20th century, with the goal of gaining new territories and building troops. The game is notorious for its cut-throat nature, where players are encouraged to lie and betray one another. Backstabbr simulates a Diplomacy match played by post, with players resolving one set of orders per day and negotiating via the 'press' functionality. The interface is simple and compatible with smartphones and tablets, making it easy for players to make moves on a shared map and conduct private negotiations.
How to Play Diplomacy on Backstabbr
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Game | Strategic card-driven board game |
| Based on | Historical events of the Cold War (1945-1989) |
| Number of Players | 7 |
| Objective | Control all of the supply centers or split victory with 1 or more players |
| Victory Condition | Use the dropdown box in the upper right corner of the game screen |
| Powers Sharing Victory | Must have their victory condition set to match the number of players splitting victory |
| Remaining Powers | Must have their victory condition set to "Surrender" |
| Seasons in a Diplomacy Year | 3 |
| Types of Turns | 3 |
| Order Phase | Spring or Fall |
| Retreat Phase | Spring or Fall |
| Build Phase | Winter |
| Types of Units | Army, Fleet |
| Army | Basic military unit, can occupy any land tile |
| Fleet | Can be used to carry out a convoy |
| Support Order | Tap the supporting unit, then the support button (or the S key), then the unit you want to support, and finally the destination of the supported unit |
| Convoy Order | Click the tile containing the unit you wish to order, then press the C key on your keyboard, then click on the tiles representing the beginning and destination of the convoy |
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What You'll Learn
How to get started with Backstabbr
Backstabbr is an online implementation of the classic board game Diplomacy. The objective of the game is to control all the supply centers or split a victory with one or more players. Each player controls one of seven nations at the start of the 20th century, submitting movement orders to their armies and fleets each turn to gain new territories and build more troops. The goal is to control 18 of the game's supply cities simultaneously.
To get started with Backstabbr, you can sign up on their website or via the app, which is compatible with smartphones and tablets. Once you have an account, you can create a game or join an existing one. If you're new to the game, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the rules of Diplomacy before jumping into your first game. The rules are simple and straightforward, but the game is extremely nuanced, focusing on strategy, alliances, and agreements between players.
During gameplay, players can issue orders to their units and communicate with other players. There are different phases in the game, such as the "Spring Order Phase" or "Fall Order Phase," where players can submit orders. The "Retreat Phase" occurs after an order phase in which a player's unit was forcefully dislodged, and the "Build Phase" occurs only in winter. Players can also make arrangements and alliances with other players through private messages, adding a layer of diplomacy and strategy to the game.
Additionally, Backstabbr offers features like the Victory Condition dropdown box, where players can set their victory conditions, and the ability to order convoy moves by clicking on specific tiles and pressing corresponding keys on the keyboard.
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Understanding the rules of Diplomacy
Diplomacy is a strategic board game based on historical events during the Cold War between 1945 and 1989. The game is set in Europe, where each player controls one of seven nations at the start of the 20th century. The objective is to dominate by controlling all the supply centres on the board or by splitting victory with other players. To win, players must gain new territories and build more troops, with the ultimate goal of simultaneously controlling 18 of the game's supply cities.
There are three different seasons in a Diplomacy year, and three different types of turns. Each season or turn can only be taken once per day, providing a casual gaming experience that can be drawn out over several months. During the Spring and Fall Order Phases, players can issue orders to their units and communicate with other players. In the Retreat Phase, which occurs after an Order Phase in which a power had a unit forcefully removed, that power must issue orders for that unit to either retreat to an unoccupied adjacent territory or disband. The Build Phase occurs only in winter. There are two types of units in Diplomacy: armies and fleets. Armies are the basic military unit and can occupy any land tile. Convoy moves can be ordered by clicking on the tile with the unit, pressing 'C', and then clicking on the tiles representing the beginning and destination of the convoy.
Alliances and agreements made between players are a crucial aspect of the game, as no arrangement is binding, and players are encouraged to lie and betray one another. This aspect of the game has earned Diplomacy an infamous reputation as a friendship-ruining game.
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How to issue orders to your units
Diplomacy is a game of deceit and backstabbing. Your orders are always a secret until adjudication, which adds an element of surprise and keeps your allies guessing.
Now, let's get into the details of how to issue orders to your units. Firstly, understand the four basic types of orders:
- Hold: This is the default order, meaning that if no other orders are given, your units will remain in position.
- Attack: You can order your units to attack or move to another province.
- Support: Your units can support another unit by either holding their position or attacking a province.
- Convoy: Fleets can be ordered to convoy or transport armies across bodies of water to coastal provinces. This allows your armies to travel multiple spaces, depending on the length of the convoy chain.
When issuing orders, you can choose to communicate with other players via the in-game messaging system, called "press", which is similar to email. This is where you can negotiate, plan, and form alliances. During the Spring and Fall seasons, there are two phases: the order phase and the retreat phase. In the order phase, you issue commands to your units, and if any units are dislodged from their location, the retreat phase allows you to order them to either retreat to an unoccupied adjacent province or disband.
- To order a convoy move, click on the tile containing the unit you want to move, press the "C" key on your keyboard, and then click on the tiles representing the starting point and destination of the convoy. Alternatively, use the convoy orders button under the map if you're playing on a mobile device.
- To enter a support order, tap the supporting unit, then the support button (or the "S" key), then select the unit you want to support, and finally, choose the destination of the supported unit.
Remember, each province can only contain one army or fleet, and units can only move one space at a time. Plan your moves carefully, and always be prepared for unexpected twists and turns in this game of Diplomacy!
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How to communicate privately with other players
Communicating privately with other players is an essential part of the game, Diplomacy. While playing Diplomacy on Backstabbr, players can communicate privately with other players using the inbox or 'press' functionality. This allows for a longer period of negotiation, which might take ten minutes in a normal game of Diplomacy, but now lasts 24 hours. This extra time, along with the ability to write messages instead of speaking in person, allows for a more nuanced game. Players can also use external messaging platforms to communicate privately with other players, such as Slack.
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How to set your victory condition
To set your victory condition in Backstabbr, use the Victory Condition dropdown box in the upper right corner of your game screen. If you are aiming for a solo victory, set your victory condition to "Surrender". This means that you will need to be the first power to hold 18 supply centres.
If you are playing with allies and wish to share the victory, all players in the alliance must have their victory condition set to match the number of players splitting the victory. For example, if three players are splitting the victory, all three must have their victory condition set to "3-Way Victory". Any remaining powers must have their victory condition set to "Surrender". Note that players may lie about their victory condition, so be cautious!
If you are playing with a Gamemaster, they cannot submit orders for a country or alter the state of the game board. Their role is to help the game run smoothly and they have the ability to pause and alter adjudication, invite replacement players, and edit game settings.
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Frequently asked questions
Backstabbr is a website that allows users to play the classic board game Diplomacy online for free.
Each player controls one of seven nations at the start of the 20th century, submitting movement orders to their armies and fleets each turn in order to gain new territories and thereby build more troops. The goal is to control 18 of the game's supply cities at the same time.
To order a convoy move, click the tile containing the unit you wish to order, then press the C key on your keyboard, then click on the tiles representing the beginning and destination of the convoy.
To enter a support order, you need to tap the supporting unit, then the support button (or the S key), then the unit you want to support, and finally the destination of the supported unit.
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