Simone Lawson
In the board game Diplomacy, a fleet can convoy an army that is adjacent to it into another land space that is adjacent to the fleet. Convoying is the act of fleets transporting army units across water. Fleets can only do this when they are on water territories. A fleet in a body of water may convoy an army from any province on the coast of that body to any other province on the coast of that body. Multiple adjacent fleets can create a chain of convoys to move an army farther. An army with at least one successful convoy route will cut the support given by a unit in the destination province that is trying to support an attack on a fleet in an alternate route of that convoy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is a convoy? | An action that fleets can do to move an army that is adjacent to it into another land space that is adjacent to the fleet. |
| Who can use convoys? | Fleets may be ordered to convoy armies across bodies of water to coastal provinces. |
| Who can't use convoys? | Countries that are nearly landlocked, such as Russia, Germany, and Austria. |
| How to use a convoy? | To order a convoy move, click the tile with the unit you want to order, press 'C' on your keyboard, then click the tiles representing the start and endpoints of the convoy. |
| Convoy and overland route | If an army could arrive at its destination either overland or by convoy, one route must be considered and the other disregarded, depending on the player's intent. |
| Convoy and support | A convoyed army doesn't cut the support of a unit supporting an attack against one of the fleets necessary for the army to convoy. |
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What You'll Learn
Convoying an army across a body of water
Convoys are groups of vehicles or ships that travel together for mutual support and protection. Convoys have been used for centuries, with naval convoys dating back to the 12th century. Convoys are typically organised with armed defensive support, which helps to maintain cohesion within a unit.
The use of naval convoys became particularly prominent during the French Revolutionary Wars of the late 18th century, where they were used to ward off pirates and privateers. One of the most enduring systems of convoys was the Spanish treasure fleets, which sailed from the 1520s until 1790. During World War I, convoys were used to protect British merchant shipping against German surface raiders and submarines. The British consolidated merchant vessels into large, protected groups, escorted by warships. These warships were equipped with guns, torpedoes, and depth charges, which provided a protective screen for the merchant vessels.
In the context of the board game Diplomacy, a fleet can convoy an adjacent army into another land space that is adjacent to the fleet. Multiple adjacent fleets can create a chain of convoys to move an army further. For example, an army can "step" onto a single fleet and cross to reach the other side, with the fleet acting as a "stepping stone". It's important to note that a fleet can only have one army "stepping" on it, and the convoy will fail if even one fleet in the army's path is dislodged.
When considering how to convoy an army across a body of water, it's essential to plan the route carefully. Ensure that the fleets are in a path connecting the army's start to its finish. Additionally, consider having an alternate route in case of disruptions.
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Using fleets to support coastal battles
In the board game Diplomacy, fleets are an important strategic element for supporting coastal battles. Here are some key tactics and rules to keep in mind when using fleets to support coastal battles:
Rules and Tactics:
- Convoys: Fleets can be ordered to convoy armies across bodies of water to coastal provinces. A fleet can only convoy one army at a time, but multiple fleets can work together to convoy a single army, allowing it to travel multiple spaces. For example, an army from Tunis can be conveyed to Portugal by fleets in the West Med and Mid-Atlantic oceans on the same turn.
- Support: Fleets can support armies in coastal battles. A unit can only offer support to or into a territory it can move into itself. For example, Fleet Brest can support Army Paris attacking Gascony, but not the other way around. Support is crucial for making forward progress through enemy territory.
- Blockades: Fleets can create blockades on sea spaces to prevent other fleets from expanding their influence or reinforcing their positions. This tactic can isolate enemy armies and limit their mobility.
- Retreat: If a fleet is forced to retreat by a stronger force, it can only retreat to a vacant sea or coastal province. If there are no available retreat spaces, the fleet is automatically disbanded.
- Cooperation: Support may involve cooperation between two or more powers. This can be a powerful strategy for ensuring the success of your coastal battles.
- Hold: If a fleet is not given any orders, it will default to holding its position. Holding fleets can be supported by units in neighbouring provinces to strengthen their defence.
By utilising these tactics and taking advantage of the unique capabilities of fleets in coastal battles, players can effectively support their armies and work towards conquering Europe in the game of Diplomacy.
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The importance of fleets for convoying armies
In the board game Diplomacy, fleets play a crucial role in convoying armies across bodies of water to coastal provinces. This is especially important for countries like England, which relies on fleets to convoy armies to the mainland. Without fleets, armies are limited in their movement and can only travel by land.
A fleet can convoy an adjacent army to another land space that is adjacent to the fleet. This is done by ordering the army to move to the desired space. Multiple fleets can work together to create a chain of convoys, allowing an army to travel further. Convoying is a powerful strategy as it enables armies to move multiple spaces in one turn, which is otherwise impossible. This can be a significant advantage when attempting to outmaneuver opponents or reinforce vulnerable positions.
It is important to note that a convoyed army does not cut the support of a unit that is supporting an attack against one of the fleets necessary for the convoy. For example, if an army attacks a fleet supporting an action in a body of water, and that body of water contains a convoying fleet, the support is not cut. This rule prevents armies from disrupting their own convoys.
Additionally, when an army can reach its destination by land or convoy, the method chosen depends on the ownership of the convoying fleets. If at least one of the convoying fleets belongs to the player controlling the army, the convoy route is used. However, if none of the convoying fleets belong to that player, the land route is used. This rule prevents armies from being "kidnapped" and convoyed against their will.
In summary, fleets are essential in Diplomacy for convoying armies across water, providing strategic options and flexibility. They enable armies to travel further and faster, making them a powerful tool for players to achieve their objectives.
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How to use multiple fleets to carry out a convoy
In the board game Diplomacy, fleets are important to convoy armies across water, support coastal battles, and create blockades. A fleet can convoy an adjacent army into another land space that is adjacent to the fleet. The player must also make the army move to that space. Multiple adjacent fleets can create a chain of convoys to move an army further.
Here's an example of how to use multiple fleets to carry out a convoy:
Let's say you want to move an army from Province A to Province C, with Province B being the coastal land space in between. You would need one fleet in Province B to convoy the army from Province A to Province B. Then, you would need another fleet in Province C to convoy the army from Province B to its final destination in Province C. This is a simple example of using two fleets to carry out a convoy and move an army across two provinces.
It's important to note that all units in Diplomacy can only move one space at a time, except for a successful convoy, where a convoyed army may travel multiple spaces depending on the length of the chain created by the convoying fleets. Additionally, a fleet on a coastal space may not convoy. If an army can arrive at its destination by either land or convoy, the convoy is used if at least one of the convoying fleets belongs to the player who controls the army or if the player specified "via convoy" on the army's move order.
Here's another example involving multiple fleets and a more complex route:
Imagine you want to move an army from Province X to Province Z, with Provinces Y and Q being possible intermediate points. You could use one fleet in the coastal land space adjacent to Province X to convoy your army to Province Y. Then, you could use another fleet in the coastal land space adjacent to Province Z to convoy your army from Province Y to Province Z. Alternatively, you could use a different route and convoy your army from Province X to Province Q with a fleet in the coastal land space adjacent to Province X. Finally, you could convoy from Province Q to Province Z with a fleet in the coastal land space adjacent to Province Z. In this scenario, you're using multiple fleets to create a chain of convoys and giving your army multiple route options to reach its destination.
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The role of convoys in preventing foreign powers from kidnapping an army
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, that travel together for mutual support and protection. Convoys have been used for centuries, with examples of merchant ships travelling under naval protection dating back to the 12th century. Naval convoys have been used to ward off pirates and privateers, with the most enduring system of convoys being the Spanish treasure fleets, which sailed from the 1520s until 1790.
The role of convoys in preventing the kidnapping of an army by foreign powers is crucial. By travelling in a group, an army can benefit from the protection offered by the convoy. This is especially important when travelling through hostile territory or areas where foreign powers may be present. The convoy acts as a deterrent, making it more difficult for foreign powers to successfully kidnap an army. The larger the convoy, the more protection it can offer, as larger convoys can justify the allocation of destroyers and other patrol vessels to escort them.
In the context of the board game Diplomacy, convoys play a strategic role in preventing foreign powers from kidnapping an army. A fleet can convoy an adjacent army into another land space that is adjacent to the fleet. Multiple adjacent fleets can even create a chain of convoys to move an army further. This is significant because, unlike support, convoys are only disrupted if the fleet is dislodged, not if a unit attempts to move into the territory of the convoyer. This means that an army travelling as part of a convoy is less vulnerable to kidnapping attempts by foreign powers.
Additionally, in Diplomacy, if at least one of the convoying fleets belongs to the player who controls the army, then the convoy route is used, and the land route is disregarded. This gives the player more control over the movement of their army and makes it less susceptible to interference by foreign powers. By indicating "via convoy" on the army's move order, the player can ensure that their army travels via the protected convoy route, reducing the risk of kidnapping.
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Frequently asked questions
A convoy is when a fleet convoys an adjacent army into another land space that is adjacent to the fleet.
A fleet in a body of water may convoy an army from any province on the coast of that body to any other province on the coast of that body.
Yes, as long as there is one successful convoy route, the landing army will cut any support given by a unit in the destination province.
Unlike support, convoys are not disrupted if a unit attempts to move into the territory of the convoyer, they are only disrupted if the fleet is dislodged.
No, a unit may not move into a province held by another unit unless it has support.
