Eleanor Finch
Diplomacy is a strategic board game that simulates complex international relations. Players must write and submit orders for their units, which include instructions to move, hold, support or convoy. These orders are typically kept secret and are only revealed once all players have submitted their instructions. A support order is a crucial aspect of the game, allowing players to cooperate and gain increased strength by assisting fellow units or those of other players. To write a support order, players must specify the location of the supporting piece, the word supports or its equivalent, and the location and destination of the piece receiving support. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to writing support orders in Diplomacy, covering various scenarios and strategies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to write a support order | Write the location of the supporting piece, the word "supports" or its equivalent, and both the location and destination of the piece receiving support |
| How to indicate the word "supports" | Use the letter "S" |
| How to write a support order for a unit of another country | Use the format: A Sil S RUSSIAN A War-Pru |
| How to write a support order for a unit of your own country | Use the format: A Tyr-Mun, A Bur S A Tyr-Mun |
| How to write a support order for a defensive move | Use the format: A Paris S A Marseille-Burgundy means that an army in Paris must support an Army in Marseille that is attacking Burgundy |
| How to write a support order for a unit not ordered to move | Use the format: F Denmark S F Baltic |
| How to write a support order for a successful convoy route | Write orders that permit more than one route for convoying an army from its origin to its destination |
| How to write a support order for a unit that is not convoyed | The land route is used |
| How to write a support order for a unit that is convoyed | If at least one of the convoying fleets belongs to the player who controls the army, the convoy is used |
| How to write a support order for a unit that is attacked | The unit must retreat or be disbanded |
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What You'll Learn
How to request support from another player
To request support from another player in the board game Diplomacy, you must follow a few key steps. Firstly, it's important to remember that you can only issue orders for your own units; you cannot commandeer another player's unit to support your attack. However, you can use diplomacy to request support from another player, although they are not required to comply.
When writing your support order, you must include the location of the supporting piece, the word "supports" or its equivalent, and both the location and destination of the piece receiving support. For example, if you want an army in Paris to support an army in Marseille attacking Burgundy, you would write "A Paris S A Marseille-Burgundy". The letter "S" is commonly used to indicate support. It's important to note that the supporting unit must be able to move to the province being attacked, but it doesn't need to border the attacker's province of origin.
Support can be offensive or defensive and can be given to a fellow unit or another player's unit. By supporting each other, units gain increased strength. However, you cannot support a unit that is attacking you, as the order would be voided. Additionally, a fleet may not give support into an inland province or a non-adjacent coastal province, and an army may not give support into a body of water.
To ensure your support order is clear and effective, follow these guidelines:
- Indicate the type of unit ("A" for army or "F" for fleet) and the province it occupies.
- Specify the order (Hold, Move, Support, or Convoy).
- Include the target province if applicable.
- Remember that each unit can only perform one action per turn.
- Keep your orders concise and secret until they are simultaneously revealed with other players' orders.
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The importance of support orders
Support orders are an integral part of the board game Diplomacy, and a key mechanism to achieve success. Support can be given to a fellow unit or to another player's unit, and it can be offensive or defensive. This cooperation between two or more powers is the only way to make forward progress through enemy territory, unless you can convince the enemy to let you through. Support orders are also the only way to successfully attack a province held by another unit.
To write a support order, players must follow a specific format. The order should include the location of the supporting piece, the word "supports" or its equivalent, and the location and destination of the piece receiving support. For example, "A Paris S A Marseille-Burgundy" means that an army in Paris must support an army in Marseille that is attacking Burgundy. The letter "S" is commonly used to indicate support. It is important to note that support orders are given in reference to another unit's move, and that unit's move must be to a province the supporting unit could also move to.
Support orders can also be used strategically to create standoffs, which can be a good defensive tactic. For example, if one player is attacking a province, another player can support the defending unit, creating a standoff and preventing the attack. This tactic can be used to maintain control of multiple provinces with fewer units. Additionally, support orders can be used to protect against dislodgement of a player's own units, as seen in the example of the Austrian Army in Bohemia, which supported the German unit from Silesia into Munich, preventing the dislodgement of their own unit.
In conclusion, support orders are a vital aspect of the Diplomacy game, offering players a way to strengthen their position, defend against attacks, and launch successful offensives. They are a key strategic tool, and understanding their importance and proper use can greatly enhance a player's chances of success.
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The different types of support
Support is a crucial aspect of the game of Diplomacy, and it can be tricky. Support may involve cooperation between two or more players, and it is the only way to make progress through enemy territory (unless you can convince the enemy to let you through). The more support a player has, the more likely they are to defeat an opponent with less support.
To order a support, players must write the location of the supporting piece, the word "supports" or its equivalent, and both the location and destination of the piece receiving support. The letter "S" is often used to mean "supports". For example, "A Tyr-Mun, A Bur S A Tyr-Mun", or for units of another country, "A Sil S Russian A War-Pru".
Fleets may support armies and vice versa, but there are some restrictions. A fleet cannot give support to a unit moving into an inland province or a coastal province that is not adjacent along the same coast. Similarly, an army cannot give support to a unit moving into a body of water.
Support can be offensive or defensive and can be given to a fellow unit or another player's unit. By supporting each other, units gain increased strength. Support from other players cannot be refused. A support order is written with an "S". For example, "A Paris S A Marseille-Burgundy" means that an army in Paris must support an army in Marseille that is attacking Burgundy.
A unit not ordered to move can be supported by a support order that only mentions its province. For example, "F Denmark S F Baltic". A unit can also be supported in holding its position, and supporting units can themselves be supported. However, a unit cannot support the dislodgement of one of its own units.
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How to write a support order
To write a support order, you must first understand the concept of "support" in the game of Diplomacy. Support is when a unit helps another unit in attacking or holding a province. This is important because, without help, a unit cannot attack and advance against another unit. Support can be given to a fellow unit or to another player's unit, and it can come from one or multiple powers. It is the only way to make forward progress through enemy territory, unless you can convince the enemy to let you through.
When writing a support order, you must include the following information:
- The type of unit (Army or Fleet), denoted by "A" or "F" respectively.
- The province the unit currently occupies.
- The word "supports" or its equivalent, which can be abbreviated to "S".
- The location of the unit receiving support.
- The destination of the unit receiving support, if it is moving to a new province.
It is important to note that support orders must be written clearly and unambiguously. Any illegal, miswritten, or ambiguous orders will result in the units holding their position. Additionally, the nationality of the pieces being ordered or supported is irrelevant, as it is determined by the piece's start-of-move location.
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What to do if there is no place to retreat
If there is no place to retreat, the unit will be removed from the map/board game. A dislodged unit must retreat to an adjacent province or space. However, if there is no space available for retreat, the unit is "disbanded", meaning its marker is removed.
In the board game Diplomacy, retreats are written down like orders and immediately revealed without any prior diplomacy or discussion. A dislodged unit cannot retreat to any space that is occupied, nor to the space its attacker came from, nor to a space which was left vacant due to a standoff on the move.
In the game, each player writes their "orders" on a slip of paper, usually keeping them secret, and all orders are exposed at once. Each player reads their orders while the others check to be sure that they are reading what was actually written. An illegal order is not followed, and the unit ordered simply stands in its place. A mistaken order, if legal, must be followed.
During the diplomacy period, a player may say anything they wish. The players usually go to another room or corner in twos or threes. They try to keep the content of their conversations secret and may try to overhear the conversations of others. The conversations usually consist of bargaining or joint military planning, but they may also include exchanging information, denouncing, threatening, spreading rumors, and so forth.
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Frequently asked questions
No, you can only give orders for your own units. However, you can use diplomacy to request another player to issue an order, but they are not required to do so.
The first letter of the order should indicate the type of unit ("A" for army or "F" for fleet), followed by the province the unit occupies, then the order (Support), and finally, the destination province. The letter "S" may be used to mean support, e.g., "A Paris S A Marseille-Burgundy".
No, you cannot support a unit that is attacking you.
