Omar Bennett
Diplomacy is a strategic board game 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, each controlling the armed forces of a major European power. The game is divided into turns, which are further split into negotiation and movement phases, followed by retreat or disband adjustments. During the negotiation phase, players discuss tactics and strategies, form alliances, and share intelligence or spread disinformation. After the negotiation phase, players secretly write down their orders for every unit on a piece of paper, which are then revealed simultaneously.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 2-7 |
| Setting | Europe in the years leading to World War 1 |
| Objective | Gain control of 18 supply centers to win |
| Turns | Divided into "spring" and "fall" |
| Negotiation phase | Players discuss tactics and strategy, form alliances, and share intelligence or spread disinformation |
| Movement phase | Orders for units are written down and revealed simultaneously |
| Retreat phase | If two or more units must retreat, they are written down and exposed |
| Build phase | After Autumn, players can build or destroy units |
| Time | 4 hours for a short game |
| Play-by-mail | Via Postal or Internet Diplomacy |
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What You'll Learn
Turns are divided into spring and fall
In the strategic board game Diplomacy, created by Allan B. Calhamer and released in 1959, turns are divided into spring and fall. 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 of the game is to gain control of Europe by occupying a majority of strategic cities and provinces marked as "supply centers".
Each year in the game is divided into two main seasons: spring and fall (autumn). These seasons are further divided into negotiation and movement phases, followed by "'retreat' or 'disband' adjustments. After the fall turn, players adjust their units to match the number of supply centers they control. If a player has more supply centers than units, they can create additional units in the supply centers they started the game with. On the other hand, if a player has more units than supply centers, they must disband some units to equalize the number.
During the negotiation phase, players discuss tactics, form alliances, and share intelligence or disinformation. These negotiations can be made public or kept private, and players are not bound to any promises made during this phase. Trust and communication are crucial aspects of this phase, as players must forge alliances while also planning when to turn against their allies.
The game starts in the spring of 1901, and during this initial spring turn, players meet to strategize and form alliances. They can choose to have private talks, spread rumors, make public announcements, or publish written agreements. However, these agreements are not binding, and players can choose to break their promises at any time. After the discussions, each player secretly writes down their "orders" for their units, specifying the season and year, such as "Spring 1902" or "Fall 1903".
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Players meet to discuss plans and strategies
Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954. The game is set in Europe in the years leading up to World War I, and players represent one of the Great Powers of the time: England, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and France. Each player aims to move their starting units and defeat those of others to gain possession of a majority of strategic cities and provinces marked as "supply centers" on the map.
The game proceeds by seasons, with each year divided into two main seasons: Spring and Fall (Autumn). Each season is further divided into negotiation and movement phases, followed by "retreat" or "disband" adjustments. During the negotiation phase, players meet to discuss their plans and strategies for the upcoming turns. This is a crucial aspect of the game, as players spend much of their time forming and betraying alliances, sharing intelligence, and spreading disinformation.
These negotiation meetings can be public or private, and players can even go to separate rooms to have secret talks. While players may make agreements and publish written documents, they are not bound to keep their promises. This phase usually lasts around 15 minutes but can end sooner if all players agree.
After the negotiation phase, each player writes down their "orders" for every unit on paper, including the season and year, such as "Spring 1902" or "Fall 1903." These orders are kept secret until they are revealed simultaneously later in the game. It is important to note that vague or illegal orders will result in units holding their position.
The negotiation phase is a critical part of the game, as it allows players to strategize, form alliances, and spread disinformation. While players are not bound to their promises, effective communication and trust are essential for forging strong alliances and achieving success in the game.
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Orders are written and revealed
In the strategic board game Diplomacy, created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954, players write and reveal orders for every unit on a piece of paper. This is done after the negotiation phase, where players discuss tactics and strategy, form alliances, and share intelligence or spread disinformation. During the negotiation phase, players can make public announcements and publish written agreements and documents, but these do not bind a player to keep their promises.
Each order must be dated, for example, "Spring 1902" or "Fall 1903". After all the orders have been written, they are revealed and read simultaneously. It is important to note that no prior discussion or diplomacy is allowed during the writing of orders. If an order is illegal, miswritten, or ambiguous, the units hold their position. Players cannot clarify their orders after they have seen other players' moves.
After the orders are revealed, players must resolve all the conflicts. This results in successful moves, failed moves, standoffs, retreats, and disbandments. The units on the map are then moved and removed as described in the next two phases of play. If two or more units must retreat after a move, the retreats are written down immediately and revealed simultaneously. A player may choose to disband a unit rather than retreat it.
Following the Autumn diplomacy and retreats, if a player has more supply centers than units, they may create units in the supply centers they started the game with. If a player has more units than supply centers, they must disband units to match the number of supply centers. Players write down which units they will remove and what type of units will be built, and these orders are also revealed simultaneously.
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Players resolve conflicts and adjust units
Diplomacy is a strategic board game set in Europe in the years leading up to World War I. The game is designed for seven players, each controlling the armed forces of a major European power. However, as few as two people can play the game. 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. These supply centers allow players who control them to produce more units. The first player to acquire 18 supply centers is declared the winner.
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 season is further divided into negotiation and movement phases, followed by retreat or disband adjustments. In the negotiation phase, players discuss tactics and strategy, form alliances, and share intelligence or spread disinformation. Negotiations may be made public or kept private. Players are not bound to anything they say or promise, and no agreements are enforceable.
After all the orders have been revealed and read, the players must resolve all the conflicts. Resolution will result in successful moves, failed moves, standoffs, retreats, and disbandments. The units on the map are moved and removed as described in the next two phases of play. After the conflicts have been resolved, any dislodged (defeated) units must make their retreat. These retreats are written down like orders and immediately revealed without any prior diplomacy or discussion.
After each Fall turn (including retreats), players adjust their units to match the number of supply centers they control. This can result in some units being removed when the player has lost supply centers. The owner can decide which units. When the player gained supply centers or when a player has more supply centers than units, they are allowed to build extra units. New units can be placed in each unoccupied supply center of its home country that is still in control. Only Army units can be built on an inland province supply center. A player can decline to build a unit for any reason. Players write down which units they will remove (disband) and what type of units must be built in the home supply centers. All these orders are revealed simultaneously, and no prior discussion or diplomacy is allowed during the writing. Vague or invalid orders must be ignored.
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Players can play by mail or online
Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954 and released commercially in the United States in 1959. It is set in Europe in the years leading up to World War I. The game can be played by mail or online, with each version offering unique advantages and considerations.
Playing Diplomacy by mail, also known as Play-by-Mail (PBM), has been a popular way to enjoy the game since the 1960s. This format involves players exchanging moves and strategies via postal mail, often through fanzines or carbon-copied typed flyers. PBM allows players to take their time with each turn, carefully considering their strategies and responses. It also enables players to participate from different locations, overcoming the challenge of assembling everyone in one place at the same time. However, the postal format can lead to longer game durations and potential delays in receiving and sending moves.
The development of online Diplomacy servers has provided a new avenue for players to engage in the game. Websites like www.playdiplomacy.com and Backstabbr, the largest dedicated Diplomacy server with automatic adjudicators, offer convenient and accessible platforms for players to connect and compete. The online format offers several advantages, including faster turn-taking, immediate resolution of conflicts, and the ability to play with people from all over the world. Additionally, online Diplomacy often includes features such as automatic adjudicators, which streamline the gameplay experience.
Both mail and online versions of Diplomacy have their dedicated followings, with players appreciating the unique aspects of each format. The choice between the two ultimately depends on personal preferences, convenience, and the desired gameplay experience. Some players may even choose to alternate between the two formats, enjoying the flexibility and variety they offer.
Regardless of the format, the core mechanics of Diplomacy remain consistent. Players represent one of the Great Powers of Europe, aiming to gain control of 18 supply centers to win. They negotiate, form alliances, spread disinformation, and strategize to advance their position. The game's negotiation phases, absence of dice or random elements, and focus on strategic alliances set it apart from traditional board wargames.
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Frequently asked questions
Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954. It is set in Europe in the years leading up to World War I. The game is played by two to seven players, each controlling the armed forces of a major European power. The aim is to defeat other players' units and capture a majority of strategic cities and provinces marked as "supply centers" on the map. These supply centers allow players to produce more units.
Each game year in Diplomacy is divided into turns, which are further divided into ""spring" and "fall" phases. The game starts in spring 1901. Each turn consists of multiple phases, including the diplomatic phase, order writing phase, order resolution phase, and retreat and disbanding phase. During the diplomatic phase, players meet to discuss their plans, form alliances, and develop strategies.
During this phase, each player secretly writes down their "orders" for each unit. These orders must be dated, for example, "Spring 1902" or "Fall 1903". After all the orders are revealed, they are resolved simultaneously, resulting in successful moves, failed moves, standoffs, retreats, and disbandments.
In the Retreat and Disbanding Phase, any dislodged or defeated units must make their retreat. These retreats are written down and immediately revealed without any prior diplomacy or discussion. Players then adjust their units based on the number of supply centers they control, which can result in removing or building extra units.
Supply centers are strategic locations on the map that allow players to produce more units. Each supply center controlled allows a player to have one additional unit on the board. Players can gain control of supply centers by occupying them after the Fall retreat phase and can build new units in unoccupied supply centers within their home country.
