Omar Bennett
Diplomacy is a strategic board game that was invented in the 1950s by Allan Calhamer. It became a hit and gave rise to a postal hobby and fanzines, and was even rumoured to be a favourite pastime of various leading politicians. The game is played with seven players, each of whom assumes the role of a Great Power of Europe in the years before World War I. Diplomacy is famous for ending friendships as it involves negotiating, forming secret alliances, and spreading disinformation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of first release | 1959 |
| Inventor | Allan Calhamer |
| Number of players | 2-7 |
| Number of players (Classic Diplomacy) | 7 |
| Number of players (Standard Diplomacy) | 7 |
| Time taken to complete the game | More than half an hour for each turn |
| Game type | Strategic board game |
| Game theme | Pre-World War I Europe |
| Game mechanics | Relatively simple |
| Game rules | Additional rules were included in the Avalon Hill set |
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What You'll Learn
The game was invented by Allan Calhamer and first manufactured in 1959
The strategic board game Diplomacy was invented by Allan Calhamer and first manufactured in 1959. Calhamer spent several years developing the game, finally stabilising it in 1954, and revising some of the rules in 1958. After several rejections, Calhamer decided to manufacture 500 sets at his own expense. The game became a hit, and its players included several leading politicians. Diplomacy is a game of negotiation, where players form secret alliances, divide territorial gains, play rival powers against one another, and spread disinformation. Each player takes on the role of a Great Power in pre-World War I Europe, and compete for dominance. The game is famous for ending friendships, as it requires players to be comfortable with manipulating one another.
The game is played with seven players, each of whom must be willing to commit a large block of time to the game. The rules allow for games with two to six players, but these are only used in casual play. The game is usually played face-to-face, but it can also be played via email or post. The game differs from other war games as players do not take turns sequentially. Instead, all players secretly write down their moves after a negotiation period, and then all the moves are revealed and put into effect simultaneously.
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Diplomacy is a strategic board game for seven players
Each player controls one of the seven major powers, including England, Austria, Russia, and Turkey, and the goal is to control half of Europe. The game board is on the scale of an entire continent, and land and sea power are almost equally significant. Players must decide whether to raise an army or a fleet, and each country has its own strategic advantages and disadvantages. For example, England has a strong defensive position but may find it difficult to expand, while Austria is centrally located near several open supply centres but has many neighbours and only one port.
The game proceeds by seasons, with each year divided into two main seasons: spring and autumn. Each season is further divided into negotiation and movement phases, followed by retreat or disband adjustments and an end-of-the-year winter phase for new builds or removals. 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, and players are not bound by any agreements made during this phase.
Successful negotiations depend on many factors, including the players involved, the situation on the board, and the history of the game up to that point. Players must use their powers of persuasion to convince others to work with them, but there is no guarantee that their efforts will be successful. Like chess, diplomacy is a game of many dimensions, and players must think strategically to win.
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It is a wargame set in pre-World War I Europe
Diplomacy is a strategic board game that was invented in the 1950s by Allan Calhamer. It is a wargame set in pre-World War I Europe, where players each assume the role of a Great Power of Europe in the years before World War I and compete for dominance. The game starts in 1901, and the map reflects the political boundaries of Europe in 1914, just before the outbreak of the Great War. The provinces on the board include real-world locations such as Bosnia, the Balkans, Montenegro, North Africa, Tunis, Finland, and Syria, each divided into several provinces or supply centres.
The game is designed for seven players, each representing a different Great Power. These powers include countries such as Turkey, Italy, and Germany. The assignment of countries to players is usually randomly determined, but players can also agree on who will play which power. The game can be adapted for fewer players, but this is not considered standard Diplomacy and detracts from the full experience.
Diplomacy is famous for its focus on negotiation and interaction between players. The game involves forming secret alliances, dividing territorial gains, playing rival powers against each other, and spreading disinformation. Players submit secret orders, which are then revealed and executed simultaneously before negotiations resume. There are no formal penalties for lying, but a player's reputation may suffer consequences that outlast the game.
The game has a reputation for ending friendships due to the intense negotiations and double-dealing involved. It has been described as a game of deception and manipulation, where players must be comfortable casually manipulating one another. However, others argue that the game teaches valuable skills in presenting arguments and adapting to setbacks.
Diplomacy has been adapted for play over email, postal mail, and online platforms, making it more accessible to players worldwide. It has also inspired a dedicated community that produces fanzines and strategy guides. The game has been influential and is rumoured to be a favourite pastime of various leading politicians.
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The game has simple mechanics but requires a large time commitment
Diplomacy is a strategic board game that was first manufactured in 1959. The game is centred on pre-World War I Europe, with players assuming the role of a Great Power of Europe in the years leading up to the war and competing for dominance. The mechanics of the game are relatively simple, but it requires a large time commitment.
The game is designed for seven players, each representing a different country. These include England, France, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Turkey. The players negotiate, form alliances, and spread disinformation to achieve their objectives. The game differs from traditional war games in that players do not take turns sequentially. Instead, they secretly write down their moves after a negotiation period, and then all the moves are revealed and executed simultaneously. This adds an element of complexity and unpredictability to the game.
The time commitment required for Diplomacy is significant. Each turn can take over half an hour to complete, and even after playing for five solid hours, the game might not be close to finishing. Email games, which often have 48-hour deadlines, can take months to complete. The length of the game is further extended if a player drops out, as it is considered bad form to leave just because you are losing.
The large time commitment is partly due to the nature of the game, which involves intricate negotiations, strategising, and complex interactions between players. The game is known for its focus on "double-dealing" and manipulation, which can lead to intense emotions, hurt feelings, and even ruined friendships. Players must be comfortable with casually manipulating one another and dealing with potential betrayal and deception.
Despite the simple mechanics, the time commitment required for Diplomacy is a significant aspect of the game. The length of each turn, the number of players involved, and the complex interactions between players all contribute to the overall time investment needed to fully engage in the game. This time commitment is an essential part of the Diplomacy experience, allowing for the development of strategies, alliances, and the unfolding of intricate negotiations and interactions between players.
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Diplomacy is played online, via post, and in-person
Diplomacy is a turn-based strategy board game that can be played online, via post, and in-person. The game is set on a map of Europe and players negotiate, form alliances, and spread disinformation to achieve their goals.
Online Play
Diplomacy can be played online through websites such as Playdiplomacy, Backstabbr, and webDiplomacy. These websites allow players to arrange games and submit orders every 12 or 24 hours, facilitating lengthy correspondences by email, phone, text, or direct message. The game has also been released as a computer version by Paradox Interactive in 2005, and as a PC game by Hasbro.
Postal Play
Diplomacy was the first commercially published game to be played by mail (PBM) and has been played through fanzines since the 1960s. Players write down their moves after a negotiation period and submit them by mail, then all moves are revealed and executed simultaneously. While postal play was more common in the 1990s, the number of postal Diplomacy zines has decreased as players transitioned to online play.
In-Person Play
Diplomacy can also be played in-person, with face-to-face tournaments held since the 1970s. In-person games can be chaotic, requiring a large group of players and a significant time commitment. Players pair off in separate rooms for scheming and negotiations, and the game progresses as players submit their secret orders which are then revealed and executed simultaneously.
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Frequently asked questions
Diplomacy was invented in 1954 by Allan Calhamer.
The first 500 sets of Diplomacy were manufactured in 1959, after several companies had rejected the game.
Diplomacy requires seven players.
A game of Diplomacy can take a great deal of time. If you play for five hours, you may reach the end of 1905.
Yes, Paradox Interactive released a computer version in 2005.
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