Omar Bennett
Diplomacy is a board game invented in the 1950s by Allan B. Calhamer, a Harvard University undergraduate. The game involves players controlling one of seven nations at the start of the 20th century, with the goal of gaining new territories and building troops. The game is known for its complex social interactions and has been described as a way to ruin friendships due to its encouragement of lying and betrayal among players. Diplomacy has been played since the 1960s through fanzines and play-by-mail games, and has also been adapted into online versions, with the website Backstabbr being a popular platform for playing the game.
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What You'll Learn
- The board game Diplomacy was invented in the 1950s by Allan B. Calhamer
- Diplomacy is a strategy game about taking over Europe
- The game is based on the pre-World War I division of the world by Western imperial powers
- Diplomacy can be played online on websites like Backstabbr
- Diplomacy has been played by mail through fanzines since the 1960s
The board game Diplomacy was invented in the 1950s by Allan B. Calhamer
Diplomacy is a highly influential and beloved board game that has stood the test of time. It is a game of strategy, alliances, and negotiations, where players must use their skills to outmaneuver their opponents and secure control of key territories on the board. The game is set in Europe at the start of the 20th century, and each player controls one of seven nations, submitting movement orders to their armies and fleets each turn to gain new territories and build troops. The goal is to control 18 of the game's supply cities simultaneously.
The original Diplomacy board game was released in 1959 and gained a loyal following, including celebrities such as JFK and Henry Kissinger. It has been played by mail through fanzines since the 1960s and has had several boardgame adaptations commercially published. The largest dedicated online Diplomacy server is Backstabbr, which has transformed the gameplay experience for many, making it more accessible and enjoyable.
Allan B. Calhamer is known for his innovative approach to game design, and Diplomacy is considered a classic game that has influenced the hobby-game industry. Calhamer wrote a book about the game, titled "Calhamer on Diplomacy: The Boardgame 'Diplomacy' and Diplomatic History," but it did not provide him with a living. He retired from working as a mail carrier in the 1990s and lived his last years in La Grange Park, Illinois, where he passed away in 2013.
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Diplomacy is a strategy game about taking over Europe
Diplomacy is a strategy board game set in Europe in the years leading up to World War I. The game is centred around the rivalry between the great imperial powers of England, France, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Ottoman Turkey. Each player controls one of the seven nations, aiming to expand their territory and build troops by gaining control of strategic cities and provinces marked as "supply centres" on the map. These supply centres allow players to produce more units and gain a strategic advantage. The game is known for its negotiation phases, where players form and betray alliances, and its absence of dice or other random elements, making it purely a strategic and diplomatic simulation game.
Diplomacy stands out from most board wargames due to its unique negotiation phases and the absence of random outcomes. Players spend a significant amount of time forming alliances, devising strategies, and occasionally betraying their allies to achieve their goals. The game does not rely on dice or other elements that introduce chance, ensuring that success is solely based on the players' strategic decisions and negotiation skills. This makes Diplomacy a true test of strategic thinking and social interaction.
In the game, each player controls the armed forces of a major European power and aims to defeat their opponents by capturing a majority of the supply centres. These supply centres provide the resources necessary to produce and sustain military units. Players engage in negotiations, form alliances, and issue attack and support orders, which are then executed during the movement phase. The game progresses as players manoeuvre their armies and fleets across the map, aiming to outwit and outmanoeuvre their opponents.
The classic version of Diplomacy is set on a simplified map of Europe in 1901, capturing the intense rivalry between the imperial powers. The game board represents the entire continent, providing a strategic backdrop for players to navigate. The game has also inspired various variants, including Machiavelli, Kamakura, and Colonial Diplomacy, each offering a unique twist on the original gameplay.
Diplomacy has gained a reputation for its ability to shape careers and forge or ruin friendships due to its intense strategic and social nature. The game has attracted the attention of notable figures such as President John F. Kennedy and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who were known to enjoy playing it. Diplomacy's influence extends beyond the gaming world, providing insights into the complex dynamics of international relations and power politics.
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The game is based on the pre-World War I division of the world by Western imperial powers
The board game Diplomacy was first released in 1959 and is about taking over Europe. Each player controls one of seven nations at the start of the 20th century, with the goal of gaining new territories and building troops. The game is based on the pre-World War I division of the world by Western imperial powers, with each player starting the game controlling one country. The game differs from other war games in that no arrangement is binding, encouraging players to lie to and betray one another.
In the years leading up to World War I, the world was divided by a handful of powerful empires. The Western European empires of Great Britain and France had overseas colonies in Africa and Asia, while the Eastern European empires of Austria-Hungary, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire controlled territories connected by land. These empires were in constant competition with each other, seeking to expand their territories and maintain their dominance.
The creation of a unified Germany in 1871 disturbed the old "balance of power," leading to a complex web of alliances and rivalries. France and Russia formed an alliance in 1894, which pushed Germany into a closer alliance with the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Competing ambitions in southeastern Europe, particularly in the Balkans, further escalated tensions. Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1908 was a significant point of contention, leading to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by the revolutionary group Young Bosnia in 1914.
The imperial powers' pursuit of global dominance and their rivalry set the stage for World War I. The game of Diplomacy reflects this dynamic, with players vying for control of Europe and engaging in strategic negotiations and alliances. The game's mechanics mirror the complex relationships and power struggles between the pre-World War I imperial powers.
Additionally, the game acknowledges the colonial holdings of the imperial powers. For example, North Africa and Tunis start the game as neutral provinces, despite being part of the French colonial empire in 1914. Finland and Syria are also included as parts of Great Powers, reflecting their historical associations with the Russian and Ottoman Empires, respectively.
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Diplomacy can be played online on websites like Backstabbr
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 to the First World War. It involves two to seven players, each controlling the armed forces of a major European power. The goal is 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.
Playing Diplomacy online on Backstabbr offers a different experience from the traditional board game. The extra time allowed for negotiation, along with the ability to communicate via text rather than in person, adds a layer of nuance to the game. Players can take their time crafting messages and negotiating with other players, making it easier to form alliances and agreements, which are a key aspect of the game.
The online version of Diplomacy on Backstabbr also addresses some of the challenges of playing the board game in person. For example, it can be difficult to have separate conversations with multiple players simultaneously without raising suspicions. The online format provides more opportunities for secret negotiations and strategic planning, enhancing the diplomatic and strategic aspects of the game.
In addition to Backstabbr, there are other online platforms and communities dedicated to playing Diplomacy. For example, there is a play-by-mail game community that uses either postal mail or the Internet to play the game, with turns adjudicated by humans or automatic adjudicators. These options provide flexibility for players who want to experience the game in a different format or who may have difficulty assembling enough players for an in-person game.
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Diplomacy has been played by mail through fanzines since the 1960s
The board game Diplomacy was invented in the 1950s by Allan B. Calhamer, a Harvard University undergraduate. It was mass-marketed by the game company Avalon Hill and eventually developed into a mostly free online hobby. Since the 1960s, Diplomacy has also been played by mail through fanzines. The play-by-mail (PBM) hobby was created in 1963 by Dr. John Boardman of New York City. He used carbon-copied typed flyers to recruit players through his science fiction fanzine, Knowable. In May 1963, Boardman organized the first play-by-mail game of Diplomacy, along with the first Diplomacy zine, Graustark. Within four years, there were at least 32 more zines filled with postal Diplomacy games. Games Research started promoting the game by mail by including the names and addresses of the zine editors with the game.
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Frequently asked questions
The original Diplomacy board game was released in 1959.
Diplomacy was invented by a Harvard University undergraduate named Allan B. Calhamer in the 1950s.
Diplomacy is about taking over Europe. 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 troops.
To win, you need to be strategic and diplomatic, making deals and alliances with other players. The goal is to control 18 or more of the game's 34 supply cities at the same time.
Yes, Diplomacy is played in tournaments. The largest tournament is called Dixiecon, and there is also a yearly convention called DipCon, held on a college campus, to crown the national Diplomacy champion.
