Isabella Carter
In the game of Diplomacy, fleets are an important strategic element. They can occupy coastal territories that border water, and their movement and positioning can greatly impact the game's outcome. Regarding the French fleet, France has the advantage of building fleets on both sides of the MAO bottleneck, allowing for flexibility in alliances and attacks. France's most common winning combination includes a strong presence in Western Europe and the Mediterranean. However, the game's dynamics are complex, and players must carefully consider their moves, especially when dealing with powerful opponents like England and Germany.
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What You'll Learn
Fleets should be placed in open water, not on the coastline
In the board game Diplomacy, fleets are an essential component. The game's objective is to use your fleets and armies to conquer as many European nations or provinces as possible. There are 34 provinces on the board, each with its own unique characteristics and supply centres. These supply centres are vital for maintaining your armies and fleets, as the number of units you can field depends on the number of supply centres you control.
While fleets play a crucial role in the game, their placement is a strategic decision that can impact your tactical options. It is generally recommended that fleets be placed in open water rather than along the coastline. This strategy maximizes their tactical potential and provides more flexibility in manoeuvring and supporting coastal battles.
For example, a French fleet in the Channel can work with a German fleet in Denmark to quickly gain the upper hand over England. Additionally, fleets in open water can be used to convoy armies across bodies of water to coastal provinces, providing support and protection during transportation. This is especially important for countries like England, as without fleets, they cannot convoy armies to the mainland.
However, it is important to note that fleets in coastal provinces are assumed to be positioned anywhere along that province's coast. This allows for strategic movement between adjacent coastal provinces, as long as they share a coastline. For instance, a fleet in Sweden can move to Norway, Skagerrak, Denmark, the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Bothnia, or Finland in a single move.
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France can build fleets on both sides of the MAO bottleneck
In the board game Diplomacy, France has a much greater choice of winning combinations than England. One of France's advantages is its ability to build fleets on both sides of the MAO bottleneck. This flexibility allows France to befriend either England or Germany. The MAO bottleneck can be used to make a quick break into the Med by sailing to Spain's South Coast, which borders WMS. France can also launch an early attack on Italy by adding another fleet with F MAR. This is the most common French opening, as it allows France to threaten MUN in the fall and protect against an early German incursion.
However, this move goes against the strategic principle that fleets should be placed in open water rather than along the coastline to maximize tactical options. It is also difficult to defend the MAO bottleneck from the south, as it takes three units to lock it from the north.
France has more safe and non-committal openings that can guarantee a few builds during the winter of 1901. It is the only power that can reach the centers in Iberia in 1901, and it can choose to take them calmly or expend less effort by capturing Spain. France has a good shot at conquering Italy, especially TUN, ROM, NAP, and possibly VEN if it strikes early. This allows France to win without getting STP or SWE and gives it a good foothold across the major stalemate line.
One of the most aggressive openings for France is to move its fleet to the Channel, which can be supported by a German fleet in Denmark in the North Sea. This move can kill England, but it may leave France with no friends in Western Europe and a threatening Italy in the east.
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A French fleet in the English Channel can be supported by a German fleet in Denmark
In the game Diplomacy, a French fleet in the English Channel can be supported by a German fleet in Denmark. This move is considered aggressive and anti-English, and possibly anti-German, as it may leave France with no friends in Western Europe. It also provides the maximum possible force on Belgium, and the possibility of a convoy to Wales or London. This strategy can be effective in killing England, but it relies on having a supportive Germany and a relaxed Russia.
The French fleet in the English Channel is a more aggressive opening than the English move to the Channel in Spring 1901. This move by France leaves Iberia untouched and provides an opportunity for Germany to strike into Burgundy if desired. It also allows France to threaten Munich in the fall and guarantees two builds from Iberia.
While this strategy can be powerful, it is important to consider the risks involved. France may be left with no allies in Western Europe and a threatening Italy in the east. Additionally, placing fleets on the coastline, as this strategy requires, may reduce tactical options.
To implement this strategy, France and Germany must coordinate their moves. France should move its fleet into the English Channel, while Germany should move its fleet into Denmark. From there, the two fleets can support each other and work together to quickly end England. However, it is crucial to have a supportive Germany and a relaxed Russia for this strategy to succeed.
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France's most common winning combination
France is considered the best country in Diplomacy, with the ability to suit every play style and format. It is as defensible as Italy and Turkey, with offensive potential only rivalled by Russia. France also has a high survival rate, ending the game alive in up to 70% of all games played.
France has a greater choice of winning combinations than England. One of the most common French openings is to build a fleet in the Channel, which can be supported by a German fleet in Denmark into the North Sea, quickly ending England. This move, however, leaves Iberia untouched and can result in a very powerful Italy in the east.
The calmer alternative to the Channel is MAO, which allows France to befriend either England or Germany. This move gives France a chance to break into the Mediterranean by sailing to Spain's South Coast, which borders WMS. Adding another fleet with F MAR can mount an early attack on Italy. This is the most common French opening, as it protects against an early German attack and guarantees a threat on MUN in the fall.
The most common French winning combination is: 3 home centres, Iberia (2), England (3), the Low Countries (2), Germany (3), Scandinavia (3), St. Petersburg, and one of WAR, MOS, and TUN. France can also conquer Italy, especially TUN, ROM, NAP, and possibly VEN if they strike early. This allows France to win without getting STP or SWE, and gives them a good foothold across the major stalemate line.
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France's chances of conquering Italy
In the board game Diplomacy, France has a good shot at conquering Italy, especially TUN, ROM, NAP, and possibly VEN if it strikes early. This allows France to win without getting STP or SWE and gives France a good foothold across the major stalemate line. France has more safe and non-committing openings that can almost guarantee quite a few builds during the winter of 1901.
One of the most common French openings is to add a fleet with F MAR to support a quick break into the Mediterranean by sailing F MAO to Spain's South Coast, which borders WMS. This move can mount a powerful early attack on Italy, which usually focuses on the East for the first few years. This opening also protects against an early German incursion and guarantees a threat on MUN in the fall. However, this move violates the strategic principle that fleets should usually be placed in open water rather than on the coastline to maximize tactical options.
An alternative strategy for France is to ally with England to conquer Germany, then press into the Mediterranean to conquer Italy and Tunisia. However, this path complicates matters in the south, as it usually involves a major attack on Italy early in the game, empowering Turkey and creating a juggernaut.
A significant problem for Italy is a western triple alliance between England, France, and Germany. Italy almost always comes into conflict with either England or Germany shortly after conquering the southern French centers. Therefore, peace with France and Germany is very important for Italy.
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Frequently asked questions
The most common French opening in Diplomacy is to move to MAO, which allows for a quick break into the Mediterranean by sailing to Spain's South Coast. This move can be followed up by adding another fleet with F MAR, which can be used to launch an early attack on Italy.
The most aggressive possible opening for France is to move to the Channel, which can support or be supported by a German fleet in Denmark in the North Sea. This move is anti-English and possibly anti-German, and may leave France with no friends in Western Europe.
The most common French winning combination is 3 home centers, Iberia (2), England (3), the Low Countries (2), Germany (3), Scandinavia (3), St. Petersburg, and one of WAR, MOS, and TUN.
When playing as France in Diplomacy, it is important to be cautious of England and Germany. While an alliance with England can be profitable early on, England may eventually stab France in the back in order to win. Similarly, Germany will constantly try to ram into France, so it is important to highlight this to the German player.
