Red Priest
United States
Inwood
West Virginia
-
Diplomacy
© 1976 The Avalon Hill Game Company
2-7 Players
3+ hours
Review-
This is a game that conjures up mixed feelings. I like the game, but I do not like they way it needs to be played in order to win. Diplomacy is a good game but I would advise you to never play it with friends or family and in a moment I will explain why.
Diplomacy takes place at the turn of the 20th century and depicts the seven major powers vying for dominance in pre-World War I Europe. England, France, Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, The Ottoman Empire, and even Italy maneuver their fleets and armies in order to capture 18 supply centers. There are only 2 types of units in the game the fleet and the army. A turn begins with all players going off and making deals and alliances with one another (the “Diplomacy”) the trouble is, and why friends can be lost during play, no deal is binding. The object of the game then becomes being able to lie, cheat and steal your way into a winning position. In short it doesn’t pay to play nice. I have been to tournaments and saw the result of a deal gone bad. There was much shouting and hurt feelings. Hey it’s just a game…right? Each player then writes down the moves they are planning to make using a form of shorthand that is described in the rulebook. The player moves are then executed simultaneously. Conflicts are resolved with a simple system of superior numbers. Armies and fleets can support each other on attack and defense. Whoever has the most military force wins a “battle.” Any other result is a draw and no one gains or loses ground. I have actually only played the game once and once was enough. I was really upset with a few of my gamer friends after playing. It is only a game but there is still a sense of betrayal when you are double-crossed. I even know someone who gave up the game due to an inner moral conflict. So my advice is to play at tournaments where you may never see the same person twice or develop some sort of shield against the feeling you get from being stabbed in the back by your best bud.
-
Chris Ferejohn
United States
San Francisco
California
Pitying fools as hard as I can...
-
Yeah, there are just some people who shouldn't play this game. You just have to realize that the name of the game isn't *whether* you will be betrayed, it's *when*. And generally, if you can betray someone one turn before they were going to betray you, well, that's ideal.
Played this a lot of college, and none of us ever took it personally, so we had a great time. Maybe play a few games of Shadows over Camelot or Betrayal at House on the Hill first (where there is a built-in traitor) so people learn not to take it seriously?
-
Petras Ražanskas
Lithuania
Kaunas
Kauno apskritis
-
Too bad some people take the game too seriously. I have been backstabbed more than once during my games and I can only say this: stay cautious of that person in your later games, because he or she might as well do it again, but that's no reason to start personal wars. I mean, seriously, the guy or the girl just wanted to win as much as you do. If you don't like it, stay the hell away from any competitive board game then. And watch your back better next time if you don't listen to the first advice and play the game again. No one is guilty you were stabbed except yourself.
As a side note, we play Diplomacy in a same gaming group (which is, quite frankly, devoted almost solely to Diplomacy PbeM anyway) so we all know each other, we remember many stabbing stories, have a lot of grudges and so on. We're just... uh... mature enough?
-
Red Priest
United States
Inwood
West Virginia
-
Indeed I was much younger when I first played. I should try it again sometime. It really is an intriguing game.
-
-
My favourite game.
I´d also like to point out that the game was made in the 50´s (1956?) and not 1976 as noted in the review.
-
Romain Jacques
Canada
Gatineau
Québec
-
In 1956, the author had a prototype quite differente from the final version. In 1958, he home-made 500 copies that he sold himself. In 1961 he was edited by Games Research Inc. with rules that were different from his first version. I think that 1976 was the first edition of AH.
-
Nick Case
England
Epsom
Surrey
-
The issue of betrayal and back stabbing has been raised several times regarding Diplomacy on this site.
The conclusion is always the same; it's not real life. No one has burgled your house, crashed your car or insulted your wife, it's a game where you are supposed to be devious and underhand. If you are unable to switch off emotions from the real world and just accept this as a ruthless game (but all the same a supposedly enjoyable pass time), then don't play.
-
Scott Gillispie
United States
Atlanta
Georgia
-
I was always notorious as a a trustworthy truthteller, so in playing Dip, I always made it clear to everyone that this is the only time that I lie. And lie often and blatantly. My favorite sort of lying in Dip - misrepresenting (or completely manufacturing) what other players have told me - thus leaving uncertainly over whether I'm lying, or repeating others' lies. Marvelous.
I'm getting my first F2F game of Dip in 15 years next month - absolutely looking forward to it.
-
Marion Jensen
United States
Taylorsville
Utah
-
I have played several times online, and I don't know if I buy the whole 'have to back stab and betray' bit. When I have played it, people find it to be quite fun to be completely honest. We get into the 'role' of the president of premier of the country. So the Sultan of Turkey will write to me and tell me what is happening, his plans, etc.
Diplomacy doesn't have to be about lying. In almost all the games I receive a letter that goes something like this. "Our alliance has served both our countries well, but alas, my people are demanding something be done about the 'French Problem'. So it is my intention to invade your country next spring, but know that it will be done with the utmost love and care."
That makes the game very interesting because you look for ways to both support another country, all the time positioning yourself to be able to break the alliance and be in a good position. I personally have never lied in a game. It makes future games easier, because people are more willing to enter into an agreement with me. They know I won't back stab them (or at least there is a really good chance I won't, as there are never any certainties in the game).
-
George Van Voorn
Netherlands
-
Actually, what you mention here is a good point to refrain from lying.
You can play this and similiar games (a Game of Thrones, for example) without the lying part. I sometimes get the impression people play this because they WANT to be lying, they WANT to be bad, etc. It's an excuse to show off your worst behaviour, and if the other guy complains about it he is being pushed away under the pretext of "It's only a game".
No, you're a big %$@#!
Only once and a while it can be very satisfactorily to have everybody trust you and then make one big stab that will surely win the game. But still you can be nice.
-
|
|
