Diplomacy
$29.99
Diplomacy at a Glance
| Game Type Wargame, Negotiation, Bluffing, Area Majority / Influence, Area Movement, Player Elimination | Play Time 4 + Hours | Skill/Complexity (4- 5) Medium - Heavy |
| Age 12+ | Publisher(s) Avalon Hill | Published 1959 |
| Categories Strategy | Players 2 - 7 (7 is best) | Rules Manual Official Rules PDF |
| Our Rating 8/10 | Cost $29.99 |
About – Description
Diplomacy was created in 1954 by Allan B. Calhamer but released commercially in 1959, offering players a strategy based war game.
The game is set in Europe leading up to World War 1 and is made for 2- 7 players of age 12 and over. It is an intricate strategy game that can take as long as 6 hours to play and so, it is perfect for those players who like to immerse themselves into strategy based games.
Who’s it best suited for?
The board game Diplomacy is a very heavy strategy based game that calls on negotiations, tactics, bluffing and strategic thinking.
It’s a game that requires commitment due to the time it takes to play but it could be considered educational for younger players based on the history that the game molds itself on.
Skill – Complexity
In terms of skill, players that play this game would need some kind of experience or knowledge of playing other strategy based war games.
It requires players to have an understanding of the strategies required in order to win. It is a complex game and even younger players could take some time to pick up even the basics of the game.
Set Up – Playing Rules & Instructions
The focal point is the map which is made up of provinces and players are given supply centers.
All players are given a country form Europe, including England, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Russian and Turkey.
They are all then given supply centers which are also known as home centers. However, new players to the game are recommended to pick France or Turkey, as they are considered to be more forgiving should tactical mistakes be made.
The game begins in 1901 and the idea is for players to take control of the majority of the map. To do this, players must move their units and defeat others in order to take control.
The players make moves during the spring and autumn of each year and on each turn, they have to either move onto a joining territory or support an allied unit during an attack on adjoining territory.
They can help an allied unit in defending adjoining territory or simply hold their position.
Players give the units a set of orders and the result of each turn is down the rules of the game.
The winner is then determined by the player who has control of the majority of the map.
This how to play video is very useful…….
Other Versions, Editions or Expansions Available?
Diplomacy has been released in a number of countries with a 50th Anniversary edition released in 2008.
The Gibsons version is cheaper than the Avalon Hill version which has a board that’s more colorful, although the Avalon Hill is better quality overall.
A number of expansions have been released including a 1900 variant in 1996, an Ard-Ri variant released in 1998 and a hundred variant released in 2003.
Likes & Dislikes
- Players love the concept of the game and the fact that it does not require the luck of rolling dice.
- Despite the long gameplay, players also found that you don’t have to commit to it in one sitting as some managed to leave the game and return to it after a break.
- A classic that had an edge of many games when it first came on the market and many years after.
- If you like challenging games in terms of gameplay along with the backstabbing tactics, mechanics and long length of play, and have the right players then it packs a major punch.
- In order to get the most from the game, it does require seven players and that was often found hard to come by for many (too much time commitment).
- This is a traitor type game so it can be a game that causes conflict between players. Too much backstabbing and not enough fun!
Final Thoughts
This is a solid strategy war game that is suitable for those more advanced players. It does take a lot of time to complete but that is what makes this game so interesting.
An exciting game from start to finish and one that is sure to fulfill the needs of many game players.
