Eric's Blog About Books- Issue #4- Diplomacy

I have decided, since the game of Diplomacy has ruled my imagination for the past few days, that it shall be the subject of my blog. It's not a book, so technically it has no place in my Blog About Books, but it's my blog and I'll do what I want with it. Besides, Eric's Blog About Boardgames Which Require Cunning, Strategy, Deceit, and Mutual Trust would be far too blocky to use as a title. Anyway, your average game of Diplomacy contains more suspense and drama than any three thrillers, so I feel it fits with the general idea of Blog About Books. After all, when boiled down, stories are simply a group of characters who desperately want something, and have to plow through, pull down, or dodge all of the obstacles in between them and what they want, and by that criteria, Diplomacy is the ultimate story.

Diplomacy is a strategy board game created in 1954 and published in 1959. Seven players, each in control of one European country and three units, are all vying for control of Europe. The thing is: if one unit from, say, France attacks one unit from Germany, the result is nothing, they bounce off and nothing is gained by either side. So you either need to focus all three off your units on one or two of theirs, which leaves you open to the other players around you, or you must form an alliance with your neighbors to help you attack them, in exchange for your help somewhere else. No player can win or even significantly advance without working in concert with other players, and then betraying them at the opportune time. And, of course, they are all waiting to backstab you as well.

The rules are astonishingly simple for such a complex game. They can be found here: http://www.playdiplomacy.com/help.php

A brief summary of the rules: before the game starts, all the players talk with each other, form alliances, plan on who to target, and generally recreate the intrigue of the old Byzantine Empire. Then they all submit their moves to the Gamemaster, who then inputs the information on the board. Meaning, it's not turn based like chess or risk, everyone moves simultaneously. Everyone sees where everyone else chose to move, which country is getting tarred by which neighbors, whose armies were forced out of where. Then the plotting begins anew, and they move again. Lather, rinse, repeat until one country dominates.

When I first found out about this wonderful game which seemed tailor-made for my personality, I was determined to play it. I went to the game site in the link above, signed up, and am now in the starting rounds of a game, playing as England. To give you a glimpse of how exciting this game can be, let me give you a recap of the game so far.

I look at my position on the board, and immediately determined that France was going to be a problem. He was blocking my immediate entry into the European mainland, and if he went south to the Iberian peninsula he could cut off my ships from the Mediterranean, potentially crippling my expansion. France needed to go down, and fast. I sent a message to Italy, asking him if he would mind moving an army to the borders of France if I attacked, then considered the board further. I messaged Russia and Germany, who along with me have access to Scandinavia, asking if we could divide it up equally and then all three of us move south, assured that we wouldn't have problems with the other two quite yet. Germany and I then plotted on how to overwhelm France in a sudden assault, by which time Italy had messaged us both and was in on the plan. I messaged France to lure him into a false sense of security, using a vaguely worded plan to demilitarize the English channel (meaning, neither one of us moves into there) while offering future support against Germany.

I messaged Russia and requested that, since Germany wasn't going to be a problem, he might focus on Austria, since a weakened Austria would allow Italy to focus on France.

Around this time France got back to me, and bought an excuse I made that I was going to have to enter the English Channel, but that I would move away as soon as I could. I was in fact, going to use it to ferry troops directly into the heartland of France.

I saw the plan in my head then- France, trying to fend off my ships in the English channel, German forces in burgundy, and with an Italian army pressing on the southern flank. It was beautiful. I nip in and seize Brest and Paris, Germany gets Belgium and Holland, Italy gets Marseilles. Then an outnumbered Italy and I battle it out over who gets Spain and Portugal. Yessss...

We all submitted our orders and held our breath. From the start, France saw Italy and Germany on his borders and was intimidated enough to accept my help. I would, according to the plan I gave him, land an army in Belgium and support him against German aggression, so he agreed not to move his army there. His troops in Brest had already moved south and were en route to Portugal. they could have caused trouble for me by moving back to Brest and bouncing me, but France knows I'm on his side. Meanwhile, I tell Germany to move into Belgium, because I had made sure it would be free for the taking. On the southern front, across the board from me, Turkey was playing it safe and holing up, while Russia and Austria were about to duke it out on about equal terms, leaving Italy more or less free to move against France some more.

After France falls, I must find a way to call Russia off of Austria so Austria can put pressure on Italy right when he's fighting me. Meanwhile, I must also keep myself on Germany's good side, make sure he gains more territory by not backstabbing me. After all, it is possible to have a two or three way win. Why not maintain such a mutually beneficial alliance? Perhaps I should get Germany and I together and hit Russia in the north, after France inevitably falls? That would take Russia off of Austria. I claim St. Petersburg to maintain my dominance on the seas while Germany takes Sweden...

And all the while I must keep vigilant, make sure no anti-English coalition arises, make sure Germany or Russia doesn't suddenly sweep the North Atlantic from me and threaten my homeland...

Keep in mind, all that intrigue has taken place over one turn. Each piece on the board has moved only one time.

The average game of Diplomacy lasts about fifteen turns.

I love this game!

Update: Just found out Russia and possibly Germany have built fleets and are now capable of wiping me out. Do I believe Germany's assurances that his fleet at least is no threat, and so ally with him against Russian aggression, or can I possibly reconcile with France to back each other into midgame? I don't know! This game wouldn't be fun if I was assured of victory on my very first game!