Originally posted by raefordWhen my age was still measured in single figures, there were two games in our house, Monopoly and Diplomacy. My dad wouldn't let us play Diplomacy, presumably because we wouldn't understand it. I can still picture it on top of a shelf, I think it was in a purple box, but perhaps my memory fails me... never did get to play it.
Anybody have any experience playing the game Diplomacy?
Originally posted by trekkieThe gist of it is this: it's set in Europe at the start of the 20th century (though it has little connection with real history!). Each player controls one of the 7 Great Powers in Europe at the time. Through military tactics, but mainly through cunning manipulation of the other players, each player is trying to dominate Europe by taking over Supply Centres, which allow whoever controls them to have more armies and fleets. Players write down orders and then the orders take effect simultaneously, giving plenty of scope for cooperation, trickery and betrayal. The game ends when one player controls more than half the Supply Centres.
I have never heard of the game. What is the basic concept ?
mike
the klingon
One thing you must always remember when playing: it is NOT a team game. The other players are trying to win for themselves, whatever they tell you. And you can't claim a 'moral victory' if you get clobbered by rivals who take advantage of your kindness to them. 😀 Maybe Chrismo's dad wouldn't let him play because it would have started too many arguments, and taught his children the cynicism and misleading language of politicians!
This sounds fascinating. Having done a quick search I found the following:-
http://www.diplom.org/Welcome.html
I was particularly drawn to this part "The final outcome of a game of Diplomacy is always the responsibility -- for better or worse -- of each player. Diplomacy offers a totally chanceless (there are no dice to roll, no tables to consult, no random events to deal with) competition of wits and wiles"
and "Combining with other players to defeat a common foe, secretly arranging peace with the enemy, and suddenly turning on your ally, who has trusted you and worked with you since the first move, is all part of the game. All's fair in love and war, so the saying goes, and in Diplomacy, one is often simply a mask for the other"
I'm going to investigate further.
Perhaps if there are 7 people here at RHP who play it would be possible to arrange a game? It suggests that you can play Diplomacy through email I believe.
Mark
