# SDMB Newbie Diplomacy game **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 20, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873 "2003-01-20T22:44:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/1 "2003-01-20T22:44:37Z")
OK, I’m starting this new thread as a jumping off point to the request for a newbie game of Diplomacy made in Abe Babe’s [New Diplomacy](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=145741) thread. I offered to try my hand at GMing for the first time with all you rookies. To begin with, here’s the roster of rookies who have chimed-in in the other thread. \*\* Soup\_du\_jour Wikkit clayton\_e Tristan foxfiregrrl Royal Nonesuch \*\* We’re one rookie short, so I’ll leave it be for a little while in the chances that some one else speaks up. If not, I’m sure one of the other beginning players would be happy to jump in. Perhaps **Schnitte** or **Shibbs** would like to take on another game. I’d like the new players to take a look at a few of these links below, they are decent starting out points for beginners. I’d like everyone to please post to this thread with country preferences and confirmation that you’re still interested. If you’re unsure of country preferences read the links below and it’ll likely give you an impression of what you’d like to play. [The Rules of Diplomacy](http://www.avalonhill.com/rules/diplomacy.pdf) [Diplomatic Pouch](http://www.diplom.org/) [Diplomacy Archive](http://www.diplomacy-archive.com/sitemap.htm) In the last link, I especially recommend the Strategy and Tactics articles. **White Lightning** , want to be the “overseer” and back-up GM should something come up where I’m unexpected unavailable? ---
**Author:** ![Hugh\_Jass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4da419/32.png) [@Hugh\_Jass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugh_Jass)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/2 "2003-01-20T23:33:11Z")
I would love to get in on this! Count me in! ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/3 "2003-01-21T00:02:12Z")
Well, that makes 7. Please post your country preferences. At a later date I’ll provide everyone an email which I’ll be using to manage this thing. Also let me know if you all have any availablity limitations I should schedule around. I’ll run the game pretty casually, extentions will be granted liberally and I’ll do everything possible to avoid NMRs. Please don’t take advantage of course, but I don’t suspect it’ll be an issue. ---
**Author:** ![jessicala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@jessicala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jessicala)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/4 "2003-01-21T00:38:34Z")
Well poo … **Hugh** beat me to the punch. If you need a sub, or if you get a second newbie game going, I’m interested in trying this out. My email is in my profile. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/5 "2003-01-21T01:28:52Z")
Don’t give up yet, if I don’t get responses from the first 7 before the game gets underway I’ll need replacements. In past attempts people have been known to post once and never surface again in this types of threads. Be dilligent young chap. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/6 "2003-01-21T02:40:46Z")
**Omni** , keep me on your list as a backup or sub if you need one. ---
**Author:** ![Royal\_Nonesuch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8491ac/32.png) [@Royal\_Nonesuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Royal_Nonesuch)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/7 "2003-01-21T03:17:59Z")
Let’s go!!! I’ve gotten so caught up in this, the other night I had an erotic dream in which I lovingly perused my lover’s body in search of Supply Centers. :eek: R G T A I F E ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/8 "2003-01-21T03:43:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Royal Nonesuch \* > \*\*Let’s go!!! I’ve gotten so caught up in this, the other night I had an erotic dream in which I lovingly perused my lover’s body in search of Supply Centers. :eek: > > R G T A I F E \*\* Sure you’ve never played this game before? I hope you’re just joking about the above. Otherwise, are you a sockpuppet for **WhiteLightning**? ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/9 "2003-01-21T04:32:31Z")
How is it played, this “Diplomacy”? ---
**Author:** ![Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/10 "2003-01-21T05:51:10Z")
I’ll confess to pure ignorance and moderate curiosity m’self. I tried following the last thread on the subject, and got hopelessly lost before it got anywhere quickly. Would someone care to give a quick overview, before the clueless delve into the links above? ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/11 "2003-01-21T06:30:27Z")
**Skeezix** , it’d be difficult and time consuming to explain the game here in this thread. Not to mention the fact that it would certainly spawn a whole series of follow-up questions which would hopelessly sidetrack the thread. Another good link which you may want to look over is here: [The Game of Diplomacy, by Richard Sharp](http://www.diplomacy-archive.com/god.htm) The book is reproduced on the web here, its a bit dated and written long before email came about, however the chapter labeled [Fundamentals](http://www.diplomacy-archive.com/resources/god/one.htm) is a reasonably succinct explaination of the basics of the game. Shorter and more direct than the complete Avalon Hill version of the rules above. **Shibbs, JayLa** , I’ll definately keep you guys in mind. I’ll let this thread linger for a day or two, and if those previously noted posters don’t chime back in I’ll have a quick trigger in order to get this game under way as quickly as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/12 "2003-01-21T07:20:20Z")
My thanks. I think I can safely say I’ll be sitting this one out, as well, though. My head hurts about 2 pages into the fundamentals. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/13 "2003-01-21T08:41:24Z")
damn - something i’d have quite to take part in too. will have to keep an eye out for next time 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/14 "2003-01-21T12:59:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skeezix \* > \*\*My thanks. > > I think I can safely say I’ll be sitting this one out, as well, though. My head hurts about 2 pages into the fundamentals. \*\* **Skeezix** , it’s not that tricky, just a little confusing as you read through it rather than play. Maybe you could pair up as a sort of co-captain with one of the other newer players so you could get a feel for it and then play solo the next time? Another newbie might appreciate having someone else to bounce ideas off. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/15 "2003-01-21T13:10:51Z")
ooooooooooh me! me! i wanna be a co-captain! 🙂 seriously though if anyone fancies that let me know. ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/16 "2003-01-21T15:46:48Z")
In a nutshell, Diplomacy is vaguely risk-like, in that you try to take over more than half of the world to win. Each territory with a dot in it is a supply center. Usually, how many supply centers you own is how many armies and/or fleets you have. As you expand your territory, your army gets bigger. If you’re invaded successfully, you army gets smaller. Each territory can only have one unit in it. A land space can have an army in it, and a sea space can have a fleet in it. In addition, coastal land spaces can have an army or a fleet. Combat is determined by who has the most units participating. If the attacker has one unit attacking and one unit supporting the attack, and the defender has just one unit on defense, the attack succeeds. the attacker takes the territory, and the defender must retreat to an adjacent territory. A single attacker attacking a single defender will never win. An unsuccessful attack means simply that the territory is not taken. No casualties occur. As all parties are relatively weak at the start, you pretty much need to form alliances with one or more neighbors to make joint attacks, or at least agree not to attack each other. France will send a letter to Germany saying"Let’s attack England" and a letter to England saying “Let’s attack Germany.” Then see who gives you the best response. Richard Sharp, eat your heart out. :waits for a lightning bolt from the heavens to strike him down in his chair: ---
**Author:** ![Royal\_Nonesuch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8491ac/32.png) [@Royal\_Nonesuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Royal_Nonesuch)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/17 "2003-01-21T15:53:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > \*\*Sure you’ve never played this game before? I hope you’re just joking about the above. Otherwise, are you a sockpuppet for **WhiteLightning**? \*\* I played once many years ago and LOVED it, but my co-players decided that they preferred to play Civilization. I exaggerated for comic effect. Slightly. There’s no zeal to match that of the newly converted. ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/18 "2003-01-21T16:39:36Z")
Neato mosquito burrito. I’m in! Get ready to feel the wrath of the Italians! ---
**Author:** ![Hugh\_Jass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4da419/32.png) [@Hugh\_Jass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugh_Jass)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/19 "2003-01-21T17:09:44Z")
I’d kinda like to play the English. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873/20 "2003-01-21T21:30:51Z")
Last fall’s game got me re-interested in Dip. I’ve played in 1 face-to-face game and 2 email games (1 of which was the Youngstown variant). And none of the games lasted beyond the fourth turn (F02), as everybody lost interest. I’ll watch this game; I may be interested in the next one. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-newbie-diplomacy-game/149873.md?page=2)