Today’s Rave: Diplomacy

As you know (I think), I love board games. And among board games, one is the undisputed king. The rules are simple, but the intrigues, subterfuge, treasonous maneuvering and back-stabbing is as complex and varied as real life. I refer to the Avalon Hill classic, Diplomacy.

The rules themselves are almost laughably simple. There are armies and fleets. They each can move, hold, or support another movement. Attackers must outnumber their opponents to dislodge them. That’s about it, other than rules for convoying. But all movement orders are processed simultaneously, so it’s up to you, the hapless leader of your nation, to wheel and deal with others in an attempt to grab as much land as possible while feinting with the olive branch whenever necessary. Certain areas on the board are supply centers, and for each additional one you capture you can build an additional fleet or army.

The ultimate aim of Diplomacy is to position yourself, after a couple of years, in a position where you will be able to perform a backstab of such breathtaking arrogance and scope that you will climb over the corpses of both your enemies and friends to victory. Because once you break your word, no other country will trust you again. So you have to wait for that right moment.

The hilarious thing about the game is despite the ridiculously simple rules, your interactions with other nations are hilariously complex. For example, you might meet with a stated ally to discuss plans, then meet with a secret ally who you will leak information to in exchange for information on their partner. Then it’s off to meet with a supposed enemy who in fact you are faking a war with to get another country off its guard. It’s as ridiculous as you make it.

Every country has its own challenges to face: England’s relative isolation and naval superiority make it easy to defend, but taking territory can be problematic. Russia starts with four military units but is beset on all sides by enemies. Italy has dominance of the Mediterranean but has two central European powers breathing down its neck.

In short, Diplomacy is a game that relies simply on human nature to provide its challenges and entertainment – a winning formula. Not to mention, Diplomacy is one of the few games that actually teaches you a skill: in this case, negotiation. Trying to delicately broker a peace agreement before the entire continent plunges into all-out war will make you think twice next time you read about the diplomatic problems some countries are facing.