An Excellent Strategy Game
Written: Jun 17 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: No luck, Solid strategy, Fun player interaction
Cons: Too long, Difficult to organize
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| mst3k's Full Review: Diplomacy |
Diplomacy is a classic. It starts in the spring of 1901 with seven Great Powers of Europe battling to control more than half of the continent's supply centers.
The most attractive feature is the complete lack of luck. No die rolling, no card drawing, etc. The game is a tactician's dream. Each army/fleet is equivalent in power, and ground is only gained or lost through strategic positioning and careful alliances.
The main thrust of Diplomacy is negotiation among the players. Before each turn, a period of diplomacy among the players is carried out. Here, the players can make alliances, trade knowledge, plan joint military ventures, etc. The problem is, nothing said during this period is binding. Thus, there is great opportunity for backstabbing.
To win, one power must control more than half of the supply centers. However, all remaining players, by agreement, may end sooner. Unfortunately, anything less than a two-way-win is hardly satisfying. Thus, a bit of backstabbing *must* be done eventually if you intend to win alone, but no player can succeed by themselves. Everyone needs support in the beginning to fend off attacks. This creates a fantastic element of mutual distrust among all players. The trick is to stab someone else before they stab you.
The game does feature some drawbacks, however. One, the game takes too long. A normal game may take anywhere from four to ten hours. Also a problem is the difficulty of obtaining seven capable players. Any less than seven takes a lot out of the game. The inter-player negotiations and dynamics are built upon the existence of seven intelligent players. Planning any event for seven people is a hassle, not to mention one that takes six hours. Another problem is that this game is not for everyone. A player must be able to gracefully accept a friend lying to them and/or stabbing them in the back. After all, it is just a game.
Overall, I highly recommend this game. It is a great experience for the strategy buff, but don't expect to be able to whip up a game anytime you feel like it. Diplomacy games are as hard to set up as they are to play.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
mst3k
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Member: Michael Terry
Reviews written: 11
Trusted by: 2 members
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