Diplomacy variants

From: dodd@polya.Stanford.EDU (Christopher T. Dodd)

Date: Tue, 01 Aug 1989 02:20:03 +0000

Someone asked about the rules to Blind Diplomacy, so I dug up
all my weird dippy variants.

Blind Diplomacy:

In this variant, the locations of all pieces are secret.  You
discover the locations of enemy pieces when you attack them or are
attacked by them.  You also discover the location of enemy pieces by
spying.  Each country begins with 2 spies, in any home centers.  You
lose a spy if you lose your capital, and both spies if you lose all your
home centers.  You gain a spy for each enemy capital you take.  Spies
that are destroyed are replaced each year in a home center.
	Each spy may: move, hold, or counter espionage.  Spies
themselves are completely invisible -- they may move through any space
regardless of the presence of other units.  Spies are never dislogded,
and can only be destroyed by counter espionage.  A spy performing conter
espionage kills all enemy spies in the area.  If two spies both CE the
same area, both die.  If a spy survives, it provides complete
information on the unit occupying the area and its actions in the just
completed turn.

Armor Diplomacy:

This variant allows you to build Tank(T) armies.  A Tank army
functions like a normal army in all respects except that it counts as 2
armies for supply and combat purposes.  That is:  In any attack by a
Tank army it is treated as if it had an extra support above and beyond
whatever it may have.  When holding, it similarly gets an extra support.
When supporting it counts two supporting armies.  It requires two supply
centers to build/maintain a tank army.  In addition, a normal army on a
home center may be upgraded to a Tank army for one supply center.  A
Tank army may be disbanded, counting as two disbands, or if on a home
center, may be downgraded to a normal army for one disband.

`Complicated' Diplomacy:

This doesn't have a real name, but deserves the description
complicated.  Purists don't like this version because it completely
changes the tactics of the game -- but the tactics are only a minor
point anyway.  It gives everyone many more tactical options.

[1] Supply:
	At the end of each year, each country receives a number of
supply points based on the number of supply centers they control.
Supply points must immediately be used to build and maintain
units -- any unused points are lost.  All units must be maintained
or disbanded.  Supply points are received each year as follows:
	For each supply center in the player's home country:  3 points
	For each other supply center:                         2 points
	Supply point income may be modified by bombers.

[2] Units:
	There are 5 types of units in thsi variant.
[2.1] Fleets (F):
	Same as normal fleets.  Cost: 2 supply to build, 1 to maintain.
[2.2] Armies (A):
	Same as normal armies.  Cost: 2 supply to build, 1 to maintain.
[2.3] Tank armies (T):
	As tanks in armor variant.  Cost: 4 supply to build, 2 to
maintain.  Armies may be upgraded to Tank armies in home centers for a
cost of 3 supply points.
[2.4] Aircraft or 'planes (P):
	'Planes may move two spaces per season, and may move through
enemy units without effect.  'Planes may support any move or hold within
two spaces.  'Planes have a strength of 1/2 (one half) an army in combat.
	Example:
		A Kiel -> Holland		This is an attack on Holland
		P Berlin S A Kiel Holland	with a strength of 1 1/2.
'Planes may support Fleets at sea within range, but may not base in sea
areas.  Disloged 'planes may retreate up to two areas.  'Planes may not
by themselves take control of enemy or neutral supply centers.  Units
may not be built in a supply center occupied by enemy 'planes.  An
unlimited number of 'planes and or bombers may stack in an area, along
with one other unit.  'Planes cost 2 supply to build and 1 to maintain.
[2.5] Bombers (B):
	Bombers may move three spaces per season and may move through
enemy units without effect.  Bombers may only be based in friendly
controlled land areas.  Bombers have no effect on normal combat and if
dislogded may retreat up to 3 areas.  Bombers may make bombing attacks
on any supply center within 3 areas of their current location.  Bombing
attacks are automatically successful if the target location does not
contain and is not supported by a 'plane.  Each bomber negates (cuts)
the support of one supporting or occupying 'plane (supporting 'planes
first, then occupying -- defending player's choice of which occupying
planes, or random if unspecified)  If the number of bombers exceeds the
number of supporting and occupying planes then the bombing attack is
sucessful.
	A successful bombing attack reduces the supplies produced by
the supply center by 1 for the current year only.  Only 1 is subtracted,
regardless of how many bombers participate.  A supply center being
successfully bombed in both the spring and the fall would reduce the
supplies produced by the supply center by 2.  The reduction occurs
regardless of who controls the supply center at the end of the year.
	Bombers cost 2 supplies to build and 1 to maintain.

[3] Starting:
	Each player starts with Fleets and Armies as per the normal
set-up, plus one 'Plane in their capital (London, Paris, Berlin, Moscow,
Rome, Vienna, Ankara)

Comments:  The increased availability of supplies and the reduced cost
of maintaining units will tend to increase the number of units on the
board.  However, planes and bombers don't really take up space, and
bombers will kill off a couple of supply points, so the board shouldn't
be too crowded.  As an optional rule, require that the number of planes
in a battle not exceed the number of ground units involved (Armies,
Tanks and Fleets).  Thus, a Tank unit supported by 1 Army and 3 Planes
would only have a strength of 4 (2 for the Tank, 1 for the Army, 1 for 2
of the Planes -- the 3rd plane doesn't count, since there are only 2
ground units involved)
	Each country has a starting production of 9 supplies, with only
4 needed for support (12 and 5 for Russia), so the first year or two
will see a lot of building.  Your home centers being worth more than
those in other people's countries is a nice additional incentive to
maintain control of your homeland.
	I have no idea how this game would turn out -- its a slight
simplification(the original was pretty extreme) of a variant published
in _The Avalon Hill General_ a couple af years back.  Plus I added in
tanks, 'cause they fit in with the concept.  If it is too complex for
you, throw out the bombers and make home centers only worth 2 each.

So, anyone want to try a game of Complicated diplomacy or (gasp)
Blind Complicated Diplomacy?  Since I'm posting this I'll volunteer as
vict ..er.. GM.  Send me some country preferences and whether you want
to try it blind or not.  Send me any other comments you might have too.
I tend towards a game speed of 3-5 day/turn, but we might want to go a
bit slower on this...  I think we should use the above optional rule (no
more planes than ground units), but if you're vehemently against it, we
can try it the other way.

Chris Dodd
dodd@polya.stanford.edu