by Leon Li

Created on: August 20, 2009

Diplomacy by Avalon Hill was a big hit when it came out, and anyone who has played it will say that it's one of the most ingenious strategy games ever created.

Indeed, it's an ingenious game, but it will take a while to get the hang of, and you will need to master the basics before trying out intermediate tactics. Since it's a turn-based game where all the moves are played out at once, you'll need to think, "What are all my opponents thinking?"

Here are some tips to help you out.

1. Make friends. If you can befriend everyone on the board, all the information you want and need will be in your grasp, and even if two weaker countries are plotting to stab you (that's the term used for "betray" in Diplomacy), chances are that a third country will know about it and will tell you if they want to keep good relations with you. Give them some incentives for trusting you; give them a Supply Center when you have a few too many, but keep their power in check.

2. Bully, if you have to. Sometimes, when your enemy is in no position to make bargains, you can make them beg for mercy rather than crush them. You can make a trade to keep them alive if they act as your puppet, and you can dispose of them when you feel that they've played their part. This can be a valuable tactic when there's fierce fighting happening on one of your other fronts, so you can focus your units there rather than on this opponent.

3. Stab at every good opportunity. It doesn't matter if your ally has been extremely faithful to you and that you've had very good relations over a long period of time, if you see an opening, take it. Chances are, they won't be able to defend against you, especially if you've taken one of their Home Supply Centers.

4. Use psychological tricks. One of the best tricks is to predict where your opponent is going and, instead of bouncing them out wasting a turn, take the territory that they left. For example, if you have an army in a non-Supply-Center territory, and your opponent is in a Supply Center, and there is a neutral Supply Center bordering both your armies, then your opponent will likely move into the neutral Supply Center. Because of this, you should move your army to take over the Supply Center that your opponent's army just left, which will ensure you an extra Supply Center while leaving your opponent to gain nothing. Another trick is to convince your enemy that you are attacking them in one way, then ordering your units to attack another way, in order to crush the defenses.

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