Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954. Calhamer was fascinated with European political geography in the 1800-1900s, especially the ever-shifting boundaries of the countries. Calhamer created Diplomacy during his first year at Harvard Law School. He developed a board game where seven players each control one of the seven “Great Powers” of Europe in the year 1900. 

The rules of Diplomacy are simple and luck plays no role. Despite this, the game is difficult to learn and master. Every turn is filled with tension because all players enter their moves simultaneously. So although luck plays no role in Diplomacy, each player faces the challenge of “guessing” what each other player’s moves will be. The success or failure of each player’s moves depend, in part, on what the other players choose for their moves.

Around the map, there are 34 “Supply Centers” (“SCs”). In general, each player will have a number of units on the board equal to the number of SCs that player controls. Once the neutral centers have all been conquered, no player can gain any more SCs without taking them from another player. Two equally-strong players usually cannot conquer each other; thus, the players must form alliances and join together to attack an rival for mutual benefit. In most games of Diplomacy, a player cannot win without first making alliances with their rivals…and then betraying those alliances later on.

The goal of the game is to become “Master” of Europe, defined as controlling more than half of the “supply centers” placed around the map of Europe.

I am an experienced Diplomacy player. I have played the game for over 10 years, and for the past several years I have played daily. I primarily play on webDiplomacy.net under the username swordsman3003. To learn more about my competitive success, check out my pages on Press Diplomacy and Gunboat Diplomacy.

I have enjoyed board games, card games, and other strategy games my entire life, and I consider Diplomacy to be my favorite. In part, I attribute my initial fascination with Diplomacy to the many witty strategy articles written about the game throughout the decades since it’s original publication. I have probably read hundreds of articles relating to Diplomacy.

I also enjoy teaching Diplomacy to players of all skill levels. I have mentored many new players on the rules and strategy of Diplomacy, and have even taught advanced players how to attain a greater level of skill. In teaching the game, I have found myself writing elaborate guides, drawing diagrams, and so on. To keep organized and easily provide my insights to new Diplomacy players, I have decided to consolidate my tutorials and other writings on this blog. Because my existing cheat sheets, tutorials, and guides are so extensive and thorough, it will probably take me months or years to get everything posted onto this blog in my free time. In addition, I will continue to create new Diplomacy content directly for this blog.

Some of my insights are indisputable, objective information about the game mechanics and general strategic play. However, the more nuanced points are my personal opinions and advice about how to be successful at the game. You will certainly find articles or other players expressing different opinions. Please take my insights as what they are: the advice of an experienced player.  As you play your own games of Diplomacy, you will develop your own opinions.