Help I Don't Know Any Good Diplomacy Strategy!!!
I've recieved a few concerns from people regarding the lack of strategic knowledge of Diplomacy. If you are a new player, things can be a tad bit overwhelming, especially if you are now talking to people. What are you going to do?
:::I say, take a breath, and read this before you develop an ulcer!:::
First of all, in Diplomacy strategy takes a back seat to being able to talk to people. You can kick ass even if you try the most bizarre stregy (as long as you can convince people to cooperate with you). Remember you are a diplomat first, and an army general only secondarily. For example, if you are Austria, why not attack Germany (usually considered suicidal)? Sure it may be hard, but if you can convince people to cooperate with you (that is, if you are a good enough Diplomat), there's a better chance that it'll work out than if you try some tired old strategy that people have seen a zillion times before.
Secondly, if you need help with strategy, go check out my web site on the "Strategy" page, or search the internet for some. There is SO much excellent strategy available to be read. (more than you could ever want to read). Just read a bunch of articles, and you should be ahead of your competition! Also try reading some of their strategy! Maybe you can gain some insight on what they may be doing next!
Thirdly, its all about having fun and stabing people in the back...who cares if you come in first or seventh, as long as you're having fun! I've lost many, many games...but I've always have had fun being a prick and trying to figure out how to best read people and manipulate them to do my (often evil) bidding.
Ok, ok....you want some real strategy??? Aaaaaaaaaaaagamemaster will try to deliver! First of all, you should be working towards establishing one clear enenemy for your state to expand into. This seems really basic, but lots of people screw up on this (either by not having an enemy at all, or by developing too many enemies!). Once you have decided upon who to attack (after a couple emails or whatever), then you should usually try to unite your neighbours with you in accomplishing this goal. If you can do that, then the enemy country will die faster, and you can possibly try to orchestrate a stab!?!
You also need to know how to talk and lie to people. It's not so much about "bearing false witness," as it is about convincing people that your intentions are good, that you are going to be successful in your plans, and that it would be in your neighbours best interest to cooperate with you in accoplishing this. In Diplomacy, the entire game revolves around your comunication skills. You can be the best military strategist in the world, but if you have three countries attacking you because you couldn't be convincing, then you will not be able to survive. So sell yourself as a country with a future, a country which can be useful to your neighbours, and a country with a powerful leader. Also, don't be scared to intimidate your neighbours....it can work if used sparingly.
Also, I find as a general rule of thumb that it's usually always better to move your units than to not move them. If you are not moving units, then your not growing. If your not growing, then you are becoming weaker...it's just that simple.
So does that help a little more?
-Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagamemaster. [email protected]
P.S. Tell me what you think or email me if you need any help!