Reviewed: October 5, 2005
Reviewed by: Daniel Sayre

Publisher
Paradox Interactive

Developer
Paradox Interactive

Released: October 4, 2005
Genre: Strategy
Players: 1-7
ESRB: Everyone

8
7
6
8
8.0

System Requirements

Diplomacy the game is basically a mad dash of broken promises, alliances and backstabbing. Victory will be built on the corpses of both allies and enemies so it pays to duplicitous and sneaky. While diplomacy itself is a big part of the overall equation, you can’t disregard the military strategy you’ll need to win either. Set in early 20th century, Paradox Interactive's PC adaptation brings the power struggles of seven mighty nations to life like never before.

Features:

• Single-player capabilities allowing players to encounter lifelike opponents at any time.
• Graphical negotiation language, ensuring efficient communication with humans and AI players alike.
• Multiplayer experience, play over the Internet or via LAN with friends.
• True diplomacy, allowing players to form agreements and break them without artificial constructs.
• Online server with ranking ladders, tournaments and matchmaking services, inviting players to participate in competitions over the Internet.
• In-depth tutorial with step-by-step guide through the intricacies of DIPLOMACY.

As the name implies, diplomacy plays a big role in the proceedings. Each country starts with the same amount of units (except Russia which gets an extra two) so partnering up is practically mandatory.

The game handles this with a relatively simple negotiation interface. You can select other countries to bargain or propose moves with. This allows somewhat Byzantine moves and strategies.

When in negotiation, you have a pretty wide array of options. You can enter into military alliances (both permanent and limited), non-aggression pacts, or set demilitarized zones. These all help to shape the game world and how you interact within it.

The negotiations are handled through proposals. The other plays can also suggest things to you. You can review proposals and then submit them to others for consideration. You can also try and “force” proposal through with ultimatums, which politely warn there will be hell to pay if someone should reject what you have put fourth for consideration; but those will not make you very popular.

After negotiating with your potential friends and enemies, you can start moving your forces. Your forces are divided into two separate types of units, armies and fleets. Armies can operate on land and fleets on the ocean. However you can have fleets convoy troops across water and fleets can attack both ocean and coastal areas.

Now, one of the interesting things about Diplomacy is how your forces react with each other. At no time can two units (anyone’s units) be in the same province. When they are, they come into conflict, even if it’s your forces. In order to win a territory, you must have a stronger unit then the opposition.

But, and this really threw me for a loop until I understood the intricacies of the game, every unit has exactly the same strength. Armies are not stronger then fleets, nor are fleets stronger then soldiers. Russian units are just the same as English units, which are just the same as the other five.

Now, if you haven’t played the game, you’re probably asking yourself “if the units are all the same, how can you ever defeat anyone?” To which I’d answer “support”. Support is what makes the entire game dynamic work. When you, or your ally, have forces bordering the province you are attacking from or defending, they can offer support which will give strength to your unit (2 provinces, +2, etc)

Given this dynamic it’s obvious why alliances are necessary if you’re going to get anywhere in Diplomacy. Go it alone and you’ll be defeated in short order. Support is probably the most important aspect of the game, making necessary the “diplomacy” the game it titled after.

The gameplay is divided into spring and fall seasons, and then into several different phases. You issue orders then resolve your turn, thus setting all your moves into motion. Afterwards, there’s a retreat phase for people defeated in combat to retreat or disband their forces.

Certain provinces contain “supply centers” if you capture these, you can then build another fleet or army during the build phase (which takes place after the fall season.) This makes capturing supply centers crucial. To achieve victory, you must capture a clear majority of the supply centers, if you find yourself with none; you’re out of the game.

The most important aspect of the game, and the hardest to emulate, is your opponents. Humans make much better partners then computers and this game is no exception. The game does tend to lose something when you can’t talk and plan out strategy. The game does offer a robust multiplayer aspect; both the standard LAN and Internet games are present for up to seven players.

One of the best aspects of the board version is discussing tactics and building off each other’s suggestions. Even the multiplayer version is sans a voice component, which seems like a needless omission. The non-voice does allow player’s from different countries (who may not know the others language) to still experience the game and play with each other; but cutting the voice for ALL games still seems like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

A great betrayal is also somehow lessened by the computer’s canned responses. Nothing beats seeing the crumbled dreams of your human adversary. Still, the game makes a valid effort. The computer AI is serviceable if somewhat flat.

The game also comes with a great tutorial that will get you right up to speed in most cases. Even if you know the game, the tutorial gives you a good handle on the game interface. Even so, I occasionally got confused, Diplomacy itself isn’t a very complicated game to understand (to win is another matter) but the interface *is* somewhat involved. The also offers a sandbox mode which is great for planning out attacks and counter-moves.

The armies and fleets are simple toy soldiers (of the nutcracker variety) and anchors. Ideally, I would’ve liked to see them spiced up, maybe even animated somewhat. To show defeat, the piece is merely placed on its side, not very exciting at all.

It’s not really needed per se, but a rousing score (or at least some energetic music) would’ve been nice. Perhaps canned greetings for the animated avatar’s and noises expressing their idea of your proposals as well.

Diplomacy also retails for a mere $39.99, a full $10 less then most releases. It also has a multiplayer aspect so if you like the game there’s ample opportunity to enjoy it.