Initial Build Variant Idea

G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.games.diplomacy (More info?)

Hi,

Here is an idea for a variant game.

Your comments or criticisms of this variant idea are
welcome: for instance, if it will result in a game that
is not fun to play, or if it will have other bad side-effects,
please let me know. And, if it might open up interesting
fun play, please talk about that also.

If this variant idea is already known and has a name,
please let me know the name of this variant.

Assume that a standard game of Diplomacy will be played.

Now for the variant.

1. The game begins with no armies or fleets on the board.
A diplomatic session begins. After this initial meeting,
the first step of the game is to write out the complete builds
for all countries in their homelands. For example, Italy might
build two fleets and one army, or instead Italy might build
three fleets; England might build three fleets, or England
might build three armies, and so forth for all the major
powers.

2. Then, play proceeds as normal with the next phase being
the diplomatic phase.

Thanks
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.games.diplomacy (More info?)

Hi,

I forgot to mention that the above idea comes from a somewhat
similar idea in chess. In chess, the idea was that the chess
board starts off empty except for each side's row of pawns.

Then, until all pieces are placed on the back rank, each side
places one piece anywhere they wish. Then, play resumes
as normal, except that all opening theory is out the window!

So, one advantage of the above variant, is that the common
opening ideas might be out the window, which might breathe
a bit of fresh air into the works. Of course, I'm a novice, and
don't need the fresh air, but others might find it an interesting
variant.

Thanks
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.games.diplomacy (More info?)

I think there are some variants like this, as Jim pointed out. It certainly
could be interesting... might be kind of fun playing Turkey starting with 3
fleets.

-Adam

"NewsGroupUser" <Google2007@mailinator.com> wrote in message
news:1108749295.620071.104030@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Hi,
>
> Here is an idea for a variant game.
>
> Your comments or criticisms of this variant idea are
> welcome: for instance, if it will result in a game that
> is not fun to play, or if it will have other bad side-effects,
> please let me know. And, if it might open up interesting
> fun play, please talk about that also.
>
> If this variant idea is already known and has a name,
> please let me know the name of this variant.
>
> Assume that a standard game of Diplomacy will be played.
>
> Now for the variant.
>
> 1. The game begins with no armies or fleets on the board.
> A diplomatic session begins. After this initial meeting,
> the first step of the game is to write out the complete builds
> for all countries in their homelands. For example, Italy might
> build two fleets and one army, or instead Italy might build
> three fleets; England might build three fleets, or England
> might build three armies, and so forth for all the major
> powers.
>
> 2. Then, play proceeds as normal with the next phase being
> the diplomatic phase.
>
> Thanks
>
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.games.diplomacy (More info?)

"NewsGroupUser" <Google2007@mailinator.com> writes:

There are a couple of examples like this. Look at 1898,
for example.

Jim-Bob

>Hi,

>Here is an idea for a variant game.

>Your comments or criticisms of this variant idea are
>welcome: for instance, if it will result in a game that
>is not fun to play, or if it will have other bad side-effects,
>please let me know. And, if it might open up interesting
>fun play, please talk about that also.

>If this variant idea is already known and has a name,
>please let me know the name of this variant.

>Assume that a standard game of Diplomacy will be played.

>Now for the variant.

>1. The game begins with no armies or fleets on the board.
>A diplomatic session begins. After this initial meeting,
>the first step of the game is to write out the complete builds
>for all countries in their homelands. For example, Italy might
>build two fleets and one army, or instead Italy might build
>three fleets; England might build three fleets, or England
>might build three armies, and so forth for all the major
>powers.

>2. Then, play proceeds as normal with the next phase being
>the diplomatic phase.

>Thanks
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.games.diplomacy (More info?)

You can do this using the 'blankboard' option on any variant game
played on a judge.

In standard, I am not sure how much of a good idea it is, as it seems
to radically alter the balance of things. Imagine Russia building F
Stp (nc) which scuppers England's guarenteed build in Norway, or, as
anther post said, Turkey building three fleets and being able to come
screaming west that much sooner.

Millis


"NewsGroupUser" <Google2007@mailinator.com> wrote in message news:<1108749295.620071.104030@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>...
> Hi,
>
> Here is an idea for a variant game.
>
> Your comments or criticisms of this variant idea are
> welcome: for instance, if it will result in a game that
> is not fun to play, or if it will have other bad side-effects,
> please let me know. And, if it might open up interesting
> fun play, please talk about that also.
>
> If this variant idea is already known and has a name,
> please let me know the name of this variant.
>
> Assume that a standard game of Diplomacy will be played.
>
> Now for the variant.
>
> 1. The game begins with no armies or fleets on the board.
> A diplomatic session begins. After this initial meeting,
> the first step of the game is to write out the complete builds
> for all countries in their homelands. For example, Italy might
> build two fleets and one army, or instead Italy might build
> three fleets; England might build three fleets, or England
> might build three armies, and so forth for all the major
> powers.
>
> 2. Then, play proceeds as normal with the next phase being
> the diplomatic phase.
>
> Thanks
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: rec.games.diplomacy (More info?)

So long as you did not forget to specify a coast for Bulgaria in Spring
1901. :)


"adam silverman" <agman1010@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:cv64nk$dbb$1@news.Stanford.EDU...
>I think there are some variants like this, as Jim pointed out. It
>certainly could be interesting... might be kind of fun playing Turkey
>starting with 3 fleets.
>
> -Adam
>
> "NewsGroupUser" <Google2007@mailinator.com> wrote in message
> news:1108749295.620071.104030@l41g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>> Hi,
>>
>> Here is an idea for a variant game.
>>
>> Your comments or criticisms of this variant idea are
>> welcome: for instance, if it will result in a game that
>> is not fun to play, or if it will have other bad side-effects,
>> please let me know. And, if it might open up interesting
>> fun play, please talk about that also.
>>
>> If this variant idea is already known and has a name,
>> please let me know the name of this variant.
>>
>> Assume that a standard game of Diplomacy will be played.
>>
>> Now for the variant.
>>
>> 1. The game begins with no armies or fleets on the board.
>> A diplomatic session begins. After this initial meeting,
>> the first step of the game is to write out the complete builds
>> for all countries in their homelands. For example, Italy might
>> build two fleets and one army, or instead Italy might build
>> three fleets; England might build three fleets, or England
>> might build three armies, and so forth for all the major
>> powers.
>>
>> 2. Then, play proceeds as normal with the next phase being
>> the diplomatic phase.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>
>