Most Faithful 4 or 5 player variant?

[Guest]

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

Hello all, first post to r.g.d.

I am a fan of the traditional Diplomacy game with 7 players. However, I
can only consistently get 4-5 players around that are really very
interested in playing. My question is, what variant(s) of Diplomacy best
captures the feel of a full game with only 4 or 5 players? I know that
exactly duplicating the kind of grand strategy and intrigue with fewer
people is impossible, but hopefully I can find something fairly faithful
that can satisfy my group.

I've asked this question elsewhere and only hear SailHo as a suggestion.
However, while SailHo is interesting, I think the increased reliance on
fleets and convoying changes the game a bit too much for my tastes. Any
other suggestions?

Thanks for reading,
-fps

 

[Guest]

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

In article <4237ba5e$0$2379$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com>, Frankie Schwartz
<none@none.com> writes
>Hello all, first post to r.g.d.
>
>I am a fan of the traditional Diplomacy game with 7 players. However, I
>can only consistently get 4-5 players around that are really very
>interested in playing. My question is, what variant(s) of Diplomacy best
>captures the feel of a full game with only 4 or 5 players? I know that
>exactly duplicating the kind of grand strategy and intrigue with fewer
>people is impossible, but hopefully I can find something fairly faithful
>that can satisfy my group.

Ancient Med's ok. there are some interesting stalemate lines. See if you
can find them ChienFou, (usually a lurker)
>
>I've asked this question elsewhere and only hear SailHo as a suggestion.
>However, while SailHo is interesting, I think the increased reliance on
>fleets and convoying changes the game a bit too much for my tastes. Any
>other suggestions?
>
>Thanks for reading,
>-fps

--
John (MadDog) Probst| . ! -^- |AIM GLChienFou
451 Mile End Road | /|__. \:/ |BCLive ChienFou
London E3 4PA | / @ __) -|- |john:at:asimere:dot:com
+44-(0)20 8983 5818 | /\ --^ | |www.asimere.com/~john

 

[Guest]

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

Escalation is a pretty good choice. Also, if you're in for something that's
REALLY fun but a little goofy, try Roulette. Unfortunately, good games for
less than 7 are few and far between.

If you have 6, I recommend that you leave Italy unplayed, but instead of
just having his units hold, have it order the following:

S01: Ven H, Rom-Apu, Nap-Ion
F01: Ven H, Apu-Tun, Ion C Apu-Tun
W01: Build A Rom
S02 and every season thereafter: Rom S Ven, Ven S Rom, Ion S Tun, Tun H

This works really well, as it doesnt give Austria or France a huge advantage
to jump Italy early on.

-Adam


"Frankie Schwartz" <none@none.com> wrote in message
news:4237ba5e$0$2379$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
> Hello all, first post to r.g.d.
>
> I am a fan of the traditional Diplomacy game with 7 players. However, I
> can only consistently get 4-5 players around that are really very
> interested in playing. My question is, what variant(s) of Diplomacy best
> captures the feel of a full game with only 4 or 5 players? I know that
> exactly duplicating the kind of grand strategy and intrigue with fewer
> people is impossible, but hopefully I can find something fairly faithful
> that can satisfy my group.
>
> I've asked this question elsewhere and only hear SailHo as a suggestion.
> However, while SailHo is interesting, I think the increased reliance on
> fleets and convoying changes the game a bit too much for my tastes. Any
> other suggestions?
>
> Thanks for reading,
> -fps

 

[Guest]

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

Are you playing by email with a gamemaster? I'd be interested in playing.
I'm always on time with orders and won't leave the game.

 

[Guest]

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

"adam silverman" <agman1010@yahoo.com> writes:

I also agree that Escalation is an excellent game for four or five.
It mixes things up pretty well too. And, no matter WHAT game you
play, an odd number like five is MUCH better than four, an even
number. Chromatic also isn't too bad. Do you know where you
can find these on the maps page at devel.diplom.org?

Jim-Bob

PS While I'm mentioning it, there is some movement behind the
scenes going on at devel.diplom.org, so if you get a bounceback,
don't worry it will be fixed shortly. There may be very little
or no problem, just thought I would mention it. Thanks to
Millis Miller for all his hard work behind the scenes!!


>Escalation is a pretty good choice. Also, if you're in for something that's
>REALLY fun but a little goofy, try Roulette. Unfortunately, good games for
>less than 7 are few and far between.

>If you have 6, I recommend that you leave Italy unplayed, but instead of
>just having his units hold, have it order the following:

>S01: Ven H, Rom-Apu, Nap-Ion
>F01: Ven H, Apu-Tun, Ion C Apu-Tun
>W01: Build A Rom
>S02 and every season thereafter: Rom S Ven, Ven S Rom, Ion S Tun, Tun H

>This works really well, as it doesnt give Austria or France a huge advantage
>to jump Italy early on.

>-Adam


>"Frankie Schwartz" <none@none.com> wrote in message
>news:4237ba5e$0$2379$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
>> Hello all, first post to r.g.d.
>>
>> I am a fan of the traditional Diplomacy game with 7 players. However, I
>> can only consistently get 4-5 players around that are really very
>> interested in playing. My question is, what variant(s) of Diplomacy best
>> captures the feel of a full game with only 4 or 5 players? I know that
>> exactly duplicating the kind of grand strategy and intrigue with fewer
>> people is impossible, but hopefully I can find something fairly faithful
>> that can satisfy my group.
>>
>> I've asked this question elsewhere and only hear SailHo as a suggestion.
>> However, while SailHo is interesting, I think the increased reliance on
>> fleets and convoying changes the game a bit too much for my tastes. Any
>> other suggestions?
>>
>> Thanks for reading,
>> -fps

 

[Guest]

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

Where do you and your friends live? We can almost certainly introduce
you to some others in your area that can get your board up to seven
players.

(Please say Vermont, please say Vermont, please say Vermont . . .)

Doug