I've come up with a Diplomacy variant that pins the Allied Powers against the Central Powers. Working with your allies is a rule. No exceptions! I've come up with a few rules that makes the game as balanced as possible.

Rule #1: As said previously, you cannot attack your allies.

Rule #2: France and Britain may not contest German gains on Holland, Belgium, and Denmark for the first year.

Rule #3: Germany may not contest Russian gain on Sweden for the first year.

Rule #4: Russia may not contest the Black Sea with Turkey for the first year.

Rule #5: Turkey may not enter Armenia for the first year.

Rule #6: Austria-Hungary and Turkey may not contest Italian gain on Greece for the first year.

Rule #7: France may not enter Burgandy during Spring 1901.

Rule #8: Winning side shares in the pot equally.


Those are the rules for now though I may remove or add a rule. I am also planning a test game very soon to see how the game functions.

I'd like to play. This sounds quite interesting.

Really? Thank you. I'm also adding a suggestion:

>Planned coordination with your allies is encouraged though not a rule.

Can Germany enter Burgundy in the first year? I'd imagine that the German would want to go after Hol, Bel, and Den instead, but it would be an interesting strategy.

Also, does the winning side include any nations which were eliminated, but which were on a team with whoever ends up winning? If so, you'd need moderator assistance in finishing the game.

So, what are the teams? (Unless you mean Axis vs. Allies....doesn't know sides for the Great War/WWI)

And basically, Spring '01 is a turn to prepare for the 'real game'?

Ah, forgot about that. I think it has to be a total victory for the winning side which means there must be no losing member left on the board. And Germany to Burgandy in the first year? Hmm, sure. No restriction there.

The Allies:
>Great Britain
>France
>Italy
>Russia

Central Powers:
>Germany
>Austria-Hungary
>Turkey

Ok, France cannot move in the first year.

I'm not sure I explained myself properly. What I meant was, suppose that England is eliminated but France, Russia, and Italy end up winning the game. Does England still get a quarter of the pot?

Well, if England is not on the board then no.

If England did not get a piece of the pot, his allies would secretly hope for his elimination and be hard pressed to help in his defence.

Perhaps this rule:

The game is over when a country from either side is completely eliminated.

New Rule: Turkey and Austria-Hungary may not contest Russian gain on Rumania for the first year.

sounds interesting, but to be more historically correct, instead of allies and center powers, you should call them the
Triple Entente (allies)
vs
Triple Alliance (central powers)

Geofram, you mean a major victory instead of total victory? Then that means the enemy side gets a piece of the pot, too.

Interesting. But, it seems too hard to win as a axis power. Granted they get more SCs up front, but, should be able to quickly get pwned later.

I stand corrected, wiki says the triple alliance was formally disbanded when Italy left to join the Entente. so Central Powers is the correct name.

That's what's killing me. How to balance it out better. I think the removal of a rule is in order.

"Rule #6: Austria-Hungary and Turkey may not contest Italian gain on Greece for the first year."

That one.

I like the idea, but I'm not so sure that the notion of "let's get all the neutral centres evenly distributed and go from there" is the right move. First, I don't think it's possible to evenly distribute the neutral centres, and second, by constricting the allowed moves in the first year, you make them very predictable. Also uncontested entrance into Burgundy by Germany cripples France.

Agreed with superchunk. Germany would likely be the easiest to get pwned as austria is in no position to assist him with Russian troops in Poland while at the same time not get clobberted by Italians at the same time.

Perhaps the rule to restrict turkey into Armenia should be lifted. Or that Rumania should be allowed to be contested.
Russia with Sweden and with 2 builds means a dead Germany being triple banged by England France and Russia.

And my comment wasn't really concerning the pot, you'd have to use the game mechanics to work it out afterwards. I only suggested that when one power dies from either side, that side loses the game. This would force every team to defend it's allies instead of simply opting for total aggression.

If Germany is indeed the weak point, allow Austria into Galicia, but I don't think with 3 builds or a run-and-gun into France will make Germany weak. Austria would obviously prevent Italy from moving two units north and even if Italy is allowed Greece, he'd lose it in Spring of 1902.

The issue is that with no threat from England and Germany having to defend against the West, Russia will become too powerful and be able to take on Turkey/Austria easily with Italy's help.

I'm liking these ideas. Helps me tweak this variant further. I'm gonna have to edit the rules list.

Perhaps I've given Russia too many handicaps.

Rule #1: You cannot attack your allies.

Rule #2: France and Britain may not contest German gains on Holland, Belgium, and Denmark for the first year.

***Rule #3: Russia may not contest German gain on Sweden for the first year.

Rule #4: Russia may not contest the Black Sea with Turkey for the first year.

***Rule #5: Turkey may not enter Armenia for the first year.


***Rule #6: France may not enter Burgandy during Spring 1901.

Rule #7: Winning side shares in the pot equally.

***Those are still up in the air.

Is rule #3 a typo? Or is germany promised more centres than he has units in the first year?

My mistake. I was just about to say that.

Rule #1: You cannot attack your allies.

Rule #2: France and Britain may not contest German gains on Holland, Belgium, and Denmark for the first year.

***Rule #3: Russia may not contest German gain on Sweden for the first two years.

Rule #4: Russia may not contest the Black Sea with Turkey for the first year.

***Rule #5: Turkey may not enter Armenia for the first year.


***Rule #6: France may not enter Burgandy during Spring 1901.

Rule #7: Winning side shares in the pot equally.

***May be modified.

Still, unless the rule (#3) is modified to include England, it is unlikely that Sweden will be occupied by anyone but Russia for the first two years, effectively only stalling Russia. I say this because Germany can't really afford to move into the Baltic and shouldn't be able to move into the Skag.

Would Russia be able to support Norway into Sweden? If so, I imagine England giving up one of his home centres to France as his build areas are much more important and threatened.

Ah, I guess that would be considered an attack towards an ally?

Either Turkey needs to be allowed into Armenia or Austria uncontested allowance into Galicia, though Russia should be given Rumania if he can't have Sweden.