way too broad of a question, begs the classic answer of "it depends"

Five more SC's than your nearest opponent.

18.

If you've got less, the board will unite against you, and you will lose (by force of numbers). The only exception I know is if you've got parts of the board stalemated, and you can still advance to 18 in a different part. Note: France is especially strong in that respect.

My answer would be when you can win within 2 years.

Tough question - also depends on how close the strongest adversary is. Take the example of France - He could probably do it with a strong Turkey or A-H, but a strong England would be a lot more difficult (and probably fatal). Therefore my answer - if it's an issue, then don't do it before you are significantly stronger/better placed than your opponent, and that you can win within about 2 turns (+1 Joey)

Joey is basically correct.

Italy,A-H,Russia & Germany need 10+ to even consider to take on the world whereas the others could consider it at 8+. Eventual control of Munich & Tyrolia often is a factor to determine if one can go it on one's own with a low number of SC's. As in two card hold'em fortune normally favours the brave. The dreaded united opposition response rarely causes a real problem.

I wouldn't say 10 is enough, its only enough if nobody else has been eliminated, so its your 10 vs 6 4sc empires...

Also it depends on the game type, I have announced my intentions at 13 in public press and won, but in private messaging I wouldn't dare unless I have at least 16

It also depends against cohesion against you. If you are in a game where there are 3 left and you know the other 2 are bitter enemies with all of there units squared off against each other. it is possible to win by simultaneously stabbing both of them for maximum effect.

1 SC. That's all it takes. We've seen it done. It's not about how many SCs you have, but how good a bullsh... er... diplomat you are.

@Draug: We are refering to a situation were the playing with the highest number of sc can comfortably announce that he is going to simultaneaosly attacking all his nieghbours and survive...

I know. But what is more ballsy? Taking 1 SC, making that declaration and pulling it off? Or doing it with 15 or 16 SCs when you have the strategic means to do it. I did in League B1 Game 2 this year. I didn't formally announce it, but it was obvious what I was going for and they were trying to stop me.

Clarfification - I did the 15 or 16 SC one (I think I was at 14 SCs when it became obvious).

however if you had a diplomatic solution to bring one ally to your side, clearly its not 1 on 6 but 2 on 5...

Oh, and what kind of idiot would *ever* announce he is taking the win, even if he thinks he can't be stopped?

I have, when a game gets rather boring making them all go all out you can spark a more interesting game...

I think that you can really only "take on the world" confidently when you have units on both sides of the primary stalemate lines and are at at least 12 SCs. Even that's pushing it though.

It is so obviously dependent on so many things. If you think for example that a eng will not co-operate with fra who stabbed him even though it would stop you soloing then you can strike on with 8-9. In gunboat the threshold is generally lower if you can forsee that your opponents need to guess right to stop you. You may also strike out early against weaker opposition, in live games where you suspect combined forces against you can't act in unison quixkly enough etc,etc, did I mention it depends?

Then there are those times when you are Italy, so you lie to France and try to jump him only to discover he can actually stalemate you, right Maniac? :-)

Please don't discuss ongoing games on the forum :)

I think I'll revise my answer above, you can start thinking about taking on the world with 6 or 7 SCs look at gameID=59681 (a game we can discuss) there is a power who should be thinking of the solo. Can you guess which 1?

Germany seems to have the most solid position. I am not just saying that because of supply count...

i agree. germany does look pretty good. however, italy looks in a position to take on the world at this point.

why do you say that?

I'll go ahead and call it if I'm pretty sure there is no way to oppose me, to answer Draugnar's question. I can link a few completed games where I did.

I guess I'm just never sure that I haven't overlooked *something* my opponents could do and would rather lull them into thinking I'm willing to draw after another nation is gone then strike for the win when they aren't looking. Except for my current games, of course, where I'm ready for the draw... :-)

gameID=50042

I think I had it sewn up.

It's called Diplomacy, not Brute Force, because it's about diplomatic skills not overwhelming force. You have enough to go for it when you have done the groundwork and can go for it.

3 is enough to win.
That's all I need.

@fasces - yep, germany does seem to be in command with just 7 units (see latest moves)