#2) If a random SC was chosen as "capitol of Europe" after the first year of play, and the person holding it got an extra unit out of it (and if it was taken, it was worth 2 units) -- not sure that anything would change for overall game dynamics in a predictable way, though it would make that province a higher value target, and also perhaps shift alliances either towards or away from the person that suddenly got an extra unit.

A passable Switzerland would fuck Italy badly. It's a bad idea.

As for #2, Diplomacy is not a game suited to random die rolling or whatever, remember "luck plays no part".

Ah... this depends a lot on whether it is offered as a new variant alongside the old or whether it replaced the old. If the latter I doubt you'd notice much difference at all for quite a while. Diplomacy players tend to be a conservative bunch who'd much rather use tried and tested strategies than think of something new. It would change over time, but rather slowly.

If it was offered as new varient then it would attract that strange breed of diplomacy player that likes new things. You have a few weird and wildly unpredicatble games at first, and then the chances are people would lose interest (possibly, as you say, when they find Italy doesn't have a hope in hell) and it would die off. It may well surprise us and become a well balaced popular varient... but it seems unlikely. I'd be surprised if it hasn't been done somewhere.

As far as 2 goes it would add an element of unpredictability similar to that of someone NMRing. There are some that would love this and see it as a fun way of adding spice to the game, and many who will hate it with a mighty hate. I'm probably in the former camp.

I've always been a fan of Fleet Rome. It's a good variant.

3) Another interesting one - what if the rules changed so you could have two units per tile, rather than only one?

Some people who I taught Dip to in Face to Face thought this would be a good change. In my opinion, it would destroy stalemate lines and make France much more powerful (stack armies and rush east, Germany doesn't often have the same luxury). It would also make the Balkans really confusing.

Putting a fleet at SC Moscow is one of my favorites.

I've played F St. Pete nc and it makes things very interesting in the north.

@Dumbdell I was going to say that. I've been told it change the dynamic a ton but I've never played it.

How about adding an Air unit to the game. Could make things more interesting. Maybe can't go over water or some other restriction.

I've also played (FTF) where all of the unit types are up for grabs. There is a 15 minute period before play where you can talk, then you make the decision as to which units you place. All units are placed at once (written down in advance) so that you don't have the option to change your placement based on what others do.

Switzerland passable but difficult to move through due to terrain, so you can only enter it with an extra unit in support (leaving it wouldn't have special rules). e.g.
[A(Mun)-Swe] bounce,
[A(Mun)-Swe, A(Bur) S A(Mun)-Swe] succeeds,

If Swe was occupied terrain would cancel ONE unit's support. e.g.
[A(Swe)-Hold, A(Mun)-Swe, A(Bur) S A(Mun)-Swe] - bounce,
[A(Swe)-Hold, A(Mun)-Swe, A(Bur) S A(Mun)-Swe, A(Tyr) S A(Mun)-Swe] - succeeds.
[A(Mun)-Swe, A(Bur) S A(Mun)-Swe, A(Tyr)-Swe] - bounce because terrain cancels support from Bur so A(Tyr) bounces A(Mun).

Switzerland passable and a 4 SC Italy [A(Apu) - so it doesn't affect 1901 much].
or [A(Apu) and change A(Rom) to F(Rom)] as an option.

@celtic, an air unit wouldn't be able to hold or capture a territory (since they don't in real life), but could provide support, say, two territories away instead of just one away (that is, instead of just neighboring territories).