Diplomacy
A board game of negotiation, alliances, and betrayal without dice.
Diplomacy is a strategic board game created by Allan B. Calhamer in 1954 and first commercially released in the United States in 1959. Its core distinction from most wargames lies in its negotiation phases, where players spend considerable time forming and betraying alliances, and in its complete absence of dice or other random elements. Set in Europe on the eve of the First World War, the game is designed for seven players, each controlling the armed forces of a major European power, though it can accommodate as few as two. The board depicts a map of 1901 Europe, including Turkey, Syria, and North Africa, divided into fifty-six land and nineteen sea regions. Thirty-four land regions contain supply centers, which determine how many armies and fleets a player may field. Players begin with a small number of units—Russia starts with four, Britain with three, and the others with three—and aim to capture a majority of supply centers. After each round of negotiations, players issue attack and support orders, which are executed simultaneously; a province is taken when the number of supporting provinces exceeds those supporting the defender. Diplomacy was the first commercially published game played by mail, and it also pioneered an active hobby scene with amateur fanzines. Competitive face-to-face tournaments have been held since the 1970s, and play by email became widespread in the late 1980s. The game has been published in the United States by Games Research, Avalon Hill, and Hasbro, and licensed internationally to companies such as Parker Brothers and Asmodée Editions. Calhamer drew inspiration from his study of nineteenth-century European history, the card game Hearts, and chess. The rough form was created in 1954, refined through playtesting until 1958, and initially self-published in a 500-copy print run after major companies rejected it. The map reflects 1914 political boundaries, though it includes some historical inaccuracies, such as showing Montenegro as part of Austria-Hungary and treating North Africa and Tunis as neutral despite French colonial control.
- creator
- Allan B. Calhamer
- year_created
- 1954
- genre
- Strategic board game / wargame
- number_of_players
- 2 to 7
- distinctive_feature
- Negotiation phases and no random elements
Lore & Background
Diplomacy is a strategic board game set in Europe on the eve of the First World War, designed by Allan B. Calhamer. The game board depicts the political boundaries of Europe circa 1914, featuring fifty-six land regions and nineteen sea regions. Forty-two of these land regions are divided among seven major European powers: Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Turkey. The remaining fourteen land regions are neutral at the start of play. Thirty-four land regions contain supply centers, which are key cities or industrial hubs; twenty-two of these are home centers belonging to the Great Powers, while twelve are in neutral provinces. Control of these supply centers determines how many armies and fleets a player may maintain, and players must build or disband units accordingly after each game year. The game is distinguished by its negotiation phases, where players spend considerable time forming and breaking alliances, and by the complete absence of dice or other random elements. Players issue orders for attacks and supports, and a province is captured when the number of supporting orders for the attacker exceeds those for the defender. Diplomacy was the first commercially published game to be played by mail and later by email, and it has fostered an active hobby scene with amateur fanzines and competitive face-to-face tournaments since the 1970s.
Reader's Guide
Diplomacy was the first commercially published game to be played by mail (PBM); only chess, which is in the public domain, saw significant postal play earlier. It was also the first commercially published game to generate an active hobby scene with amateur fanzines; only science-fiction, fantasy and comics fandom saw fanzines earlier. Competitive face-to-face Diplomacy tournaments have been held since the 1970s. Play of Diplomacy by e-mail (PBEM) has been widespread since the late 1980s. The game has been published in the United States by Games Research, Avalon Hill, and Hasbro; the name is currently a registered trademark of Hasbro's Avalon Hill division. Diplomacy has also been licensed to various companies for publication in other countries. Its emphasis on negotiation and simultaneous movement, without random elements, made it a unique influence on later strategy games and a lasting fixture in hobby gaming.
Did You Know?
- Diplomacy was the first commercially published game to be played by mail (PBM).
- Russia is the only player to start the game with more than three units, beginning with two armies and two fleets.
Common Misconceptions (Editorial)
Some people think Diplomacy can be played with only two players, but the game is designed for two to seven players, and the standard version is intended for seven. Another misconception is that the game involves dice or other random elements; in fact, it is notable for having no random elements at all. Additionally, some may believe Allan B. Calhamer created the game alone without academic inspiration, but the facts show he was influenced by his study of 19th-century European history under Sidney B. Fay and by the games of Hearts and chess.
Why It Matters (Editorial)
Diplomacy endures because it rewards pure strategy, negotiation, and psychological insight over luck, making every outcome a direct result of players’ decisions and alliances. Its focus on trust and betrayal in a zero-sum geopolitical setting offers a timeless lesson in the human dynamics of power, which is why it remains a classic more than half a century after its creation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Diplomacy unique among strategy board games?
The game contains no dice, cards, or any other source of randomness, so every outcome is determined purely by player decisions. Its open negotiation phases, in which players form and shatter alliances through conversation, are its signature mechanic.
How many players can play Diplomacy?
The standard game supports seven players, each commanding one of Europe's great powers, though it can be played with as few as two.
What is the goal of Diplomacy?
Players race to capture and retain supply centers on a pre-World War I European map, using those centers as the basis for building additional army and fleet units.
Why is Diplomacy significant in board game history?
It essentially defined the negotiation-driven strategy genre and demonstrated that a game could be entirely player-driven without any element of chance.
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