Play Diplomacy Online is a free web browser adaptation of the classic board game Diplomacy. It is one of the strongest browser board game adaptations on the web today.
The Real Life Game
The premise of Diplomacy is a seven-way free-for-all war between major European powers in a fictional version of the early 1900s. Each player is given control of a major European power and 3-4 armies and fleets. Each turn, every player writes down their moves in secret. Then, all moves happen simultaneously. If an army or fleet moves into a space occupied by another army or fleet, it is blocked and its move is cancelled. However, if it supported by another unit of any nation, it moves and pushes out the occupying unit. As a result, every war between two players at the beginning ends in a deadlock unless a third player gets involved.
In my last article I talked about traitor mechanic board games that are based on lying to and manipulating your closest friends. However, traitor mechanic games have nothing on Diplomacy, the original backstabbing game. Unlike traitor mechanic games, players are not randomly assigned roles as traitors, but actually choose where, when, and how to stab their friends in the back.
Online Features
Diplomacy is one of the few games that actually plays better online. Play Diplomacy Online games can be played on a three day turn cycle, so that players have plenty of time to negotiate every alliance by email. It also allows everyone plenty of time to obsess over every move. This is both a blessing and a curse. When playing Diplomacy online, I find myself obsessing for hours on end about every move, at work, at home, when I’m trying to get to sleep. It is probably the most all-consuming game I’ve ever played. This isn’t necessarily because Diplomacy is the most entertaining game I’ve played, but rather because the effort of trying to outwit 6 other people in a month-long game sucked up all my excess brainpower. If you’re obsessive, and like being obsessive, this game is for you.
As a public service announcement, I should note that this game IS NOT A BONDING EXPERIENCE. As cutthroat as the real world version can be, online Diplomacy is ten times worse. Having two weeks of obsessive planning destroyed by one of your allies’ defection is emotionally crushing. Most of the pain and anger stays online, but not all. I still have serious real life tension with an acquaintance because I landed an army in his capital city after a five-week-long alliance. So yeah. Don’t play this game with people you care about, unless you care about them enough to forgive some harsh betrayals.
Diplomacy adapts very well to online browser games, and Play Diplomacy Online is a strong hosting site. Their version is bug-free, well supported by the admins, and has an established community of gamers. If your gamer group is into obsession and betrayal, it’s worth a look.
