An oldie, but a goodie. Diplomacy

Another game I thought we might feature is Diplomacy. This game is one that can really test a friendship, as the back room deals you make might either cause you to win or lose it all. At first glance, the game seems unremarkable. A simple map of Europe, small army and navy markers for each empire, and at first glance sort of resembles Castle Risk. It can support up to 7 players total.

However, the biggest difference between this game and other strategy type games is this. NO DICE. There is no luck to this game, only guile. You must smooth talk, bluff, con, lie, or promise your way through turns.

Each turn comprises of two phases. A talk phase & a move phase. The moves are written down on paper after the discussion phase. So you can talk to folks, assuring them of one thing, but you may write down another. Thus, alliances form and break according to David Hume's 'balance of power Trieste' Usually forcing foes and friends to betray, or join and work towards stopping a common friend or enemy. The objective is to capture the most cities, while trying to keep the other wolves at the table from doing the same. Be prepared to pull the daggers out of your back.

A copy of a 5 minute guide PDF on the basics of the game can be found here. Or if you would rather get a bit more involved there is a full blown copy of the PDF rules. Invented in the 1950's, the Kennedys used to play this game in the White House. It's been around for a long time, but I wouldn't mind giving it a spin again.