by Marc Garlett
Introduction: The 1776 variant of Diplomacy follows the general rules of “standard” Diplomacy but uses a different map and is set during the period of the American War for Independence. This is a five-player variant.
i. The rules of “standard” Diplomacy are valid unless specifically replaced or amended by these rules.
ii. All references to specific powers, provinces, locations, and seasons in the standard rules do not apply to 1776. The standard map is replaced by the 1776 variant map.
iii. The game begins in spring 1776. Though “the shot heard ’round the world” was actually fired in 1775, there were still several attempts by the Continental Congress to reconcile with the British Crown throughout the year. But by 1776 it was becoming clear that the sporadic insurrection of 1775 was turning into a full-fledged war.
iv. There are 24 supply centers on the board. The power that controls at least 13 of those centers at the end of any fall movement phase is declared the winner.
v. There are five powers in the contest:
B-BRITAIN
C-CONTINENTAL
F-FRANCE
I-INDIAN
S-SPAIN
vi. A power may build new units in any supply center it owns as long as it still controls at least one of its original home centers.
vii. There are three important navigable, inland waterways on the map. The St. Lawrence River is navigable in and through the provinces of Quebec, Montreal, and Kingston. The St. Clair River is navigable through Detroit. The Hudson River is navigable in and through New York, Hudson River Valley, and Albany. Fleets are allowed movement through and between any of these adjacent, navigable, inland waterway provinces.
viii. There is one land-bridge on the map. The land-bridge allows regular land movement between Long Island and New York.
Design Notes: This variant is designed around the key components of historical/geographical accuracy and balanced/competitive play between five players. To a slight degree, each component had to be compromised to accommodate the other. The variant’s design strives to accomplish this without sacrificing the overall integrity of either individual component.