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Thaddeus Speaks...

Thaddeus Black wrote the following article in rec.games.diplomacy. It is reproduced here with permission.
When seven of us sit down around the map of old Europe to play Diplomacy, we agree implicitly at that time not to trust one another, but rather to expect each to act in his own interest, within the proper bounds of the game. It has been said that Diplomacy is a wargame in which lying is allowed, but that is somewhat misleading. A Diplomacy deception is no more a lie than is an American football deception. Or, in other words, does the defensive tackle in football feel offended by the fullback, when the fullback runs into the line without the football? Of course he doesn't. Such deceptions are a fundamental part of the game. It is the defensive tackle's task to see through them, if he can.

Diplomacy is not about keeping agreements. No. Diplomacy is about breaking them.

It is a painful thing to watch a Diplomacy player get personally offended by a good stab. It is as painful as it would be to watch a defensive tackle get personally offended by a good play-fake. The stabs are why we play this game! A player who will not stab a good ally is not much fun to play with.

Once a player grasps the fundamental philosophy of the game, he begins to see agreements between countries for what they are -- not as a matter of honor, but as tools to accomplish a worthy goal. Words in Diplomacy do not carry the same meaning that they do in ordinary life. All seven heads-of-state are expected to understand that important fact! In Diplomacy, every word is a dagger, every message, a sword. That sword may be well-sheathed in leather at a given moment, it is true, but a sword remains sharp no matter what it wears, and its wielder may choose to draw it silently forth at any time.

Deception in Diplomacy is no thing to get upset about; rather, it is something to practice and practice until one can do it well. It is indeed the very reason that we play.

I would caution those of you readers who are new to our beautiful game to be aware of its fundamental philosophy. An alliance can be very profitable, but do not fear to break it with a bold surprise attack at the right time. If you don't break it, your ally will, no matter what he tells you to the contrary. How many can win the game? Only one. Seldom is that one the one who stabs last.


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