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Diplomaticcorp Discussion Forum:  Variants

(Discuss your favorite Diplomacy variants, new concepts, and technical challenges.)


Post:< 12837 >
Subject:< Unknown >
Topic:< Variants >
Category:General >
Author:charlesf
Posted:Sep 14, 2009 at 8:22 am
Viewed:1215 times

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IMO, Stephen Agar was right in saying: "I have no hesitation in saying that most variants are crap." in his "A Call to Arms against Crap Variant. Though "unpolished" might be a more apt term.

I've always admired 1900 and Ambition&Empire. Those are my favourite variants other than my own.

For one, I consider 1900 superior to Standard Diplomacy (and many familiar with both do agree). And Ambition & Empire introduced the Diplomatic Points mechanism, which brings so much extra nuance to the table, if you ask me. Got a few reservations about some aspects of Amibition & Empire's current version, but nonetheless I hugely admire this design.

An honourable mention would go to Diplomacy Royale. I find the concept incredibly interesting.

I quite like a number of others, but not really to the extent that I'd be dying to play 'em.

As for Ancient Mediterranean, well, I remember playing in one game years ago. I found it utterly bland and really should have known better than to join.

I think the basic circular arrangement of five powers is a problem. I think adding 2-3 northern powers. Say the Celts/Gauls,. Germans and Sarmatians would spice things up a whole lot.

Short of such a redesign, I think Ancient Mediterranean's victory conditions ought to be significantly lowered. The 50%+1 thingie doesn't make for a compelling game, imo, with so few powers.

I think in that respect Hundred got it right. A low victory condition can make even a three-player variant work. At least if you have three good players, who are up to a permanent rebalancing effort.

This message is in reply to post 12668:

Open question to anyone that feels like answering:

What are your top 3 favorite Diplomacy variants?

Variant Designers: No voting for your own variants!

Mine would be:

1 - Aberration (just love the concept, and it's rather balanced)
2 - Ancient Mediterranean (Don Hessong made a masterpiece, and refined it to perfection)
3 - Known World (up and coming...still needs some refining I think, but potential to be truly great)

Honorable mention goes to 1648 - might make the top 3 once I have a chance to play it.

Always interesting to hear people's responses to this, and useful for designing future variants (knowing what appealed and what didn't in other variants)

B.

There are 7 Messages in this Thread:


Favorite Variant Poll (Kenshi777) Sep 01, 02:51 pm

Unknown (charlesf) Sep 14, 08:22 am

Unknown (FuzzyLogic) Sep 14, 10:30 am

Unknown (charlesf) Sep 14, 12:07 pm

Unknown (Kenshi777) Sep 21, 05:09 pm

Unknown (charlesf) Sep 21, 05:59 pm

Unknown (Kenshi777) Sep 21, 06:50 pm

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