Part of the fun in playing a new variant is the unknown aspect of a new battlefield, with new alliances, balances of power, and a myriad of positions. You can prove your worth as an innovative tactician, a brave pioneer in this new world, leaving your mark forever in the annals of Diplomacy. This is a place where your true worth can be tested, where you can only rely on yourself, not on what others have done before you.
But perhaps you find yourself overwhelmed by the many possibilities? Perhaps you would like a guide to show you where to start? Or maybe you would just like to see some ideas so you can think them over, play with them in your mind, and formulate a brilliant plan which will take you all the way to victory?
I have therefore decided to compile a list of openings for all the powers in the Modern variant. These will include both those used in actual judge games, and those I have come up with myself or that I have used or seen used in face-to-face Diplomacy. As the variant is still young, it is hard to say which opening is the best, or even if the best opening (if there is such a thing) is in the list that I will present, so keep your eyes and minds open for new possibilities.
As the GameMaster of many Modern games, I asked players for their opinions on strategies for the various powers in the modern variant, but also to propose some openings and to suggest a name for them. The subject of this article, then, is a list of the different openings and some strategies used for Britain in the Modern games that have been played until now, as well as a few untried openings and strategies that may be of interest. The winning name and the name of the person suggesting the name both appear along with each opening.
I am still looking for comments about strategy and opening names for the countries other than Britain, so feel free to send your thoughts and suggestions to me at [email protected]. Find yourself and your ideas included in a subsequent article or update in this series.
Fleet Liverpool -> Irish Sea. (Irish Variant)About this opening, Mikko Laitinen says, "This is a straight-forward way to assure two sure builds for the winter; Ireland can be taken from Irish Sea, Norway with a combination/support of Norwegian Sea and North Sea, and Morroco from South Atlantic Ocean. Gibraltar will most likely go to the Spaniards, especially in no-press games. With press I would be tempted to exchange Morroco for Gibraltar but I have no ideas how this is likely to succeed."
Fleet Liverpool -> North Atlantic Ocean. (Atlantic Variant)
Fleet Edinburgh -> Norwegian Sea.
Fleet London -> North Sea.
Fleet Gibraltar -> South Atlantic Ocean.
Fleet Liverpool -> Irish Sea.Mikko Laitinen comments, "This is a viable opportunity when one wants to go anti-French and has a support from Germans to take Belgium. Otherwise Germany can get a 3 units to support his own move to Belgium so there is little point in fighting with him of it. The fleet is more needed in the north, where together with a Fleet in the Norwegian Sea they assure Norway."
Fleet Edinburgh -> North Sea.
Fleet London -> English Channel.
Fleet Gibraltar -> South Atlantic Ocean.
Simon Withers remarks that "the (Channel Crossing) risks not taking Norway in exchange for added influence in Belgium. Not worth it in my opinion."
Fleet Liverpool -> Irish Sea.This is an attempt to keep the Rock, Gibraltar, while foregoing the chance of taking Morocco in the first year. It will work if Spain assumes that Gibraltar will move out and doesn't move the Barcelona fleet to Andalusia. The northern part of the opening ensures the capture of Norway and Ireland. This is a conservative opening - keep the home centers and be sure of taking what you attack. Even if the defense works however there is no chance of a build in Gibraltar.
Fleet Edinburgh -> Norwegian Sea.
Fleet London -> North Sea.
Fleet Gibraltar HOLD.
Fleet Liverpool HOLD.A strange opening which doesn't get much done. Thus, the name.
Fleet Edinburgh HOLD.
Fleet London HOLD.
Fleet Gibraltar HOLD.
Fleet Liverpool -> Irish Sea.Britain foregoes the North Sea to move to the Channel and Norwegian Sea instead, and on to the Mid-Atlantic and Norway. With this opening, Britain tries to get cordial relations with his northern neigbours of France, Russia and Germany while moving for a quick attack on Spain.
Fleet Edinburgh -> Norwegian Sea.
Fleet London -> English Channel.
Fleet Gibraltar -> South Atlantic Ocean.
Fleet Liverpool -> Irish Sea.Another opening in which Britain attempts to keep Gibraltar. It will work if Spain moves its fleet to Andalusia but does not support the move. Once again, this is probably because Spain is assuming that the Gibraltar fleet will move out, but is still taking some precautions. Unlike the Rock, this defense gives a chance for a build in Gibraltar - if the move to Andalusia works but Spain did not move to Gibraltar in the spring. The chance would have been just as good by moving to the South Atlantic Ocean or the Straits of Gibraltar, and Britain would be able to pick up Morroco.
Fleet Edinburgh -> Norwegian Sea.
Fleet London -> North Sea.
Fleet Gibraltar -> Andalusia.
Fleet Liverpool -> Irish Sea.Says Mikko Laitinen, "Fleet in Gibraltar could move to Straits of Gibraltar also on their way to Morroco. But the Atlantic gives an opportunity to take a shot at Seville or Portugal, if Spain fumbles with his opening."
Fleet Edinburgh -> Norwegian Sea.
Fleet London -> North Sea.
Fleet Gibraltar -> Straits of Gibraltar.
Fleet Liverpool -> Irish Sea.A combination of the Channel Crossing and the Gibraltar Sidestep, this opening combines the weaknesses of both. In a press game, this may indicate an alliance with Spain as a move to the South-Atlantic is more aggressive than one to the Straits, but Britain still gets Morocco. Because of this, it is more likely that Britain try for Belgium than when using the Channel Crossing, in which the Channel fleet may simply move to the Mid-Atlantic and south towards Spain.
Fleet Edinburgh -> North Sea.
Fleet London -> English Channel.
Fleet Gibraltar -> Straits of Gibraltar.
| Game | Opening Used | Year | SC Count | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitzz | Mornor, Irish Variant | 2010 | 20 | 1st |
| Seville | Mornor, Irish Variant | 2007 | 11 | 2nd |
| Minsk | Mornor, Irish Variant | 1996 | 6 | 2nd (tie) |
| Lie2me | Channel Crossing, Irish Variant | 1999 | 11 | 3rd |
| Lyon | Channel Crossing, Irish Variant | 1998 | 7 | 3rd (tie) |
| Liarliar | The Rock | 1998 | 8 | 3rd (tie) |
| Katras | Channel Crossing, Atlantic Variant | 1996 | 6 | 4th (tie) |
| Txjustic | Belgian Waffle | 1997 | 6 | 5th (tie) |
| Euro95 | House of Lords | 2001 | 7 | 5th (tie) |
| Day2day | Gibraltar Sidestep | 1997 | 6 | 5th (tie) |
| Izmir | Channel Crossing, Irish Variant | 1997 | 6 | 7th (tie) |
| Cairo | Mornor, Atlantic Variant | 1998 | 5 | 7th (tie) |
| Odessa | Mornor, Irish Variant | 1999 | 3 | 10th |
If Britain wants to keep Gibraltar, he can either move to Morocco in the spring of 1995 and bring a fleet south from Britain, or he can try holding on to Gibraltar. If Spain supports his fleet into Andalusia in the spring however, there is no way Gibraltar can be held. Spain might assume Britain is moving out though and send his fleet to the Western Mediterranean or the Gulf of Lyon. In that case it is possible for Britain to keep Gibraltar in 1995, though still without a build.
An alternative is to move to the South Atlantic Ocean in the spring of 1995. From there Britain can support France or be supported by France into Portugal, he can threaten Seville and he can even bounce Spain in Gibraltar if Spain is not already there and be able to build there (Britain was able to do this in Odessa, the only game until now where Britain has built something in Gibraltar). If Spain moved an army to Portugal and another to Gibraltar in the spring, he may try covering Seville from a British attack by bouncing with himself. Britain can then support Gibraltar's move to Seville, thus ruining Spain's tactic and keeping Gibraltar.
The most commonly used tactic for Britain in the south however, is to make a run for Morocco in 1995. It is possible for Britain to send a fleet to the Mid-Atlantic in the first year (either from Liverpool or London), but he can also wait a season or two to decide whether he wants to fight in the south or simply give up and concentrate on the north.
If Britain forgets about the south, he can concentrate all his forces on the north and perhaps have better luck. It is generally accepted that no matter what, Britain will send his Liverpool fleet to Ireland in 1995. After that, it can be sent to either the Channel, the Norwegian Sea or the Mid-Atlantic and arrive in the fall of 1996. The choice depends primarily on what else Britain has done in the north in 1995.
Other than Ireland, there are two main targets for Britain in the north in 1995, Norway and Belgium. As in the standard variant, Britain can ensure that he takes Norway by moving to the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea from his eastern ports. The only threat to Norway is Russia and then only if he moves from Murmansk to Lapland, and then only if he is sure Germany will not try to keep him out of Sweden. If Russia does not move there, Britain can try to keep Germany out of Denmark or Holland, or attempt to take Belgium, maybe even getting some help from France or Germany.
Unlike in the standard variant, Britain can move to the Channel in 1995 without making France his sworn enemy. This is because France's Atlantic port is no longer in Brest, but south in Bordeaux. By moving to the Channel as well as the North Sea, Britain has a very good chance at taking Belgium, especially if he gains support. Even without support, he can usually get it unless Germany and France are cooperating. This is because Germany will likely move from Hamburg to Denmark in the spring of 1995 instead of Holland (otherwise Britain might be able to keep Germany out of Denmark). Also, by moving this way, Britain still keeps his options open for Norway and can still take it if Russia did not move to Murmansk, sneaking into Belgium without support at the same time. France and Germany are unlikely to oppose the move to Belgium unless they have equal or superior force since moving otherwise will give them an enemy and not much else.
Mikko Laitinen: "Hmm, only way for Britain to protect Gibraltar, or at least his southern fleet would be to send the fleet from London to Mid Atlantic in the first year. Then, even with Gibraltar gone he could probably defend against Spain in South Atlantic. I don't know how this would work out in the long run though."
Simon Withers: "Gibraltar is a crap shoot. Guess how Spain wants to take Gib, and act on it."
Mikko Laitinen: "Ireland could be taken from North Atlantic also (instead of the Irish Sea) so there's no real difference. Maybe only in case there is a real threat from France to move to English Channel in the autumn and Germany to try for the North Sea at the same time. Very unlikely scenario."
Vincent Mous-Harboesgaard
([email protected])
If you wish to e-mail feedback on this article to the author, and clicking on the mail address above does not work for you, feel free to use the "Dear DP..." mail interface.