Colonial Diplomacy

About this board game

Colonial Diplomacy is a 1994 strategy game for 2–7 players, designed for a play time of approximately 240 minutes. Players represent colonial countries such as France, the UK, and Holland while competing over the lands and riches of the Far East.

This game is a different version of the classic Diplomacy. Its movement system is intentionally simple, with only two kinds of units: sea units and land units. That streamlined structure keeps attention focused on positioning, cooperation, and the consequences of every decision.

On a turn, each unit has only a few options. It can remain where it is, move into an adjoining territory, or help another unit move into or defend an adjoining territory.

• Two unit types: sea and land units.
• Simple movement: hold, move, or support another unit.
• Negotiation: work with other players as you compete for territory and riches.
• Far Eastern setting: represent colonial countries in a contest for influence.

The rules for movement are easy to understand, but the game’s significant negotiation element creates the real depth. Players must consider when to cooperate, where to apply support, and how to defend adjoining territories while pursuing their own ambitions.

With its combination of straightforward unit actions and intense diplomatic interaction, Colonial Diplomacy offers a focused take on the original Diplomacy design. It re-implements Diplomacy while presenting its contest through the colonial countries and riches of the Far East.