Europe 1615: Prelude to War

EUROPE 1615: PRELUDE TO WAR

A DIPLOMACY VARIANT

by Matthew Medeiros

[Play-testers needed! Currently recruiting players at www.diplomaticcorp.com under Open Games. Any comments or questions please write to medeiros412@aim.com. Thank you.]

INTRODUCTION

The Europe 1615 Diplomacy variant allows players to take the reins of one of the great powers of the time: Austria, France, Spain, England, and the Scandinavian Kingdoms (Denmark and Sweden). For the purposes of this game, Denmark and Sweden are treated as in a permanent alliance and controlled by one player. During the game, players deploy influence points (INFs) and orders to secure political and/or religious (Protestant or Catholic) authority over the minor states and their units. The Ottoman Empire can be influenced as well, and may be controlled anonymously by any one of the players. Victory is measured by the gain of victory points (VPs) through various aspects of the game (military conquests and political/religious objectives). Game begins in 1615 and runs up until the end of 1620. Each game year consists of 3 movement/retreat phases, and a build phase (and in every second year, a scoring phase).

Standard 5th Edition rules of Diplomacy apply with modifications as described below.

PHASES OF THE GAME YEAR

1- Spring Movement and Retreat Phase

2- Summer Movement and Retreat Phase

3- Fall Movement and Retreat Phase

4- Winter Ownership/Build/Adjustment Phase

5- At the end of 1616, 1618, and 1620 there is an additional phase called the Scoring Phase.

DEPLOYMENT OF INFLUENCE POINTS WITH SUBMISSION OF ORDERS

Each power receives influence points (INFs) at the beginning of each year to distribute to the minor states with (or without) orders.

INFs Available per Year

Writing the orders: Example of the format for the submission of the INF deployment list and orders is as follows:

In the above example, France deploys all INFs in the first phase as follows: 16 INFs to Wurtemburg (WUR), 16 INFs to the Rhineland (RHI), 5 INFs to Brunswick (BRU), 25 INFs to the Lorraine (LOR), and 6 INFs to Savoy (SAV). In addition to submitting orders for French units (shown in thin-bordered box), France submits orders to the units in the minor states where the INFs will be deployed to (heavy-bordered box). Additionally, INFs may be deployed to minor states without a SC/unit such as, for example, Franconia (FRA). Powers need not deploy all INFs in the first phase, but can spread out those deployments in subsequent phases. INFs will continue to accumulate in the minor states with each deployment dictating the status of state. Any unused INFs do not carry forward into the next year, and players cannot deploy more than the available INFs for the year.

A listing of the minor states that may be influenced is given below.

TABLE 1: List of Pliant Minor States

Note: The Catholic powers, only, may deploy INFs & submit orders to the Papal States (PAP) which consist of Rome (ROM) and the Marche (MAR). Poland (POL) consists of the provinces of Warsaw (WAR), Danzig (DAN) and Posen (POS), therefore, their statuses will match POL. Lithuania (LIT) consists of Samogitia (SAM) and Vilnius (VIL). Two-letter designations for each minor state are given to label the armies/fleets on the board. Additional information is presented in the table and will be referred to later.

Influencing the Ottoman Empire and the Barbary States

The Ottoman Empire (OTE/Ot) is treated much like the pliant minor states, however, the Empire spans over several provinces and has 4 units in its military service: A(SAL), A(SER), F(GRE), and A(BUL). As a whole, INFs may be deployed to the Ottoman Empire with corresponding orders. The GM keeps the deployment of INFs to the Ottoman Empire secret, and only reveals the actions of the units in the adjudication (or whether the Ottoman Empire is neutral). The Barbary States consist of Morocco (MOR), Algiers (ALG/Al), and Tunis (TUN/Tn), and INFs can be deployed to each separately.

EFFECTS OF INFLUENCE AND RULES GOVERNING THE STATUSES AND ACTIONS OF THE MINOR STATES

Status of the Minor States

The minor state is marked as ALIGNED, NEUTRAL or UNMARKED depending on how the major powers invest INFs in the minor state. Minor states marked as ALIGNED are in allegiance with the major power holding the most influence (50% or more of the total INFs deployed to the state) and will follow the orders submitted by the power. For two or more powers equally invested in a minor state, the minor state will be marked as NEUTRAL and the orders submitted to those states will be ignored.

Minimum # of INFs for an alignment:

Minor States & Barbary States = 5 INFs

Ottoman Empire = 15 INFs

The required percentage of INFs for gaining the alignment of the Ottoman Empire per year:

Explanation: The political status of the minor state is ALIGNED if a single major power holds 50% or more of the total INFs present in the minor state and has minimally 5 INFs invested. Orders submitted by the power to any aligned state will be followed by the unit of the state (where ever it is on the board) and reported in the adjudication. The allegiance of the Ottoman Empire, in 1615, requires that a major power holds 90% or more of the total INFs present and minimally 15 INFs invested. The GM keeps the aligned major power for the Ottoman Empire secret. Political status of a minor state is not established if there are less than 5 INFs present. Minor state is then considered UNMARKED. (If there are less than 15 INFs in the Ottoman Empire, its status will default to NEUTRAL; this rule also applies to the Barbary States when there are less than 5 INFs present.) After submission of orders and INF deployment, the GM publishes the results, which powers have deployed to which states and whether the orders submitted are followed or not, but does not reveal the actual number of INFs deployed by each power; instead, the percentage of INFs held is published.

Rules Concerning Political Status of Minor States

GM evaluates the INF deployment lists of each power, the accumulation of INFs in each minor state, and then determines their statuses. This is published with the adjudication. In resolving the orders, the GM considers the following:

(1) If the political status is not established (UNMARKED), any major power may move into and/or capture the minor state.

(2) If the political status is NEUTRAL, no major power can enter the minor state as it violates the neutrality status. Neutral units within neutral states cannot receive support.

(3) If the political status is ALIGNED, the unit of that minor state will follow the HOLD, SUPPORT, MOVE/ATTACK, or CONVOY order submitted by the major power that holds the majority of INFs in the minor state (if no order is submitted the unit holds by default). The major power cannot dislodge or support the dislodgment of the aligned minor state's unit, even if that dislodgment is unexpected. Additionally, the major power may SUPPORT the unit's HOLD or MOVE (other powers may SUPPORT the unit as well). If no unit is present in an ALIGNED minor state, any major power may enter the state freely. For a power aligned with the Ottoman Empire, the GM keeps the player/power anonymous, but orders are published in the adjudication. Communications with the Ottoman Empire should be conducted by public white/grey press or through the GM. Major power aligned with the Ottoman Empire is responsible for ordering retreats and builds.

Religious Status of the Minor States

The combined INFs remaining for England and Scandinavia represent the influence of the Protestant factions in the state. The combined INFs of Austria, France and Spain represent the influence of the Catholic factions in the state. Control of a province by either the Protestants or Catholics is determined by the following: The religious status of the minor state is CONTROLLED if a single religious faction holds the minimally required percentage of the total INFs present for the given year, and has minimally 10 INFs invested (see table below). If the condition above is not met then the state is marked as religiously NEUTRAL. Religious control is marked on the map throughout the game and becomes important during the scoring phases, and the build phases. Papal States will always be marked as Catholic controlled. Religious status for the Ottoman Empire and the Barbary States do not change. They are, for the purposes of this game, permanent Islamic states.

Percent Requirement by Year for the Religious Control of a State:

In evaluating the religious control of a minor state first determine which faction holds the majority of INFs in the state, has the required minimum of 10 INFs, and then determine whether the required percentage is met based on the table above; otherwise the religious status is marked as neutral. Example: Saxony has 60% INFs held by the Protestants, and 40% held by the Catholics in 1618. Although the Protestants have the majority they do not meet the required 62% and thus the state is marked religiously neutral.

Other Rules Concerning the Minor State and Its Army/Fleet

Capturing a SC: The minor state's army cannot capture a supply center. It can prevent scoring should the army occupy a minor state that is aligned with another power at the scoring phase. It can also prevent the gain of INFs by an opposing power should it occupy an owned supply center of the opposing power (minor state's unit does not affect the gain of INFs with an aligned power). However, the units of the Ottoman Empire are able to capture supply centers and contribute to its expansion.

Example: Saxony is aligned with Scandinavia. Saxon army occupies Vienna in Summer of 1618 and maintains occupation into Winter/build of 1618. Austria will be unable to utilize the INFs from Vienna (equal to INF Value of the SC) in 1619. However, Austria has not lost the supply center, and if Austria can dislodge the Saxon army, then the INFs will be made available in the next year.

Disbanding: If the supply center of a minor state is captured when the state's army is positioned elsewhere on the board, the army is disbanded at the build phase. If the minor state's army is dislodged, it is then disbanded (no retreats allowed). However, units of the Ottoman Empire are allowed to retreat and orders must be supplied by the aligned major power.

Movement: A major power may move into its ALIGNED state if the army is not present, but cannot capture the supply center as long as it is aligned.

Concerning neutrality: If a minor state changes to a neutral status, a major power's army or another minor state's army situated in the minor state can still function to support, attack, hold, etc., however, if the army maintains its position into a build phase, it is then interned and disbanded. If the army moves out of the neutral state, no other army can enter, but while holding its position in the neutral state it is open to attack and dislodgment (since the neutral state harbors an active power's unit or another minor state's unit, therefore other powers have the right to attack). A major power's army or another minor state's army situated in a neutral state can receive support. On another note, if the minor state becomes neutral after its army has moved, the state's army holds its position where ever it is on the board, and is disbanded if dislodged. Neutral army's position may be supported if it is not in its state of origin.

Capture of the minor state: If a major power captures a minor state's supply center, then the state is permanently withdrawn from the list of pliant minor states. It can no longer be influenced; no power, including the occupying power, will be able to deploy INFs to the minor state. The occupying power will earn VPs for the capture of the supply center at a scoring phase (if still in control), and additional INFs as mentioned above, but forfeits any VPs that could be earned from alignment and/or religious control. If the minor state is marked as religiously controlled, it permanently retains that status even after being captured. However, it loses any alignment status, and all INFs invested in the state are removed.

Note: All SCs of the Ottoman Empire must be captured for the state to be eliminated from the list.

GAIN AND LOSS OF INFLUENCE

Powers also receive additional INFs from the capture of a supply center (see table of pliant minor states and INF values). This gain is maintained as long as the power captures (at the build phase) and maintains control of the minor state. Losses can also occur as follows:

(1) If the captured supply center of a minor state is controlled by the opposition religion (Catholics versus Protestants), no gain of INFs is possible. (Occupying power can still gain a build from the SC.) Note: This rule does not apply to provinces of the powers. For example, if a Protestant power, such as England, captures Normandy, a Catholic French province, then England will be able to gain the INFs from the capture.

(2) A power will lose INFs from the loss of a home supply center (after the build/adjustment phase) equal to the INF VALUE of the supply center.

(3) If an owned supply center is occupied by a minor state's army that is aligned with another power by the Winter/build phase, then INFs cannot be gained from that supply center in a subsequent year until the army moves or is dislodged before the start of the next year. (Armies of neutral minor states will have no effect on the gain of INFs.)

TABLE 2-A: List of Home Supply Centers and INF values

INFs Lost = The number of INFs lost should the SC be captured by an opposing power.

INFs Gained = The INFs gained with the capture of the SC.

TABLE 2-B: List of Minor States and INF values

THE DIPLOMATIC ATTACK ORDER

First phase: Diplomatic attacks are not performed in the first movement phase.

Purpose: Diplomatic attacks offer players an opportunity once per year to potentially alter the results of the INF deployment. Basically, a player will select one state where he/she has deployed or will be deploying INFs and then directs an attack against another player/power that also has INFs invested there. Diplomatic attacks are not performed in the Ottoman Empire.

Submission: The decision of a player is then included with the submission of the INF deployment lists to the GM. Each player submits only one order per year during any movement phase to perform a diplomatic attack in a minor state. The order should indicate the minor state of interest and the target of the attack. Typical syntax for the order of the diplomatic attack:

MINOR STATE > MAJOR POWER

Sequence of attacks: The sequence of attacks is dependent on the number of INFs received for the year, basically from least to greatest. Therefore, in 1615, the sequence is: (1) England attacks first, then (2) Austria, (3) Scandinavia, (4) France, and finally (5) Spain. In cases of ties, follow the sequence of the previous year.

Effect: Diplomatic attacks are resolved by a MUTUAL REDUCTION. In the attack, the power with the lesser number of INFs removes all and the power with larger number of INFs loses equal amount. It is also the only time when the GM reveals the numbers of INFs distributed to states in question, where diplomatic attacks are occurring.

Example of play: England deploys 5 INFs to the LOR. France deploys 10 INFs to the LOR, and Spain deploys 5 INFs.

Example of the orders submitted to the GM:

England submits an order for a diplomatic attack against France in the Lorraine (LOR). France, however, submits an order to attack Spain, and Spain submits an order to attack England. Since England is first in sequence before France, and France before Spain, the result is that England loses all INFs in LOR, and France is reduced to 5 INFs. Since INFs remain for France, the result of the French attack against Spain is that both French and Spanish INFs are reduced to zero. Spain is unable to perform its attack against England due to the lack of INFs (both England and Spain have zero INFs remaining), and so Spain's order is reported as FAILED. LOR is then left unmarked if no other INFs are present. Any orders submitted to the LOR from France, England, and Spain are ignored in the adjudication of that phase.

Steps in resolving the orders at the beginning of each phase:

(Step 1) GM distributes INFs to the minor states as indicated in the deployment lists submitted by the players.

(Step 2) GM next determines the results of the diplomatic attacks.

(Step 3) GM next determines the status of each minor state.

(Step 4) GM then resolves the orders; publishes the statuses of the minor states and the adjudication.

SCORING PHASE

Earning Victory Points (VPs) Based on Alignment/Religious Status of the Minor States and the capture of SCs

Victory points are awarded at three periods in the game. Scoring depends on the capture of SCs (beyond home supply centers), and a reward system based on the alignment and religious status of the minor states. It is important to note that this rewards system only applies for minor states that have not been captured by a major power. It will be up to the players to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of capturing a minor state’s supply center.

Explanation and Examples

Reviewing TABLE 3, below: If Saxony is aligned with Austria, then Austria can garner 148 VPs at the scoring phase. If Saxony is aligned with Austria AND Catholic controlled, then Austria can garner TWICE the VPs for alignment, or 295 VPs, at the scoring phase. The only situation where Austria cannot garner points from the alignment and/or Catholic control is if Saxony is occupied by an army of another minor state (and one that is not aligned with Austria).

TABLE 3: Objectives table showing VP values of minor states, and VP awards for an alignment with a minor state

Note: No points are garnered for NEUTRAL minor states.

If Scandinavia captures Saxony, Scandinavia can earn 75 VPs at a scoring phase (TABLE 3). Saxony is then withdrawn from the list of pliant minor states. No power (including Scandinavia) can garner points on the alignment or religious control of the minor state from that point in time onwards. If Saxony is Catholic controlled at the time when Scandinavia captures the supply center, then Scandinavia still gains the 75 VPs at the scoring phase, and gains a new build, but is unable to garner the INFs. The minor state remains Catholic but is now held by a Protestant power. This scenario can be thought of as a Catholic state under Protestant occupation; the state is in revolt and influence can never be gained by the occupying power. If Austria should capture Saxony, Austria can then gain the INFs. VP values for the home supply centers are given in TABLE 4.

TABLE 4: VP values of home supply centers

Scoring Metric

Three cumulative scoring sessions are done: one at the end of 1616, another at the end of 1618, and the other at the end of the game. Therefore, it is possible for a power to score VPs on the alignment and/or religious control of a minor state 3 times (this also applies to the capture of supply centers). The VPs gained at each scoring phase are permanent. Based on this system of scoring, players are ensured a score for his/her efforts in the game, regardless of the final outcome of the game (unless the player is eliminated: see below under ELIMINATION AND EFFECTS OF).

Scoring phases in the game:

Checklist: During the scoring phase, the following questions should be evaluated to determine the overall score of a power.

(1) Did the power acquire/capture any new supply centers?

(2) Are there any minor states aligned to the power?

(3) Are there any minor states aligned to the power and under religious control?

(4) Are there any minor states aligned to the power but occupied by an army of another minor state that is not aligned with the power?

BUILD/ADJUSTMENT PHASE

Waiving the capture of a supply center: The player occupying a major power's supply center, or a minor state's supply center, or a province at the build phase may waive the capture of the supply center or province. This may be arranged by the player (and communicated to the GM) to avoid depriving a center from an ally. Once the decision is made no reversal is allowed until the next build phase. Provinces without SCs held by a major power at the build phase are annexed to the power, unless it is an ALIGNED state to the power that occupies it.

Concerning supply centers: Each supply center controlled during the build phase provides the resources to field 1 army or 1 fleet (as in standard diplomacy). Players may build new units on any unoccupied home supply center or captured supply center of a minor state (as long as the minor state is not controlled by an opposing religion). Owned/controlled home ports and captured ports of the minor states may be used as a build site for fleets (anchor symbol on map). Builds are not allowed in captured home SCs of the Ottoman Empire or the Barbary States. Protestant powers cannot build in a captured Catholic power’s SC or port, and the same rule applies to Catholic powers with captured Protestant SCs or ports.

Re-building a minor state's army: If a supply center of a minor state is unoccupied and has yet to be captured by a major power, a new unit is automatically built if the original unit was previously disbanded.

STARTING POSITION OF UNITS

France: A(PAR), A(NOR), F(BRI), A(PRO)

Spain: F(GAL), A(NAP), A(LUX), A(MIL), A(NET)

Austria: A(BOH), A(SLO), A(VIE)

England: A(BRS), F(LON), F(IRE)

Scandinavia: F(STO), A(DEN), A(SCA), F(NWY)

Starting Deficit: Each power starts with one unit less than the number of home supply centers.

Total Supply Centers: 24 home SCs + 25 minor state SCs + 4 Ottoman SCs = 53.

ELIMINATION AND EFFECTS OF

Any player who has been eliminated based on standard Diplomacy rules, cannot continue receiving nor deploying INFs for the remaining years, and all scores are ceded. INFs of the eliminated power that have been deployed to all minor states are removed and the statuses of the minor states reassessed at the next phase (this includes captured minor states, where the removal of INFs may impact the religious status; and includes the Ottoman Empire and Barbary States, where the alignment can change).

VICTORY CONDITIONS

At the end of 1620, the player with most VPs wins the game. If there is a tie in VPs between the two top-ranked players, then victory will depend on the player with the most supply centers; if there is a tie on SCs, then victory will depend the player with the most INFs.

Automatic Protestant Victory: Protestant powers have two possible conditions for an automatic win. (1) A Protestant power that captures Rome (ROM) will have an automatic victory, irrespective of the scores. (2) If the Ottoman Empire should capture ROM, the Catholic powers are defeated, and victory goes to the Protestant power with the highest score.

Optional Alliances and Victory Conditions: Two players, before the start of 1618, may form an alliance. This is a permanent agreement and is communicated to the GM and declared to the other players. Alliances do not change the rules of the game, but affects victory condition. It is possible for two alliances to form in the game. At the end of the game, an alliance wins if the combined VPs of the two allies exceed the total VPs of the other three players (or the other alliance and the fifth player). Alliances are bound to this rule to the end, so it is possible that a single unallied player can (1) win the game with a minimum amount of VPs by bringing about a balance of power between two alliances; or (2) exceeding the other two unallied players in total VPs given the only alliance cannot meet the condition above.

Assigning of Powers

Players will use a Blind Auction Bidding to have powers assigned by the GM. A description of the method is given at http://www.playdiplomacy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=412&t=27988. Modifications: (1) Each power should receive minimally 5 points from the 100 points allocated to each players. (2) In cases of ties, GM will check which player registered into the game first, and this player will be given priority.

REFERENCES/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

History, concepts, and rules adapted from:

Core Rules

Standard Diplomacy by Allan Calhamer (Rest in peace!)

Adapted Map Structure, Unit Positions, and Supply Centers

1600 by Tommy Larsson

1648 by Charles Feaux de le Croix

The Influence of Minor States and Units

Ambition and Empire by B. M. Powell and Jeff Kase

Classic Payola by Manus Hand and John Woolley

Status of States and Their Treatment; Victory Points and Time Limit

Formal Diplomacy by E. Sabatine and Edi Birsan

How to Handle the Ottoman Empire

Juggernaut Diplomacy by Tim Snyder and Jamie Drier

Diplomatic Attacks, Optional Alliances and Victory Conditions, and Scoring System

Origins of World War 1 by Jim Dunnigan

Origins of World War 2 by Jim Dunnigan and Thomas Shaw

First Session Play-testers

Mark Utterback, Max Victory, Steven Caponigri, Aaron Havas, and Greg Bim-Merle.

Political and Military History

The Thirty Years War by C.V. Wedgwood

Wikipedia entry:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years'_War.

Britannica entry:- http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/592619/Thirty-Years-War.

Europe 1615 Map and Starting Positions

List of Provinces and Minor States

EXAMPLE OF PLAY (Spring 1615)

The following example is based on a previous map version with French SC at GUY and Spain starting with A(MAD); suffice it to say, it can still serve to demonstrate game play.

Here is an example of Spring 1615 influence and order submissions and the adjudication:

SPRING 1615 INF DEPLOYMENT LISTS AND ORDERS

GM inputs the INF values into a table to generate a tally sheet:

GM then generates percent values. Determines the statuses of the minor states, and which orders will be followed or ignored. This sheet will be presented to the players:

GM resolves the orders based on the statuses of the minor states. Adjudication sheet is as follows:

SPRING 1615 ADJUDICATION

Appearance of the map:

Comments:

In this example each power deployed all available INFs in the first phase. Again, it is not necessary to deploy all points in the first phase.

The map depicts the statuses of the minor states and final positions of the units. Orange crosses indicate Protestant-controlled states and blue crosses indicate Catholic-controlled states. For example, DUT is Protestant-controlled due to the influence from England and Scandinavia. Scandinavia holds the most influence in DUT with 66% of the total INFs. Scandinavia's order for DUT S NWY-NTH is followed, but fails since Spain supports NET-DUT, dislodging the fleet (it is also disbanded as no retreats are allowed with the units of minor states; with exception to the units of the Ottoman Empire).

Three neutral German states (colored off-white) appear since no power has a majority of influence in those states. Had there been any orders submitted to those states, they would have been ignored. Scandinavia's DEN-MEC fails, even with support, due to the established neutral MEC. Ottoman Empire and the Barbary States are also neutral, by default, since no power submitted influence or orders to those states. Grey-colored states represent the unmarked states.

Poland is aligned with Austria, and all three provinces (DAN, POS, and WAR) are colored to depict this. Poland is not Catholic-controlled, however, since the number of Catholic INFs (all deployed by Austria) did not meet the required 10 INFs. Hungary has received INFs from both Austria and England, however, England gains the alignment and the state is Protestant-controlled, since England (a Protestant power) holds 53% of the total INFs. England's order HUN-PRE is followed, but causes a standoff with SLO-PRE.

Should Spain maintain its hold of DUT up until the Winter/build phase of 1615, DUT will fall into Spanish control, and no power, including Spain, will ever be able to garner points on an alignment with DUT or on religious control. DUT would be eliminated from the list of pliant minor states for the remainder of the game. If Spain can maintain control of DUT up until the first scoring phase, then Spain will garner points for the capture. If DUT retains its Protestant status by the Winter/build of 1615, Spain will never be able to gain INFs from the capture.

Next movement phase, the GM will resolve the next set of orders based on the statuses of minor states. Now that INFs have been deployed, players are given the option of including diplomatic attacks in their submissions for the next movement phase.