Overview

Colonial Diplomacy is a variant of the classic Diplomacy game set in Asia and the Pacific during the colonial era (late 19th/early 20th century). Players control major colonial and regional powers — Britain, France, Holland, Russia, Turkey, China, and Japan — competing for control of Asia. Like standard Diplomacy, the game features simultaneous movement, no dice, and negotiation as the primary mechanic. Trust, alliances, and betrayal drive the gameplay.

Components

• Map of Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific (divided into provinces with land, sea, and coastal zones)
• Army and fleet pieces for each of the 7 powers
• Supply center markers
• Order sheets

Setup

1. Place the map centrally.
2. Each player selects a power and places starting armies and fleets in their home provinces:
   • Britain: India and surrounding areas
   • France: Indochina
   • Holland: Dutch East Indies
   • Russia: Siberia and Central Asia
   • Turkey: Ottoman territories in the Middle East
   • China: Chinese heartland
   • Japan: Japanese islands
3. Distribute order sheets.

Turn Structure

Each game year consists of:

1. Spring Turn:
   • Negotiation: Open discussion, alliance formation, promises (lies permitted).
   • Order Writing: Secretly write orders for all units.
   • Resolution: Simultaneous reveal and resolution.
   • Retreats: Dislodged units retreat or disband.
2. Fall Turn:
   • Same sequence as Spring.
   • Adjustments: Count supply centers; build or disband units to match supply center count.

Actions

Orders

• Hold: Unit defends its province (strength 1).
• Move: Unit attempts to enter an adjacent province.
• Support: Unit adds its strength to another unit’s hold or move.
• Convoy: A fleet carries an army across a sea zone.

Combat Resolution

• When two or more units try to enter the same province, the unit with more total support succeeds.
• Equal strength results in a standoff (both fail).
• A defending unit is dislodged if the attacker has strictly greater strength.
• No randomness — outcomes are entirely deterministic.

Adjustments

• After Fall, count supply centers controlled by each power.
• Build new units in empty home supply centers if you gained centers.
• Disband units if you lost centers (more units than centers).

Scoring / Victory Conditions

• A player wins by controlling a set number of supply centers (typically a majority, around 17-18 of 33).
• Players may agree to a draw if no solo victory is achievable.
• In timed games, the player with the most supply centers when time expires wins.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Colonial geography: The Asian map creates different strategic dynamics than European Diplomacy — naval power is more important due to island chains and coastal provinces.
• Unequal start: Powers start with different numbers of units and supply centers, creating asymmetric gameplay.
• No dice: All conflict resolution is deterministic. The game is entirely about diplomacy and planning.
• Convoy chains: Armies can be convoyed across multiple sea zones using chains of fleets.
• Simultaneous orders: All orders are revealed at once, preventing reactive play.
• Island warfare: The Dutch East Indies and Japanese islands create unique strategic considerations not found in standard Diplomacy.
• Turkey’s dual nature: The Ottoman Empire spans land and sea routes, serving as a bridge between the Middle East and Asian theaters.

Player Reference

Power	Region	Starting Units
Britain	India	~3-4 units
France	Indochina	~2-3 units
Holland	Indonesia	~2-3 units
Russia	Siberia/Central Asia	~3-4 units
Turkey	Middle East	~3-4 units
China	Central China	~3-4 units
Japan	Japanese Islands	~3-4 units

Orders: Hold, Move, Support, Convoy

Victory: Control majority of supply centers (~17-18 of 33)