I thought it might be fun to have a look at some types of player you're likely to come across when playing Diplomacy. Well, OK, it's not all fun in this series... but I'll do my best.
Diplomacy can be frustrating - just when you think you're in a position to do well, something goes wrong. That ally that you've been trundling through the game happily with stabs you and it all goes to pot.
More frustrating are those players who do something that doesn't seem to make sense. These are those player who are so stubborn you'd expect them to be bent over at a children's party with some little guy stabbing them with a long pin that has a bit of grey material dangling from it.
Or that could just be wishful thinking...
Diplomacy can be frustrating - just when you think you're in a position to do well, something goes wrong. That ally that you've been trundling through the game happily with stabs you and it all goes to pot.
More frustrating are those players who do something that doesn't seem to make sense. These are those player who are so stubborn you'd expect them to be bent over at a children's party with some little guy stabbing them with a long pin that has a bit of grey material dangling from it.
Or that could just be wishful thinking...
The Armoured Duck
I think it was Richard Sharp who first called this player an Armoured Duck. I may be wrong but he certainly uses it in his book The Game of Diplomacy (it's in chapter 2 under the heading "Revenge").
Still, if you recognise someone in your game as being an Armoured Duck, then you know what to expect, at least. You can plan for her reactions.
If you stab him, and later you yourself are stabbed from another side, he will never accept this as a chance to rebuild his position by realigning himself with you, but will insist on defending himself to the death, even though you have stopped attacking him. Even worse is his behaviour in the reverse situation, where he has stabbed you: he naturally expects you to react as he would, and if you try to negotiate a new settlement with him he will ignore you even when it would be in his best interests to accept because he fears you. There is nothing one can do about the Armoured Duck except try to get him interested in some other game because he isn’t up to the cynical skills of this one.Not much more to say, really. The Armoured Duck is a player who will continue along the route she chooses regardless of what is happening in the game. She's not interested in how the game will finish, only in doing what she's doing.
Still, if you recognise someone in your game as being an Armoured Duck, then you know what to expect, at least. You can plan for her reactions.
The Outrider
Outriders are a type of Armoured Duck, really, but they come up in very specific situations, usually.
An Outrider is a player who decides the she is going to play in favour of somebody else. Perhaps it's revenge, perhaps it's that she simply doesn't like you. Whatever the reason, she's decided that her game is going to be benefited by working for another player, or else that her game has been lost so she sees nothing more to do than play to benefit that player.
Outriders typically do this too early in the game. Perhaps she thinks that she's going to be able to ride the player she's working for to an eventual draw. Perhaps she has just decided you're a bastard and she's going to work with her mate no matter what.
As with the Armoured Duck, there's nothing you can do, once she's set herself on this path, except try and wear down her resolve, pushing the eventual outcome as being bad for her. Unfortunately, the stubbornness of an Outrider can often override what will happen as a result of her actions.
An Outrider is a player who decides the she is going to play in favour of somebody else. Perhaps it's revenge, perhaps it's that she simply doesn't like you. Whatever the reason, she's decided that her game is going to be benefited by working for another player, or else that her game has been lost so she sees nothing more to do than play to benefit that player.
Outriders typically do this too early in the game. Perhaps she thinks that she's going to be able to ride the player she's working for to an eventual draw. Perhaps she has just decided you're a bastard and she's going to work with her mate no matter what.
As with the Armoured Duck, there's nothing you can do, once she's set herself on this path, except try and wear down her resolve, pushing the eventual outcome as being bad for her. Unfortunately, the stubbornness of an Outrider can often override what will happen as a result of her actions.
The Kingmaker
Kingmakers are Outriders that work with someone to throw the game the other player's way.
I mentioned above that Outriders may decide this early in the game. Kingmakers decide this when the game is in the later stages and play to give the other player a chance of winning. Typically, the Kingmaker will have decided that she doesn't have a chance of getting anything from the game at all so she may as well help someone else to get into the position to win.
As with Armoured Ducks and Outriders this is likely to be for the sake of vengeance. You did something in the game to harm her chances, or you've annoyed her to the point that her logic has been swamped by the desire for revenge, and she throws the game.
I mentioned above that Outriders may decide this early in the game. Kingmakers decide this when the game is in the later stages and play to give the other player a chance of winning. Typically, the Kingmaker will have decided that she doesn't have a chance of getting anything from the game at all so she may as well help someone else to get into the position to win.
As with Armoured Ducks and Outriders this is likely to be for the sake of vengeance. You did something in the game to harm her chances, or you've annoyed her to the point that her logic has been swamped by the desire for revenge, and she throws the game.
The Succumbus
Yes, I do mean 'Succumbus'. I've combined the idea of succumbing with the demon succubus. Almost clever, I think... except that it has nothing to do with the traits of a succubus: that bit's just for the sake of the name. Deal with it.
A Succumbus gives in. Simple as that. She doesn't play like any of the above, she just decides to stop playing. Perhaps she'll quit the game; perhaps she'll just sit there, not playing, issuing hold orders or meaningless movement orders.
As annoying as all the above are, with the Succumbus you'll find a new level of frustration, especially if she doesn't quit. If she quits, and you identifier as someone likely to run away when she's under pressure, you can use that knowledge to you advantage.
If she simply stays in the game, doing nothing (essentially), then what can you do? She sees no reason to play and you're not likely to be able to persuade her otherwise. Unless you can persuade her to be your Outrider, of course...
A Succumbus gives in. Simple as that. She doesn't play like any of the above, she just decides to stop playing. Perhaps she'll quit the game; perhaps she'll just sit there, not playing, issuing hold orders or meaningless movement orders.
As annoying as all the above are, with the Succumbus you'll find a new level of frustration, especially if she doesn't quit. If she quits, and you identifier as someone likely to run away when she's under pressure, you can use that knowledge to you advantage.
If she simply stays in the game, doing nothing (essentially), then what can you do? She sees no reason to play and you're not likely to be able to persuade her otherwise. Unless you can persuade her to be your Outrider, of course...
WHO YOU'LL MEET ACROSS A DIPLOMACY BOARD series:
- Introduction
- Dippyists
- Pseudo-Dippyists
- Stubborn to a Fault
- Mad as a Hatter
- Dishonourable Mentions
- Deal With It!
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