Whats the best way to learn Diplomacy and become good at it?
Dive in and start swimming. Diplomacy is easy to learn. The basics of moving, attacking, and supporting can be mastered pretty quickly by setting up the board and some pieces and then working out a few sample moves, either with friends or solitaire. Becoming an accomplished player, however, takes practice and experience. Many helpful articles on how to play Diplomacy well can be found here and on other web sites. There’s also an excellent booklet, The Gamer’s Guide to Diplomacy by Rod Walker. If you’re lucky enough to find a copy, it’s well worth buying. There’s no substitute, however, for playing the game with good players. Don’t expect to win your first few games against experienced players, but do expect to learn a lot. Whatever happens, don’t take it personally. Be friendly, ask questions, pay attention to what others are saying and doing, remember that it’s just a game, and your understanding and your play will improve rapidly.
