I'm relatively new to the game of Diplomacy. My background in strategy games comes from many years playing chess, a game where long-term thinking is crucial to success. While my inexperience limits the amount of helpful advice I can offer, I'll do my best to provide some useful tips.
Develop a sense of timing
Deciding when to launch an attack against a rival is one of the more challenging aspects of Diplomacy. Time it right, and your attack may cut through their position like butter. Time it wrong, and you may find your own position collapsing. Recognizing these moments is easy in hindsight, but very difficult during the game.
Identifying an opportunity to strike requires careful examination of the board, and not just from your own perspective! Get inside the head of each opponent. Figure out what they want to accomplish and what risks they are willing to take. How does this player feel about their neighbors? What opportunities are they looking for? Will their momentum carry them in the same direction as last turn, or is this a pivot point? Are the ingredients for a successful strike present?
Take a couple of minutes to examine the position below, and try to anticipate in which direction each power will focus their efforts in Spring 1907. Afterwards, I'll provide some context.
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