Europe 1615: Version 3
EUROPE 1615: VERSION 3
A DIPLOMACY VARIANT
by Matthew Medeiros
[Play-testers needed! Currently recruiting players at www.diplomaticcorp.com under Open Games (select Games > Open Games in the main menu). 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 Denmark. During the game, players deploy influence points (INFs) and orders to secure political and/or religious 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 1619.
Standard 5th Edition rules of Diplomacy apply with modifications as described below.
PHASES OF THE GAME YEAR
1- Initial Status Check
2- Spring Movement and Retreat Phase
3- Summer Movement and Retreat Phase
4- Fall Movement and Retreat Phase
5- Early Winter Adjustment Phase (Required Disbands)
6- Late Winter Adjustment Phase (Build Phase)
7- 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 Lower Saxony (LOW), 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, 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 (with the Ottoman Empire) 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 (PAPL) which consist of Rome (ROM) and the Marche (MAR). Poland-Lithuania (POLN) consists of the provinces of Lithuania (LITH), Samogitia (SAM), Warsaw (WAR), Danzig (DAN) and Posen (POS), therefore, their statuses will match POLN. Two-letter designations for each minor state are given to label the armies/fleets on the board.
Influencing the Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire (OTTM) is treated much like the pliant minor states, however, the Empire spans over several provinces and has 3 units in its military service: A(RUM), 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).
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. (Note: A minimum of 5 INFs, in total, from all contributing powers, must be present for any effect to occur, otherwise the minor state will be unmarked. However, the Ottomans can never be unmarked.)
Minimum # of INFs for an alignment:
Minor States = 5 INFs per unit
Ottoman Empire = 7 INFs per unit (or 21 INFs)
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 50% or more of the total INFs present and minimally 25 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 21 INFs in the Ottoman Empire, its status will default to NEUTRAL.) 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. Any power can support the hold of a minor state's unit whether the minor state is aligned or unmarked.
(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 (however, a support, move, or convoy order may be submitted to the unit of a neutral minor state in anticipation of a change in status).
(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 Denmark 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. The religious status of the minor state is MAJORITY 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. Protestant or Catholic majority is marked on the map throughout the game and becomes important during the scoring phases. Papal States will always be marked as a Catholic majority. 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 Protestant- or Catholic-majority in a State:
In evaluating Protestant or Catholic majority in 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 65% and thus the state is marked religiously neutral.
Additional Rules Concerning the Minor State and Its Army/Fleet
Capturing a SC
Any minor state's army can capture a supply center and contribute to its expansion. If the minor state is neutral, and its unit is occupying a foreign province at the adjustment phase, the minor state will not be able to capture the province. If a minor state is unmarked it may still capture.
Disbanding
If the home 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 Early Winter Adjustment Phase (irrespective to whether it has captured a SC). In other words, the loss of its home supply center and the resulting adjustment (disband) is performed first before the Late Winter Adjustment Phase. (Note: This rule does not apply to Ottomans.) The capture of the minor state's home SC also leads the disbanding of all units of the state. If the minor state has 2 or more units, and one or more of its non-home centers are captured, the aligned power will submit the orders to disband in the Early Winter Adjustment Phase. If the minor state's army is dislodged, it is then disbanded (NO RETREATS ALLOWED FOR UNITS OF THE MINOR STATES). However, units of the Ottoman Empire are allowed to retreat and orders must be supplied by the aligned power.
Movement & capture
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. An alliance system is established when two or more minor states are aligned with a major power; all members of the alliance can move through the other member's territories without capture.
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 dislodgement (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 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 or perform diplomatic attacks. The occupying power will earn VPs for the capture of the supply center at the scoring phase, and additional INFs as mentioned above, but forfeits any VPs that could be earned from an alignment. The captured minor state loses any alignment status, and all INFs invested in the state are held in suspension. Any religious markers are temporarily removed.
Expansion of the minor states
The Ottomans and the minor states have the ability to expand with the capture of SCs (or provinces without SCs). When a SC is captured by the minor state it becomes part of its dominion, although, not permanently. When the minor state is aligned, or made neutral, all acquired territories are colored accordingly on the map. Additionally, any power that is aligned with the minor state, at a scoring phase, will score for the state plus any other states that are currently under the minor state's control. The aligned power is also required to submit build orders for the minor state that acquires new SCs. Example of play: Prussia, under the influence of Denmark, moves to occupy Warsaw, and captures it at the build phase of 1615. Poland is "temporarily" eliminated from the list of pliant minor states. Prussia builds a new army. Denmark then scores for both Prussia and Poland as aligned states. When INFs are deployed to Prussia it affects both the Prussian state and Warsaw. If Prussia is captured, Warsaw becomes "liberated" and is reestablished as a pliant minor state; the INFs in Warsaw will need to be reevaluated for its status. Also, in the above example, if Prussia held another power's center, such as Bohemia, then Denmark scores for Prussia as an aligned state plus the value of the Bohemian center. Note: Any issues that are encountered by the use of these rules, resolving them is solely at the discretion of the GM.
Rules concerning Christian and Muslim units
Christian units (whether Protestant or Catholic) will not support a move/attack by a Muslim unit on the Papal States (ROM and MAR) or adjacent provinces (VEN, PIA, TUS, and NAP). All other cases where a Christian unit supports a Muslim unit to move/attack are legal. However, Muslim units will not support a Christian attack on a Muslim unit or Islamic center.
GAIN AND LOSS OF INFLUENCE
Powers also receive additional INFs from the capture of a supply center (see Tables 2-A and 2-B). This gain is maintained as long as the power captures (at the build phase) and maintains control of the minor state. 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 (see Table 2-A). Armies of neutral minor states that occupy a home supply center 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 phase (whether successful or unsuccessful) 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 phase 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) Denmark, (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 keeping in mind any diplomatic immunities.
(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 the end of each year. Scoring depends on the capture of SCs (beyond home supply centers), and a reward system based on the alignment 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 303 VPs at the scoring phase.
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 Denmark captures Saxony, Denmark can earn 93 VPs at a scoring phase (TABLE 3), as well as INFs. Saxony is then withdrawn from the list of pliant minor states. No power (including Denmark) can garner points on the alignment of the minor state from that point in time onwards. 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 from Religious Markers
At the scoring phase, each Protestant power receives 50 VPs for each Protestant marker on the board. This rule also applies to Catholic powers and Catholic markers (however, Catholics cannot score on the Papal States as they are permanently marked Catholic).
Scoring Penalties
A power that loses a home supply center will suffer a penalty for each year without the home center (shown in Table 4 under VPs lost). Capture of Rome by a Muslim unit (not Ottoman) will result in the forfeit of scoring for the Catholic powers for each year that the unit holds Rome.
Scoring Metric
Scores are cumulative. Therefore, it is possible for a power to score VPs on the alignment multiple 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).
EARLY WINTER PHASE
- Disband all units of any minor state that its home center has been captured.
- Disband all units of any power that its capital has been captured.
- Disband all foreign units in neutral states.
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. The decision must be made prior to the build phase. 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 automatically, 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. 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, and the same rule applies to Catholic powers with captured Protestant SCs.
Centers that do not contribute to a build when captured: There are 15 centers on the board that when captured do not add an additional build for the conqueror during the adjustment phase. These centers are marked as solid black dots on board. These centers are listed below:
Sultanate of Morocco
Algeria
Catalonia
Rome
Tuscany
Venice
Croatia
Lorraine
Westphalia
Saxony
Hungary
Ireland
Transylvania
Prussia
Mecklenburg
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.
ELIMINATION AND EFFECTS OF
A power is eliminated when its capital has been captured. Capitals are marked on the map by a standard marker for a supply center surrounded by a ring. Any player who has been eliminated 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 opening phase of the year (Status Check). All units of the power are disbanded in the Early Winter Phase. Surviving centers are to be converted into pliant minor states with specified stats (VPs for capture and alignment) provided by the GM. All other provinces of the eliminated power are to be left unmarked and passable.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
Immediate diplomatic and military victory: The power that holds 9 or more of the centers on the board AND has the highest score takes immediate victory; game terminates.
Diplomatic victory: If none of the conditions above is met, then the game ends at the opening of 1620, and victory goes to the power with the highest score. 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: A Protestant power that captures Rome (ROM) will have an automatic victory, irrespective of the scores and number of centers held.
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 affect victory conditions. 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 combined VPs of the other three players. 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.
CONDITIONS TO FORCE A DRAW
Ottoman expansion into Europe: Should the Ottomans acquire and hold 6 Christian centers by the end of the game (for a total of 9 centers), a draw is reached between the remaining powers irrespective of the scores and number of centers.
Ottoman capture of Rome: With the capture and holding of Rome by an Ottoman unit by the end of the game, victory goes to the Protestant powers (2-way draw) irrespective of score. If only one Protestant power remains it forces a draw between all remaining powers.
Military victory without diplomatic victory: A power that leads by three centers over the power with the leading score, forces a 2-way draw.
Diplomatic victory of allied powers: An alliance that wins by a combined highest score at the end of the game, the allies do a 2-way draw. See above under Alliances and Victory Conditions.
Military victory without diplomatic victory for allied powers: A dual alliance that captures a combined number of centers that is greater than the combined number of centers held by the other powers forces a 3-way draw with highest scoring power.
EVENT MODIFIERS
Event modifiers will either give an advantage or handicap to a power, establish a restriction, or strengthen a minor state. Event modifiers are established before the beginning of the year (during the build/adjustment phase), and the rules stated in the modifier supersedes the general rules discussed above. Players will submit a preference list, and GM will determine which event or events will be cast. Players have 15 events to choose from. Players may negotiate on these events. Each player has 9 points to distribute to a list of three chosen events before each year, except before the first year. The maximum that an event can receive is 7, and the minimum is 1. An example of a submission:
AUSTRIA
5 = Wallenstein
3 = Polish interv.
1 = Dano-Swedish rival.
In the above example Austria submits a preference list with the Wallenstein modifier given the highest priority. Players may submit a list with equal preference for each event, giving 3 points to each, or any combination thereof.
Consolidation of preference lists and order of importance for tied events
The GM will consolidate the preference lists from each player. If an event ranks high, overall, it is cast for the coming year. If 2 or 3 are equally ranked at the top of the list then the GM will cast those events for the coming year. If more than 3 are ranked equally, the GM will select only 3 of those by order of importance.
Below is the ranking of importance, with the Bohemian revolt having the highest priority.
[1] Bohemian revolt
[2] anti-Hapsburg campaign
[3] Huguenot rebellion
[4] Dano-Swedish rivalry
[5] Kejserkrigen
[6] Wallenstein
[7] Widerstand
[8] Ketzenhammer
[9] Richelieu’s diplomacy
[10] English diplomacy
[11] anti-Protestant Ireland
[12] Olivare’s diplomacy
[13] Dutch intervention
[14] Swedish intervention
[15] Polish intervention
Once cast, the event or events will be listed at the top left corner of the board. In cases where a modifier enhances the strength of or establishes a restriction on a minor state, but the state has been captured, the modifier will not be available for players to add to their preference lists.
Description of events:
Polish intervention
Polish army (P) moves, attacks, supports, and defends with the strength of two units. This does not apply to newly acquired units. All Polish units gain the ability to retreat. Should this event occur for 2 or more consecutive years, the Polish army (P) moves, attacks, supports, and defends with the strength of three units beginning in the second year. If the Polish army is at a strength of three, but the modifier is not cast for the coming year, the Polish army is reduced to a strength of two in the new year; if again this modifier is not cast for the coming year, the Polish army is restored to a strength of one. Convoying of the multi-strength Polish army is allowed. If the single-strength or double-strength Polish army (P) is dislodged and disbanded, it can be rebuilt. However, if the triple-strengthen Polish army (P) is dislodged and disbanded, this modifier can no longer be available.
Dutch intervention
Only the most influential power is allowed to deploy INFs to the Dutch provinces. In case of a tie, the power with most centers has precedence. All Dutch units gain the ability to retreat. If the Dutch have a newly acquired army (D), this unit can move, attack, defend, or support with the strength of two units. This modifier does not apply to any additionally acquired army units beyond the first acquired army (D). If the Dutch army (D) is dislodged and disbanded, it can be rebuilt (but whether the army maintains its double-strength depends on whether the modifier is again cast in the following year). The Dutch army (D) may be convoyed.
anti-Protestant Ireland
Both Denmark and England cannot deploy INFs to Ireland.
Richelieu's diplomacy
French immune to diplomatic attacks. Only France can deploy INFs to CAT, SCOT, WES, SAV and LOR.
Widerstand (Protestant resistance)
Catholic powers cannot deploy to Protestant-majority states or newly created Protestant-majority states.
Kejserkrigen
Only Denmark may deploy INFs to Lower Saxony. Lower Saxon army (K) moves, attacks, supports, and defends with the strength of two units. All Lower Saxon units gain the ability to retreat. Convoying of the dual-strength Lower Saxon army (K) allowed. If the Lower Saxon army (K) is dislodged and disbanded, it cannot be rebuilt, and therefore this modifier will no longer be available.
Huguenot rebellion
French cannot build in GUY. French restricted from deploying INFs to Protestant-majority states or newly formed Protestant-majority states. Should this modifier be cast in three consecutive years, Guyenne (GUY) will secede from France forming a new pliant minor state. GM will specify values for the SC and alignment.
Bohemian revolt
Austria cannot build in BOH. Austria restricted from deploying INFs to Protestant-majority states or newly formed Protestant-majority states. Should this modifier be cast in three consecutive years, Bohemia (BOH) will secede from Austria forming a new pliant minor state. GM will specify values for the SC and alignment.
anti-Hapsburg campaign
Austria and Spain restricted from deploying INFs to DUT, HUN, TRA, CRO, RHI, CAT, LOW, SAV, and POR.
Dano-Swedish rivalry
Denmark restricted from deploying INFs to SWE and LIVN.
Wallenstein
Austrian/Wallenstein army (W) moves, attacks, supports, and defends with the strength of two units. If the Wallenstein army (W) is dislodged and disbanded, it cannot be rebuilt, and the modifier will no longer be available for subsequent years.
Ketzenhammer (Catholic Counter-Reformation)
Protestant powers cannot deploy to Catholic-majority states or newly created Catholic-majority states.
English diplomacy
England immune to diplomatic attacks. Only England can deploy INFs to LOW, RHI, WES, IRE, POR, DUT, and SCOT.
Olivares's diplomacy
Spain immune to diplomatic attacks. Only Spain can deploy INFs to POR, DUT, and CAT.
Swedish intervention
Deployment of INFs to Sweden is solely permitted to the power with highest influence. In case of a tie, the power with most centers has precedence. Swedish units may retreat. If the Swedes have a newly acquired army (S), this unit can move, attack, defend, or support with the strength of two units. This modifier does not apply to any additionally acquired army units beyond the first acquired army (S). If the Swedish army (S) is dislodged and disbanded, it can be rebuilt (but whether the army maintains its double-strength depends on whether the modifier is again cast in the following year). The Swedish army (S) may be convoyed.
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
“Intimate Diplomacy“ by Adrien Baird and Steve Doubleday
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, Victory Conditions, and Scoring System
“Origins of World War 1’’ by Jim Dunnigan
“Origins of World War 2’’ by Jim Dunnigan and Thomas Shaw
Political and Military History
“The Thirty Years War’’ by C.V. Wedgwood
“The Thirty Years War: Europe’s Tragedy’’ by Peter H. Wilson
Wikipedia entry:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years'_War.
Britannica entry:- http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/592619/Thirty-Years-War.
Play-testers
My gratitude to the following individuals for their time in play-testing of this variant:
Christian Schanner
Chris Lee
Chun Wang Lau
Andrew Port
Mark Utterback
Max Victory
Steven Caponigri
Aaron Havas
Greg Bim-Merle
Europe 1615 Map and Starting Positions
Note: Alternate setup gives Denmark a fleet in SCA, Spain a fleet in NAP, and France a fleet in PRO.
List of Provinces and Minor States
