
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,225
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Wars of the Roses: Lancaster vs. York
- 2–4 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2010

1994
Rules assistance for Colonial Diplomacy
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Colonial Diplomacy is a board game released in 1994 for 2–7 players, 180–240 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Peter Hawes and its main mechanics are Player Elimination, Area Movement, and Area Majority / Influence.
This is a different version of the original The Avalon Hill Game Co classic, Diplomacy. Players represent one of the colonial countries (France, UK, Holland, etc.) sparring over the lands and riches of the Far East. There are only two kinds of units: sea and land. On a turn, each of your units has only a few options: hold in place, move into an adjoining territory or help another unit move into or defend an adjoining territory. Movement mechanics are incredibly simple and fused to a significant negotiation element. Re-implements: Diplomacy
Colonial Diplomacy supports 2–7 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Colonial Diplomacy is 180–240 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Colonial Diplomacy for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Colonial Diplomacy has a complexity rating of 2.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Colonial Diplomacy belongs to these categories: Wargame, Territory Building, and Bluffing. Its main mechanics are Player Elimination, Area Movement, and Area Majority / Influence. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Colonial Diplomacy are: Peter Hawes. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Colonial Diplomacy as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.