
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,225
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Britannia
- 3–5 players
- 180–300 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 1986

Rules assistance for Diplomacy Games and Variants
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Diplomacy Games and Variants is an expansion for Diplomacy released in 1978 for 2–7 players, 360 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Lewis Pulsipher and its main mechanics are Player Elimination, Area Movement, and Simultaneous Action Selection.
From the Inside Cover: this is a set of variants and games based on Diplomacy, the popular game of international negotiation, intrigue, and warfare (voted Game of the Year in 1976 and 1977 by Games & Puzzles readers). It is necessary to know how to play Diplomacy in order to use this booklet. Many of the games also require use of a Diplomacy board and pieces. Mapsheets are provided for others, but a set of pieces is still required. In all cases all additional rules needed are included. The games range from the abstract to World War II to "swords and sorcery", some for fewer than seven players. They are arranged in a progressive instructive format to enable inexperienced players to learn simple variants first and more complex ones later. There are also special sections on two - and three - player Diplomacy. Table of Contents : Part I Simple Variants Simple Variants using the Boxed Game Board 1939 (World War II)* Colonization Part II Moderate Variants Holy Roman Empire The Struggle for Hegemony in Europe, 1689-1815* Part III Complex Variants 1939 II* Realistic Variants The Song of the Night: Swords and Sorcery Diplomacy* Part IV Miscellaneous Two-Player Diplomacy Three-Player Diplomacy Compilation of Simple Variants 3 11x17 mapsheets are included uses separate Mapsheet
Diplomacy Games and Variants 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 Diplomacy Games and Variants is 360 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 Diplomacy Games and Variants 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.
Diplomacy Games and Variants belongs to these categories: Wargame, Bluffing, and Political. Its main mechanics are Player Elimination, Area Movement, and Simultaneous Action Selection. 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 Diplomacy Games and Variants are: Lewis Pulsipher. 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 Diplomacy Games and Variants as an expansion for Diplomacy. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Diplomacy to use it. Check that your edition of Diplomacy is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.