Shocking: Diplomacy Existed Before the Internet
Diplomacy is a game that is over 60 years old. Guess what? In the 60's, it was hard to find 7 people to play the game with too. What happened? Diplomacy lovers started postal fanzines where 7 people would mail their orders into a game master and communicate with each other through mail. This meant games often lasted years and a whole group of interesting personalities and controversies emerged.
Doug Kent, the editor of Diplomacy World, has done the hobby a great service by being the archivist of the 100's of North American zines from these early years. He continues to add new uploads and you can find them here.
Reading through this time of history is fascinating. A big theme though is that diplomacy has always been about more than ordering War-Gal or stabbing someone. As Jim Meinel states, "The experience of being able to play a multi-player game with others across a state, a continent or an ocean is the real pleasure to the participants. Diplomacy is a game that requires one to INTERACT with the other players. Actual thoughts have to be communicated, and in the process one gets to know another."
Diplomacy is about the people and friendships that you develop...at least that's what keeps me coming back. I will on occasion be including strategy articles and other items of interest from this time in The Briefing. For this week, I am linking 3 articles from the Diplomacy Digest:
The Diplomacy Widow (Hilarious)
Diplomacy Geopolitics (Breaking Stalemate Lines)
Cognitive Development in Diplomacy
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