Ancient Mediterranean Variant?

Use this forum to discuss Diplomacy strategy.
Forum rules
This forum is limited to topics relating to the game Diplomacy only. Other posts or topics will be relocated to the correct forum category or deleted. Please be respectful and follow our normal site rules at http://www.webdiplomacy.net/rules.php.
Post Reply
Message
Author
[email protected]
Posts: 25
Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2018 7:04 am
Karma: 10
Contact:

Ancient Mediterranean Variant?

#1 Post by [email protected] » Thu Dec 27, 2018 7:22 pm

So i would like to get a discussion on:
1.) What are the diffrences between the cllasic variant and the amcient med in:
a.opening
b.mid-game
c.end game
2.) what are the best strategies for:
a.rome
b.greece
c.persia
d.egypt
e.carthege

mhsmith0
Posts: 318
Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2018 12:35 am
Karma: 186
Contact:

Re: Ancient Mediterranean Variant?

#2 Post by mhsmith0 » Thu Dec 27, 2018 9:30 pm

Off the cuff I'd say some of the key differences would be:

1a opening
I'd tend to say there's a bit more of commitment in terms of early opening play. Since everyone has two immediate neighbors, and usually a decent # of neutral centers between each other, you're basically choosing early on who you're attacking or leaving alone, which can have pretty substantial consequences.

Using gunboat as an analogy, in regular dip Austria is hosed if everyone attacks there in 1901 (R/T are somewhat likely to, and Italy will either be very friendly or very hostile), but everyone else will have some kind of useful defense or at least ability to delay things a while, and also there are plenty of neighbors who just don't go after each other early b/c it doesn't make sense (G/R don't fight in 1901 in particular, barring a decision from Germany on Sweden).

In ancient med, you can (if you like) choose pretty clearly to be hostile to or friendly to any of your immediate neighbors. In particular, fleets can go in multiple directions productively, and armies are really choosing which centers to try and grab, and that leads to friendlier or most hostile relations to one or another neighbor.

1b midgame
I think there's a bit more tactical flexibility, mainly because of it being fleet centric and there not really being particularly central powers (or at least not when compared to traditional dip). So whereas England and Austria aren't really going to interact until things start to settle in (i.e. late midgame), Rome and Egypt, Greece and Carthage, etc can all be bouncing around with each other relatively quickly, since every power pair is either neighbors or has just one power in between them.

1c endgame
I think the big thing here is that the stalemate lines aren't as clearly defined and central as they are in traditional maps. Like, you can look at this piece
https://www.playdiplomacy.com/forum/vie ... 90&t=34105
and yeah there are potential stalemate lines, but there are a bunch of them that look quite a bit different, as opposed to the traditional map where the stalemate lines mainly hinge over Munich, MAO, Tunis, Berlin, and/or STP, and it's pretty straightforward for power A to set up at least a partial stalemate against power B (England usually can't take Tunis from a non-collapsing Italy, for instance), whereas here there are a bunch of ways to move units around, and there are semi-independent functions of the fleet portion of the stalemate and the army portions, so it's a bit easier to cut a hole in a stalemate position before it can fully develop

I guess it's probably also indicative that a lot of gunboat games seem to end pretty quickly; solo's by year 7 aren't wildly common but can happen

2 strategies
I'm not sure there are critical differences in the strategies for individual powers here. Rome and Greece have the ability to target each others home centers in 1901, but I get the sense that it's usually unwise to try at that juncture. Persia also (I think?) has the ability to work with Greece against Egypt or vice-versa, more than any other neighbor pairings. Beyond that, I think it's mainly trying to have one neighbor you make peace with and another you attack, all the while keeping an eye on making sure no one gets too strong.
5

dejawitting
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2023 4:15 am
Contact:

Re: Ancient Mediterranean Variant?

#3 Post by dejawitting » Wed Nov 01, 2023 4:18 am

mhsmith0 wrote:
Thu Dec 27, 2018 9:30 pm
Off the cuff I'd say some of the key differences would be:

1a opening
I'd tend to say there's a bit more of commitment in terms of early opening play. Since everyone has two immediate neighbors, and usually a decent # of neutral centers between each other, you're basically choosing early on who you're attacking or leaving alone, which can have pretty substantial consequences.

Using gunboat as an analogy, in regular dip Austria is hosed if everyone attacks there in 1901 (R/T are somewhat likely to, and Italy will either be very friendly or very hostile), but everyone else will have some kind of useful defense or at least ability to delay things a while, and also there are plenty of neighbors who just don't go after each other early b/c it doesn't make sense (G/R don't fight in 1901 in particular, barring a decision from Germany on Sweden).

In ancient med, you can (if you like) choose pretty clearly to be hostile to or friendly to any of your immediate neighbors. In particular, fleets can go in multiple directions productively, and armies are really choosing which centers to try and grab, and that leads to friendlier or most hostile relations to one or another neighbor.

1b midgame
I think there's a bit more tactical flexibility, mainly because of it being fleet centric and there not really being particularly central powers (or at least not when compared to traditional dip). So whereas England and Austria aren't really going to interact until things start to settle in (i.e. late midgame), Rome and Egypt, Greece and Carthage, etc can all be bouncing around with each other relatively quickly, since every power pair is either neighbors or has just one power in between them.

1c endgame
I think the big thing here is that the stalemate lines aren't as clearly defined and central as they are in traditional maps. Like, you can look at this piece
https://www.playdiplomacy.com/forum/vie ... 90&t=34105

and yeah there are potential stalemate lines, but there are a bunch of them that look quite a bit different, as opposed to the traditional map where the stalemate lines mainly hinge over Munich, MAO, Tunis, Berlin, and/or STP, and it's pretty straightforward for power A to set up at least a partial stalemate against power B (England usually can't take Tunis from a non-collapsing Italy, for instance), whereas here there are a bunch of ways to move units around, and there are semi-independent functions of the fleet portion of the stalemate and the army portions, so it's a bit easier to cut a hole in a stalemate position before it can fully develop

I guess it's probably also indicative that a lot of gunboat games seem to end pretty quickly; solo's by year 7 aren't wildly common but can happen

2 strategies
I'm not sure there are critical differences in the strategies for individual powers here. Rome and Greece have the ability to target each others home centers in 1901, but I get the sense that it's usually unwise to try at that juncture. Persia also (I think?) has the ability to work with Greece against Egypt or vice-versa, more than any other neighbor pairings. Beyond that, I think it's mainly trying to have one neighbor you make peace with and another you attack, all the while keeping an eye on making sure no one gets too strong.
It's 2023 but I have to register an account and thank you right away. This information is really helpful, I was looking for related information but this is more complete, thank you for sharing.

kalyl
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2023 3:39 am
Location: https://suika-game.io
Contact:

Re: Ancient Mediterranean Variant?

#4 Post by kalyl » Thu Dec 14, 2023 3:42 am

This variant introduces unique wonders for each civilization, encouraging diverse and thematic openings. For example, Rome focuses on military and production, while Greece prioritizes culture and science.

kalylcie
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2023 3:47 am
Location: https://geometrydash3d.io
Contact:

Re: Ancient Mediterranean Variant?

#5 Post by kalylcie » Thu Dec 14, 2023 3:50 am

Specific Wonder bonuses and unique unit abilities can significantly impact mid-game strategies. For instance, Persia's Immortal units excel at defending against early aggression, while Egypt's Monument Builders accelerate wonder construction.

User avatar
David E. Cohen
Posts: 197
Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2018 1:27 am
Location: Treading the Path to Diplo-Shambhala
Karma: 169
Contact:

Re: Ancient Mediterranean Variant?

#6 Post by David E. Cohen » Thu Dec 14, 2023 10:38 pm

The bots are active today! LOL
1
The warrior's Way is the twofold Way of pen and sword.

Friends don't let friends draw-whittle.

Play every game like it is the last one you will ever play!

My website: http://diplomiscellany.tripod.com/

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 46 guests