Oh dear. This is a game with set rules. That would be a good variant, but it probably won't fit here. A really good variant.

There are variants that involve extra units...I believe planes, cruise missiles and nukes are some.

There are also variants that include up to 50 or so nations (the world).

I'd be interested in playing one of those.

I agree - a good variant, but we can't just go changing the original rules of the game.

when you say a third kind of force, whats wrong with just having 'The Force'?

Fleets are kind of like that. They do go a certain distance on land, they just cant attack, support hold, or support move to any space further inland. However,its obviously not the type of unit you wanted to see.

Yeah, marines are kind of implied by the fleet rules.

Different types of units have also been kicked around such as Dreadnaught
where in 1905 you can build a Double Strength Fleet and in 1910 you can build a double strength Army (stormtrooper).

then there were leaders (each country gets one which can double up with a unit to make it double strength. Etc.

and the universal unit that someone mentioned which can cause some funny openings

all of these require coding, which if done would be a unique aspect of phpDiplomacy to any other site.

I have no idea what the code work would look like, I suspect that it is longer than a rainy weekend project for one person.

I guess what it takes is someone with code skill who is tickled by the idea and sits down and does it.

In my opinion, fleets are lacking. Marines (modern day) are fully amphibious. However, back in the day (1901) marines were really a naval force who could fight on land, as long as they were a short distance from the coast.

I know that Diplomacy has set rules, but if I were to revise this game, I would include marines.

I was thinking that they had to be a certain distance from a fleet or the coast. Unlike fleets, they would be able to support holds/moves inland.

How precisely are fleets lacking?

Oh, and as for;
"I vote to include a marine corps into the mix. These forces could move on water or land, but could only travel a certain distance from the coast."

I don't know if you noticed, but (in Classic Diplomacy at least) all sea territories touch land territories.

Therefore, what you would really have is a super unit wih no movement limitations (a flying dutchman, say).
Or, if only allowed to support, well, a fleet with powers to entrench inland.

The reason why Diplomacy is fun is because different units with different limitations must work together. I don't see how 'marines' as you described could add any useful flavour to the Classic game, or even a wacked out variant.

Sorry to poop on your idea :P

Feel free to retort.

If Marines as described were added to the game, Fleets and Armies would never be used, since the Marines can do the work of both.

In fact, I just took another look at the restriction, that the Marines couldn't go too far inland. If you allow them to move one space further than Fleets (so, they're fleets, but they can move 2 spaces inland) the only territory they can't move into or support is Bohemia. All other zones are within 2 moves of the sea.

Taking the idea in a different direction...

You commit 2 builds (at the same time, they cannot be spread over 2 build phases) to a Fleet with Marines. This fleet then strikes with a force of 2 when moving into a land zone- make the actual effect be that the Fleet stays in the sea zone, and the Marines then move into the land zone, with the Fleet's support. This is a one-time action, the Marines cannot then re-embark onto the Fleet, and acts in all respects after this turn as a normal Army. This opens up some interesting tactical options- a single defending Army is overpowered, but one support defeats the landing.

Some questions are raised. Would the Army be lost, KIA on the beaches, or would it remain on the Fleet to be used another time? What would the strength of the Fleets carrying Marines be: 1) on the open ocean, 2) supporting another beach landing?

My own opinion... a failed beach landing should result in the disbanding of the Army, the Fleets should remain as a single unit in strength on the open ocean, but supporting another beach landing they should count as 2, otherwise committing 2 builds to multiple Marine Fleets is a waste of resources.

I keep thinking about it now... they wouldn't be entirely a waste of resources if they supported moves onto land with a force of 1. The benefit is that your fleet isn't used up Convoying the Army there, and therefore all Fleets that can "see" the land zone can support the landing.

I have seen a variant that uses artillreryereryryery( sp!?!) to allow armys to support fleets in ocean spaces only, that costs an extra build, and is added on to the army in the build SC. it had some other restrictions too, like not being able to convoy or something, which i felt wasn't needed.

Interesting idea, but not really worth it, since it would just eliminate the need for other units. I like it as is now.

The best variant out there has to be seismic diplomacy

No, `artillreryereryryery` is not how you spell Artillery.

Sorry Wobble_Clock.

Yeah. I take that back. ONE move from the coast, not two. Sorry, everyone. You would still need fleets to convoy them and armies for inland work.

No, if they get one move from the coast the only territory they can't get to is Bohemia. I believe Marchosias addressed that. If they can only stay on the coast then they're just fleets. Perhaps they can support inland movements but can't actually move there?

@ Chrispminis

Did you read my post most recent post? This idea is still in development, so I should be able to tweak it without critisicm. I guess ONE move from the coast.

Diplomat, if what you mean by "one" move is the same thing fleets can do, then they're just fleets. If you mean "one more" move than fleets, in effect, 2 inland moves (the coastal province and one deeper) then the only territory they cannot move into is Bohemia.

No they have to be touching a province or a province on move away from a costal province.

they should bring in the air force that could maybe move 2 provinces in one turn! yet also be very vulnerable to attack and lose easily to a regular army

"a province on move away from a costal province" ... That's every province except Bohemia.

Seriously? Oh, okay. Then just coastal provinces. But they can support inland, unlike fleets. They have to be one move away from a coastal province when they're at sea.

Heh, sorry again. There are NO seas that are more than one move away from a coastal province.

Okay, fine. Forget marines for a moment. Fleets should be able to support inland. Most fleets have a marine detachment, who would be perfectly capable of supporting inland.