Diplomacy

Date:

1959

Publisher:

Originally self-published; published by Games Research in 1961. Currently published by Avalon Hill.

Designer:

Allan Calhammer

Why It's Significant (in 25 words or less):

No other negotiation game is more cutthroat or more intense than Diplomacy.

More About Diplomacy:

Played on a map of Europe circa 1900, Diplomacy may be the ultimate negotiation board game. The goal is to take over a set number of European countries, but there are no dice to determine the outcome of battles. It's done by mixing clever military tactics with superb negotiation -- and, usually, more than a little backstabbing.

A game of Diplomacy can take eight hours or more, but there's nothing quite like the feeling of convincing an opponent to help you secure your own victory.