Diplomacy: How to Win as ITALY / WORLD CHAMPION Chris Brand Interview / Diplomacy Strategy

[@johnnygillam3975]

I’ve just joined the online Diplomacy community, and I’m absolutely terrible, but these videos are a godsend. This series is especially useful, but all of your Diplomacy videos have been helpful to me. They’re smart, concise, entertaining, packed with information yet easy to digest. I truly can’t thank you enough.

[@LegendaryTactics]

I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know. I definitely spend a lot of time crafting and creating them so it's great to know they're helpful and useful. It's really an amazing game.

[@Xaverious23]

hey, i wanna start this game, any tips how and where?

[@LegendaryTactics]

@@Xaverious23 You can get started on backstabbr.com . We're just finishing up a How to Play. It should be out within the week. It will be a great resource to get you started with the backstabbr interface. If you want to join the Diplomacy community on Discord, here is an invite: discord.gg/wRDVQtBRNz It will give you all the news on tournaments and everything going on in the hobby. Welcome to the hobby!

[@Xaverious23]

@@LegendaryTactics Thank you for the fast reply:) i dont have discord, but i will try backstabbr. i heard about this game about 20 years ago, but never touched it, well i guess now would be a good opportunity. have a nice day!

[@LegendaryTactics]

@@Xaverious23 It's a great game, but not for the soft of heart. Best of luck and let us know if you need any help acclimatizing to the game. If you check out our diplomacy playlist, I made a video called 13 tips for beginners to help you get started.

[@tomau3946]

I consider Russia a VERY relevant power to talk to for Italy, because this affects both Austria and Turkey. If forced to "skip" one, my choice would be England, but Chris is right; Italy needs to talk to everyone (because it is a "central" power).

[@Bodhran67]

I only ever played five or six games, back in the early eighties. My only win was as Italy. Granted, we were all pretty much rookies at the game. But even that way, I feel like playing Italy is extremely rewarding as you can both downplay your importance as a threat quite easily, and at the same time present yourself as a valuable ally for almost all players. You are like that kid in the schoolyard who never starts a game but always gets invited in one of the teams when things are getting serious. And it is from that position that you can start calling the shots.

[@jjakjjak5231]

The guest seems like a wonderful player to play the game with.

[@LegendaryTactics]

He's a classy guy for sure.

[@MrZauberelefant]

@@LegendaryTactics He also won with Italy, so that's gonna get interesting

[@stevenshukenmusic2319]

That’s why he’s a world champion :) likeable people do well in this game!

[@bcpravel]

Another fantastic interview with another world class player! I think my main takeaway from this video was to keep a close eye on Munich when on a table with Chris Brand. 😂

[@LegendaryTactics]

Better watch Trieste, Greece, Marseilles, and basically every Mediterranean dot too.

[@jamesmcclure6191]

Rule #1, for every country, should be: "Talk to everyone, every turn." Anyone you don't speak with is going to assume you are hostile and will treat you with hostility. Yes, having a plan and committing are important, but the game is all about communication and it you aren't communicating you are likely losing.

[@LegendaryTactics]

The power of persuasion is so critical in this game.

[@detectivedan1248]

I am absolutely loving the series so far. Your Austria video was how I found your channel, which was extremely convenient because I just started up a diplomacy game around the same time playing as Austria. There's a lot of insight from the people who play these nations, and you do an extremely good job of interviewing them.I can't wait until the series is complete, because then I can share it with my friends and we can all benefit from the insight from playing each individual nation.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Thanks for your kind words. That makes two of us who are benefitting. I like playing devil's advocate in these interviews so I can find out which of my strategies to continue and which ones are largely ineffective. I hope I can get the England video done in the next 2 - 3 weeks. I have another all star player, with tons of Diplomacy cred, for that one. England is my favourite nation to play.

[@detectivedan1248]

@@LegendaryTactics I don't get to play too often. I'm on my fourth game in maybe five years or so. Three of those games I ended up playing as italy, and I'm still playing the Austria game right now. I hope that as my friends and I continue this game we realize we are going to want to keep playing and try out different tactics with different nations.

[@LegendaryTactics]

@@detectivedan1248 But now you have the tools to destroy your casual gaming friends. Happy conquests!

[@kustraja314]

Agreed - this series is really insightful. I'm starting a game shortly with friends and this is the exact background info I need! Thanks for putting this together!

[@LegendaryTactics]

@@kustraja314 I'm so glad to hear that there are so many players coming to the hobby (and sometimes just returning to it after a long absence).

[@bradmenpes809]

Really great video. I've recently joined Backstabbr - like literally a day or two ago - and I drew Italy in the first two games I've ever played on the site. Italy, up until now, has filled me with dread. One game is a Gunboat, the other is a speed run that starts in about 14 hours. Using the advice Chris gives about opening moves, and being decisive, I gained three builds at the end of 01 - MUN, TRI, and TUN. Three builds as Italy after the first year!! Be still my beating heart!! So I've got six units at the beginning of 02. I might have painted a target on my back, but I'm not going to die wondering (another wonderful piece of advice from Chris).

[@adrianpilcher703]

Living in Italy, I seem to get lumbered with it quite often. However, it is certainly not the lost cause it seems at first. Definitely agree the decisive plan rather than flip flopping east and west is key.

[@theodoreandrews4961]

I have been waiting for this. Thanks again!

[@LegendaryTactics]

I really needed these tips too. I realized that I was playing Italy much too passively.

[@jbmnd93]

Nice video. As Italy I like playing a Carpathian Hook trucking armies through Tyr, Boh, Gal with the goal of getting at Turkey through Rumania. It's more fun to get in the mix than wait around. Turkey is Italy's real arch rival. Italy has surplus armies to start. Tyr-Boh-Gal are usually ignored and an empty corridor in the first turns. Soothe Austria when they freak. Prove to Austria by continuing through. Wedge into the battle, hollow out Turkey from north and south and hedgehog yourself into Turkey's corner. Nutcrack Austria or take Turkey's place and combine with Austria against Russia. If the Carpathian Hook goes sideways half-way through pick a new side and mercenary it. Someone's going to want to hire you.

[@LegendaryTactics]

It sounds like you've played a lot of Diplomacy. Did you name this maneuver yourself? These are great ideas.

[@michaelwalsh564]

These specific country videos with experts are great!

[@LegendaryTactics]

I feel like it breathes some new life or approaches into these nations. At least for me, it does.

[@lianacondor]

I'm currently on my first game of Diplomacy and I drew Italy. It's 1909 (3 months of real play time now) and I'm now the leader of the pack, 5 dots away to doing the solo. This video has been so helpful! I may not manage it, but it has been so much fun.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Congrats! That's quite a feat! The hard part is closing the deal now that the whole world sees what you're up to...

[@MJ-km2ju]

Also, I think there's a more objective way to determine the balance of tactics vs diplomacy for any given nation. Compare the win ratio between diplomacy and the gunboat variant.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Ooo, I wonder if anyone's done research on that?

[@MJ-km2ju]

@@LegendaryTactics not sure where such data is even being collected.

[@LegendaryTactics]

@@MJ-km2ju I would bet that backstabbr likely has this information archived.

[@MichaelOfficial_]

thank you for the good advice Thom Yorke

[@LegendaryTactics]

The resemblance is uncanny, now that you mention it.

[@stevecooley3955]

Well done! And, Chris Brand! The man who had the champion's robe!

[@LegendaryTactics]

I need to get one of those. Limited opportunities to wear it I'm sure, but really cool when you do.

[@stevecooley3955]

@@LegendaryTactics I'm gonna have to settle for my 2019 NADF champion plaque, unless I buy something to commemorate the moment.

[@LegendaryTactics]

@@stevecooley3955Hook that on a great big gold chain and wear it to your next FTF!

[@bobhowat640]

Diplomacy is such a good game because it's so unpredictable. I like how Chris recognises this and doesn't claim to know it all even though he's a top top player. Most of his advice comes with the caveat: but this could easily backfire.

[@LegendaryTactics]

You're right. To an outsider, the game seems very linear, but to an experienced player, there's a ton of variability because of players' unpredictability.

[@wulumgames]

Pretty cool. Thanks for inviting me to this channel.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Glad to have you on board.

[@ianschaeferlorenz5691]

These videos are fantastic! You do an excellent job of interviewing and putting the videos together. Please keep this series going!

[@LegendaryTactics]

Will do! You helped hit the "like" goal in a few hours, so I started the England script tonight.

[@DiploStrats]

No Key Lepanto discussion? :( But anyway, great interview throughout. You really are getting the best of the best on for this series!

[@LegendaryTactics]

We could likely do a whole video on all the Lepanto variations and counters. I thought I'd keep this one a little more streamlined.

[@stevecooley3955]

And . . . good luck getting someone to agree to Key Lepanto. It happens, but not very often.

[@LegendaryTactics]

@@stevecooley3955 It happened in my Liberty Cup game. I countered with Bul to Ser and destroyed Italy's relationship with Austria permanently.

[@stevecooley3955]

@@LegendaryTactics That's one of many reasons it's rare. Turkey has nothing to lose 95% of the time with Bul-Ser.

[@robhou5353]

The most daring and most beautiful gambit opening move in Diplomacy 'HANDS DOWN'!

[@rexphillips-dibb1823]

Loved the video! I've always been a big fan of playing as Italy.

[@LegendaryTactics]

For some reason, I'm now hopeful that I draw Italy in my next game.

[@nomirrors3552]

Rather than asking for the ranking of Diplomacy, Tactics, and Strategy, why not ask how important these are *relative* to other nations. For example I would say Diplomacy is more important to Austria and Germany than to Italy, Tactics are more important to Germany. Ranking the nations by each would be more helpful to me than ranking them to each other. Great work on this series, I love the ideas these players are dishing out.

[@LegendaryTactics]

I agree. I think I came to that same realization in the middle of the interview. I would actually argue that your strategy is more important for Italy than for any other nation. Without a decisive plan, the rest will be ineffective. Italy really only has Tunis as the obvious opening move. After that, it's your planning that carries the day.

[@nomirrors3552]

@@LegendaryTactics Yes, I would say that the Strategy for Italy is more important than most other nations, with perhaps Russia being nearly as reliant on early Strategic decisions.

[@Rakkeyal]

This was a really good discussion. I've learned a lot from this.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@flynnstone3133]

These are always a joy to watch! Thanks!

[@LegendaryTactics]

No problem. Glad you enjoy them.

[@MidnightCarp]

Fabulous video - now for the others!

[@LegendaryTactics]

I hope you enjoy them! Is that Lady Razor (Diplomacy cartoonist) art for your icon? It looks like his style.

[@JustAllinOneResource]

Thanks Legendary. Liked, and Shared.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Thank you.

[@sambutton8494]

What the best way for Italy to deal with a Russia Turkey alliance? Especially in a post-Austria world

[@LegendaryTactics]

If you're up against a Juggernaut, unite the rest of the board against them. They are a real threat, so convince the board to suppress them.

[@Pendragondnd]

I'd love to hear more about how to get information out of other players? Are there any leading questions that can be used to figure out what a player is thinking, if they aren't interested in sharing as much as you'd like? How much of your own plans should you be sharing with other players?

[@LegendaryTactics]

This is a wonderful question and one that I don't think I can answer in a single paragraph. This might require a video essay to properly answer. Briefly though, I only share the part of my orders that my ally needs to know. I'll never give them my full order set because it's too easy for them to work against me by leaking parts of my plan to our opponents. That's called a soft stab. Your ally may not want you to grow because they may be preparing to stab you from behind.

[@LegendaryTactics]

I do find that direct questioning can reveal a lot. A lot of players don't like openly lying to you, so they'll either answer you, you'll get a cryptic response, or you won't hear back from them at all. All three responses give you more information then is contained in the response, especially if you compare the response to their eventual orders. When it's a simple question like "what unit are you going to build", there isn't a huge gain for players to lie to you because it could cost them your trust. But from that, you get insight into what direction they are going next or what their big plan might be.

[@Pendragondnd]

@@LegendaryTactics Thanks!

[@malibelizec2543]

Great video

[@LegendaryTactics]

Thanks for the visit

[@c4ndl326]

what about a T-A alliance? i'm currently playing a game where it's looking very possible

[@LegendaryTactics]

Better play nice with Russia! You will need them!

[@confused4971]

Mussolini lost WW2 because he did not have Chris Brand as an advisor

[@LegendaryTactics]

Lol. Best comment ever.

[@MJ-km2ju]

If I'm Italy I'll try to convince players that we don't want to see another juggernaut forming. So I ask France to stay neutral and I try to get Austria to be aggressive towards Turkey with me. The hard part I find is that I don't feel players think Italy is a must to negotiate with. No one cares if Italy falls fast.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Your instincts are very much in line with Chris' approach. As Italy then, you need to find ways to make yourself a relevant part of the conversation.

[@thebakerofbananabread3237]

Moar! MOAR!

[@LegendaryTactics]

On the way this week!

[@AI-cp1jg]

England/France is probably the easiest combo followed by Russia/Turkey. In my experience it's tough to win as any of the central powers.

[@LegendaryTactics]

Agreed. But if the players at the board are aware of that, they can team up to take them down.

[@danielcorrigan8805]

My last game, Austria and France attacked right off the start :(

[@LegendaryTactics]

Ouch. I guess you can't win them all.

[@Exmachina223]

What are you supposed to do when France starts building Fleets after a peaceful treaty

[@LegendaryTactics]

It depends is they're in the north or the south!

[@Exmachina223]

@@LegendaryTactics let's say South.

[@Adama.1]

I can't tell if this is a real game or something akin to TierZoo

[@LegendaryTactics]

It is indeed a real game. Diplomacy is a great game that has been around since 1959. But if there were a tier list for each of the 7 nations in Diplomacy, Italy would be right at the bottom.

[@roowco1]

what is a dmz?

[@LegendaryTactics]

It's a de-militarized zone. So in Diplomacy, it's an area that both powers agree not to move into. Thanks for the question. I should have put that onscreen.

[@DaveSCameron]

players indeed

[@Larkinchance]

I'm having an anxiety attack...

[@LegendaryTactics]

This means you're playing Italy correctly then.

[@lakinther7183]

dude aged 20 years in 5