Escalation

[SelhurstPark]

On the assumption that you are never too old to learn (or at least experience) something new, I have just signed up for a new game which describes itself as an Escalation variant. Can anyone direct me to any relevant hints and guides - I've seen the Rules for Escalation but would value hints on how best to try and develop this? It's a non-rank game so not overly important but nevertheless I would like to have at least a chance of making a positive contribution.

[ColonelApricot]

Escalation is a variant included in the rules of the board game. It was added to the PD site a couple of of years ago and made available to all the maps except Versailles.

I advocated for it for Versailles also. because it offers a partial solution to the inherent imbalance in the distribution of powers strengths, as anyone who got allocated France and Greece would testify.

The problem of course is that extending the escalation process to the minor powers would negate the Versailles concept of the secret alliances. That is why I argued for following the escalation process for the major powers only, then allocating the minor powers randomly.

It would be good to have another look at this if the resources are available as the Versailles map is such an excellent concept that deserves a better implementation.

.. CA

[super_dipsy]

Escalation rules are at https://www.playdiplomacy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=566&t=54155

I really should take a look at adding esc to V. I'll go and see what I can do.

[super_dipsy]

Ooops

I now see you hav already read the rules and are looking for some tips. Hence my link is worthless to you, but I'm going to leave the post there for others who might be interested in the rules and don't know where to find them.

[ColonelApricot]

I really should take a look at adding esc to V. I'll go and see what I can do.

The escalation mechanism should work exactly the same for allocating center provinces to the major powers. The minor powers would then have to be randomly allocated one of the remaining center provinces, that would be a new function.
It would still be the luck of the draw whether the minor power was in a favourable location but at least it could be a "good" province such as Madrid rather than a "bad" province such as Portugal.