This Game Demands Diplomacy

Some members of the Blair community have lately enjoyed “Diplomacy” – a board game of international intrigue that takes players back to the early years of the 20th century and allows them to play out the destinies of the seven primary European powers of the era. No dice are used, so it’s up to the players to strategize militarily and diplomatically in order to win the game.

Tim Devaney, chair of the foreign language department, spearheaded this activity and reports in more detail: Blair’s first Diplomacy game has ended after several “years” of friendly alliances, good cheer, backslapping, backstabbing and all-out warfare. After some middle-game setbacks, Russia, represented by Troy Dundas and Hannah Huntley, surged to victory with Turkey and Austria-Hungary suffering tragic demises in a case of ‘game imitates life.’ Valiant play by Clay Dundas and Nico Pauruda overcame France’s natural inclination to get steamrolled; Danny Kim played Italy molto astutamente; Jang Lim held on to bring the Brits in in one piece after suffering the indignity of another Norman invasion, while Tyler Van Vliet, in a brilliant slight of hand, jumped ship from a sinking Ottoman Empire to marshal a debilitated German army adroitly enough to avoid another Versaille debacle.

Posted 4/27/11

> Read About More Academic News

return to top