Ageod WW1 Manual Cover.qxd

● In 1915, Italy will be very receptive to territory promises.
D’Annunzio: this is an Italian special rule.
Starting with 1915, any Diplomatic Action check involving Italy implies a
prior “D’Annunzio” check (famous Italian poet and orator). The detailed
procedure for the “D’Annunzio” check is in the Appendices.
● If the check succeeds, D’Annunzio delivers a powerful diplomatic
blow, and the subsequent Diplomatic Action is checked,
disregarding the opposite side’s AMBassadors and the
modifiers favorable to the opposite side. The D’Annunzio bonus
is in addition to these effects. This may bring Italy into one side in
a single turn.
● The success probabilities rise in 1915, and mostly toward the Entente
(because Italy dislikes Austria-Hungary).
● If Austria-Hungary promises Trentin to Italy, the Central Powers’ -2
penalty is cancelled and is reduced to -1.
● If France surrenders, the D’Annunzio rule is cancelled.
Great Britain
Because of the Entente Cordiale (1904) and of the 1907 and 1911 military
agreements with France, Great Britain is “officially” a member of Entente.
Forum Hints on Diplomacy – November 2008
1. Place your Ambassadors (value 0 to 3, a 0 is a decoy) in neutral
countries to incite them to join your side. You are however limited
to a maximum of 2 Amb per country. You then have 1 Diplomatic
Action allowed each turn in one neutral country of your
choice, where you have a non-decoy Amb. Once the action is
implemented, Amb from both sides will be removed and the minor
nation’s attitude will be affected.
2. To succeed in a Diplomatic Action, try to place enough ‘good’ Amb,
hoping that the opposite side has less than you. Don’t forget also
the geopolitical bonus and penalty that may exist for the neutral
nation in favor of one side or the other.
3. You may receive new extra Amb each Interphase. The number may
depend on the country you play, but also on your “reputation”,
based on the military situation (for instance more Amb if you won
in a Grand Offensive, less if you lost, etc).
4. Think about buying new Ambassadors each Interphase! Each
major power may buy extra Amb to gain more diplomatic efficiency.
5. Some neutral countries may enter the war via diplomatic action,
such as Great Britain, Italy, the Ottoman Empires or the United
States for the major nations, or Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece,
Rumania for the minor nations. Some far away nations may also
join (e.g. Japan, Brazil, etc), mostly via historical or semi-historical
As a consequence, Great Britain may never enter the war on the side of the
Central Powers.
● Unlike the other countries, in August 1914, Great Britain’s Diplomatic
level is unknown to the Central Powers. Thus, the Central Powers will
be unsure of Great Britain’s reaction at the start of the war. The initial
British level is randomly set from 1 to 5.
● In addition, if Germany invades Belgium, Great Britain reacts. An
adjustment to the initial British level is made, between -2 and nothing
(higher probability of a sharp drop!).
NB: If France invades Belgium, a similar check is made, but the adjustment
is positive (opposite).
Also, starting with 1915, the British level automatically decreases by -1
during each Interphase start.
British Diplomacy
Even while in Peace, Great Britain has a pro-Entente diplomacy.
Depending on the Diplomatic Level, it provides Entente with 0 to 3 AMB
during each Interphase.
In August 1914, she provides 2 AMB. Entente player freely uses the British
AMB (he may even deploy them in Great Britain.
events. A neutral joins the war when its diplomatic level reaches a
critical level. In such a case, it enters the war on your side versus
the opponents’ (or vice versa). Diplomacy is no longer possible in
such a case (you may just attempt to negotiate peace).
6. Think about concentrating your Amb in minor nations of the
greatest interest or use for your side, in order to get the maximum
diplomatic impact (or reduce that of the enemy). Remember,
nothing is ever to be taken for granted.
7. Great Britain is Pro-Entente, so even if it does not join the war from
the outset, it will do so rather quickly in the early months of the
conflict. Italy and Rumania are also very “receptive” to promises on
their war goals, which you can decide to enact as a Political Action
during the Interphases.
8. There are lots of modifiers for diplomatic checks with any given
country. Obviously the decisive thing is which side has more points
worth of diplomats there, but there are also others. Speaking in
boardgame terms, number of diplomats determine the column
used on the resolution table, while other modifiers modify the dice
roll. Most of those roll modifiers, you can’t influence.You either have
them or not. Like, capture of enemy cities, Belgrade for example.
There are a few which can be given attention to, and these are the
national one.
For example: no Austrian diplomat to Romania or Italy, if possible, and
let the Russians handle Entente diplomacy in Bulgaria, if possible.
World War One: La Grande Guerre 1914-1918 93