Is Diplomacy fun for less than 7 players?

[John Smith]

I am thinking of buying Avalon Hill's Diplomacy, but I know that I can't get seven players together very often, so what I want to know, is if it is fun to play Diplomacy with for example 5 players.

The one time I've tried the game, we were 5 players; it was very fun, but all but one of us were new to the game, so I don't know if the game gets unfair, when some countries are taken out of play.

 

[Toasty]

The game board includes special rules for less than 7 players in the manual.

It's enjoyable still, but 7 players is always the most fun and balanced.

 

[ambuel]

I must totally agree with toasty. It just doesn't have the same quality. Six isn't bad. If you play with less than seven, think of it as sharpening your skills. That would be my personal opinion.

 

[Dreadnought]

You have to play with at least five people, or the game isn't really fun...

 

[TrailblazingScot]

I wouldn't play diplomacy with less than 7 people having done it in the past. It is less interesting, especially as some powers will gain so much from the non-existant players.

 

[Huzzamaster]

With less than 6 there tends to be more axis powers vs. allied powers, and strong alliances against the others. It gets very annoying by the end of the game. I need to have a game with 7 sometime.

 

[Keirador]

No Axis powers in this time period. . . Central Powers.