u/trash_panda_24

EDIT: The latest version can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/diplomacy/s/6CV7rjH697

Hello again!

Thank you for your suggestions on my previous post: https://www.reddit.com/r/diplomacy/s/0W422ZNOiv I have incorporated some of the ideas and made a few extra options. I am considering suggestions such as Andorra and reworking French tiles so that PAR can go BEL in turn 1 too.

Changes in all maps:

1. LUX added
2. LEV united
3. PIE SC moved back to VEN to give France a bit of breathing room (in most maps)

Variants:

1. ALG 4th French SC (fleet) (here CAT should probably be a fleet too and maybe AND should connect to MAR directly? so France doesn't run away with Africa)
2. Switzerland added (only accessible from MAR or BUR for France)
3. France starts with 4 SC in Europe (MAR is a fleet) (this might lead to a more turtly France, but it could be an interesting dynamic)
4. Same thing with no Pyrenees (this makes Spain more vulnerable, in exchange CAT could be a fleet, with the tradeoff of less defense against France and more SC options in N-Africa?)
5. Same thing, but Morocco no longer SC (this means Spain has less neutrals to choose from, I'm also considering connecting MAR to ALG with 1 sea tile, so Spain is only guaranteed Portugal)

I'd love to hear if you think France and Spain are more balanced here or not. Which variant do you prefer? Do these delay the death of France or make it too strong?

EDIT 2: The latest version can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/diplomacy/s/6CV7rjH697

EDIT 1: Some suggestions incorporated here: https://www.reddit.com/r/diplomacy/s/nBLIpd1qZR

Hey people!

Recently me and some friends were in a predicament of having 8 players. I found a 5 year old Spanish Variant here: https://www.reddit.com/r/diplomacy/s/Vzfko7wDq9 which I have reworked a bit for balance. Spain has army CAT, army MAD and fleet AND to start. If France controls MAR, they are allowed to build fleets there instead of ORL, but not armies.

List of changes:

1. Connect MAO to Ireland (for Anglo-Spanish animosity)
2. Bay of Biscay (for French safety and better Anglo-Spanish animosity)
3. Pyrenees Impassable between CAT and GAS (for slower Spanish-French interaction, otherwise GAS is a monster backstab)
4. Sahara (for better Italy, Spain and Turkey interactions in N-Africa)
5. Orleans variant to shield France a bit and create diplomatic tension in MAR
6. Venice to Piedmont (for more Italy, France and Spain interactions)
7. EDI connects to NAO (so England can contest Ireland sooner)
8. ION connects to EGY (for Italian-Turkish interactions)

What are your thoughts? Do you think these changes improve the Spanish variant for 8 players?