Diplomacy Phase
The Diplomacy Phase does not take place in Turn Order, so the players negotiate their diplomatic stances with one other simultaneously until they are finished, and then the phase ends.
The Communist player doesn't want to risk losing Central Asia to the Imperialist player later in the game, nor does he want the Imperialist player to remove his Military Influence card from Central Asia on the same turn that the Communist player tries to develop Central Asia into a Level 2 Region. The Communist player therefore declares war against Imperialism, hoping to replace the Imperialist player's Military Influence card from Central Asia next turn.
The Imperialist player would prefer to remain neutral for the time being so he can bide his time in Central Asia, but since neither player can agree on a diplomatic stance, the more severe stance is adopted. The two players are now at war, which means they can both initiate Military Conflicts against each other. A War Diplomacy marker (the Hawk) is placed between Imperialism and Communism on the Diplomacy Chart.
Fearing his future actions in Central Asia will leave him vulnerable to the other players, the Communist player offers terms of peace to the other three players. The Fascist and Islamic Fundmentalist players prefer to remain neutral for the time being (neutrality is more severe than peace, so their diplomatic stances will remain unchanged). However, the Capitalist player agrees, so a Peace Diplomacy marker (the Dove) is placed between Capitalism and Communism on the Diplomacy Chart. For the time being, these Ideologies will only be able to engage each other in Cultural Conflicts (not Military or Economic).
None of the other players wish to change their diplomatic stances at this time, so the phase ends with the Diplomacy Chart looking like this:
© 2003 Z-Man Games, Inc. All rights reserved.
Game Design © 2003 Andrew J. Parks
Illustrations © 2003 C. James Parks