Game Rules

Contents

Introduction

1.)The Game Basics
- Forum Based
- Game Speed
- Private Forum
- Announcements and Game News
- Nation Requests
- News Room
- IC/OOC
- Absence/Inactivity
- Mod Discretion

2.)About Your State/Country/Nation/Government
Private Forum
- What it Contains
- How it Works
World Factbook
- How it works
- National Moods

3.)Orders
Domestic
International
- Dealing with Non-Player Controlled (NPC) Governments
Military
- Military Lists
- Military Miscellanea
Intelligence
- Intelligence Gathering and Analysis
- Covert Action
- Counter Intelligence and Security
- Reform and Bureaucracy
Research and Technology
Elections

4.)A Note on Economics

5.)Diplomacy
Leaders Discussions
Conferences and Summits
Treaties and International Agreements
- Creating New Treaties
UN, Global, and Regional Organisations

6.)The Newsroom
World News
National and Other News
- Be Aware
- Non Traditional Media
National Press Rooms

7.)Mod Team

Introduction

Global Diplomacy is a forum based geopolitical simulation game. Global Diplomacy aims to place its players in the shoes of global governments, allowing them to roleplay their decisions over an accelerated timeframe. Players submit orders, which are then processed by the mod team, with the results posted in the International News. Players may also discuss events in various international organisations and the United Nations, give their reaction to events in National News and Other News, or pose as a journalist and ask questions of a foreign government in the National Press Rooms. Although allowing players to engage in military conflict, Global Diplomacy is not a wargame and should not be played as such. Global Diplomacy has a sharp focus on realism.

Domestic

A domestic order (or DPOL order) is an order posted in your nation forum, with the link posted in the Domestic Orders sub-forum. Domestic orders are focussed on domestic issues such as economics and domestic politics, and it is also the place you conduct yourself with your national legislatures.

Domestic order should be named "[DPOL] Name of Order Goes Here" in your private forum for ease of use.

You should provide as many details as possible in your order, including links to any outside sources you deem appropriate.

All orders should try to follow the following general format:

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Name of Project, Plan, Reform etc.

Brief Description: Briefly outlining basic information (i.e. educational reforms aimed at providing greater accountability to schools.)

The Order Itself: Providing all the necessary details, desired outcomes (if applicable) and all information that you wish to provide.

Article: We also ask players to write a brief news article about their order where this is appropriate (i.e. when the order is not covert) this will be edited by moderators, so need not be too detailed, but will help us to process orders as fast as possible.

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An example of a domestic order can be found HERE.

International

An international order (or IPOL order) is an order posted in your nation forum, with the link posted in the International Orders sub-forum. IPOL orders can be some of the most important orders a player can make within the game. These are orders in which players undertake clear political actions, both overt and (in some cases) covert. They can be actions undertaken unilaterally or multilaterally. They range from such activities as trade embargoes and embassy closure to state visits, speeches (on international issues), trade deals and expanding formal political relations.

International orders should be named "[IPOL] Name of Order Goes Here" in your private forum for ease of use.

You should provide as many details as possible in your order, including links to any outside sources you deem appropriate.

All orders should try to follow the following general format, and contain the following information required of them:

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Name of Order: Players should try to explain the type of order this is going to be here (i.e. "Trade embargo against nation X" or "Joint statement upon scenario X to be issued with nation Y").

Brief Description: This should outline briefly what you aim to achieve, and if this is an order to be conducted in conjunction with other nations (player OR mod controlled) these should be listed here. (Note: any player controlled nations with which you are issuing a joint order must make corresponding orders also.)

The Order Itself: This will detail the order in full. This section should contain all relevant information about your order including: Motivation/Justification (why you think your nation should do this), brief history of the situation (if applicable, may be merged with motivation), a detailed description of either your actions (or if this is some form of press release or similar then a copy of the document you aim to release/statement you are giving), your desired outcomes.

Article: We also ask players to write a brief news article about their order where this is appropriate (i.e. when the order is not covert) this will be edited by moderators, so need not be too detailed, but will help us to process orders as fast as possible.

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An example of an international order can be found HERE.

- Dealing with Non-Player Controlled (NPC) Nations

For any kind of formal agreements or other diplomatic dealings with NPC nations players should note that IPOL orders must be submitted in order for moderators to decide upon the response of NPC nations. (This also goes for any Domestic, Military, Intelligence or Technology orders that require NPC co-operation). Moderators will then decide upon the course of action to be taken by such NPC nations. NPC responses/co-operation will be determined based upon realism as well as the level of your nations "International Popularity" rating.

Military

A military order (or MILI order) is an order posted in your nation forum, with the link posted in the Military Orders sub-forum. While the military aspect of Global Diplomacy is an important and vital part of the game, we stress that it is not the be-all and end-all of game play, nor need it be a particularly dominant or overruling part of a players approach to the game. After all: "We the peoples of the United Nations determined: to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind."

Military orders should be named "[MILI] Name of Order Goes Here" in your private forum for ease of use.

Military orders will generally follow one of two formats. Operational orders which are orders written to initiate military operations (war games, force deployment, conflicts etc.) and reform/bureaucracy orders dealing with other matters (reforms,
defence reviews, procurement, arms reductions etc.)

All operational orders should try to follow the following general format, and contain the following information required of them:

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Operation Name: Name of your Operation, type of operation can also be specified.

Situation: The situation/context surrounding your order, your reasons for action.

Units: Details of all the units involved in your operation here. Units can be grouped into formations for ease.

Operational Plan: Details of how your plan should proceed. Pictures/maps detailing your actions can be especial useful here.

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All reform/bureaucracy/non-operational orders should try to follow the following general format, and contain the following information required of them:

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Name of Order: Players should try to explain the type of order this is going to be here (i.e. Procurement, military review etc.).

Brief Description: This should outline briefly what you aim to achieve, and if this is an order to be conducted in conjunction with other nations (player OR mod controlled) these should be listed here. (Note: any player controlled nations
with which you are issuing a joint order must make corresponding orders also.)

The Order Itself: This will detail the order in full. This section should contain all relevant information about your order including: Motivation/Justification (why you think your nation should do this), brief history of the situation (if applicable, may be merged with motivation), a detailed description of either your actions (or if this is some form of press release or similar then a copy of the document you aim to release/statement you are giving), your desired outcomes. Also please add as much other detail as possible, the better your order the better we can process it, the better your arguments also the better we can assess them, back up any of your assertions with links/research if possible.

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- Military Lists

For most players their first (and sometimes only) engagement with the military aspect of Global Diplomacy will be the Military Information thread in their national forums. The thread will contain a "military list" for your nation, listing units by
type.

These military lists are not guaranteed to be entirely accurate and this fact is recognised by moderators. Lists will become out of date over time, or through the release of more information in open sources, in some cases these lists may even be "best guesses" of a nations "Hard Power". To account for this moderators will be more than happy to amend these lists for you provided that you contact us about it and site the changes you require making to your list and back these requests up with sources. Moderators will then evaluate your request and process it accordingly.

Military Units are divided into broad categories’ of unit type (i.e. Infantry, Main Battle Tanks, Self Propelled SAM). These are decided based upon the units roll in real life.

Military lists will change over time as you sell and purchase units. Military losses will also be edited into your military list. However, infantry losses (Reserves, Infantry, Amphibious Infantry, Para-Troopers, Special Forces and Medics) will only
result in changes to your military list if whole units have been destroyed/surrendered or otherwise rendered militarily non-functional. So, to use game examples, if eight of your infantry have been killed in a fire fight in Afghanistan, no units will be removed from your military list. However, if during a hypothetical Iran-Iraq war, the Iraqi army was facing mass desertion from units in the Shiite south, this will likely be factored into your military list. Mod judgement and discretion will be applied in deciding what infantry losses will be applied.

- Military Miscellanea

Buying/Selling Units
Whenever a player wishes to buy units (this includes training the people to run them) the cost of each unit will reflect the cost of those units in real life. Players should find a source detailing unit costs and provide a link to this in their order.

When buying from another player both players must submit an order (one to buy the unit, the other to sell it). Players may agree their own unit prices.

If buying from a NPC players should submit an order detailing their requirements, mods will then respond with a price quote. Likewise when selling units players should list the units they wish to sell, moderators will then submit offers from NPC's.

These rules also apply to the creation of military bases and installations.

Unit Running Costs.
Armed Forces cost money to run. Your starting forces are assumed to be covered by your current government spending. Changes to your size, training, equipment etc will cause the running costs to change, either reducing or increasing your government spending. Mods will decide these costs or savings and inform you of them.

Conducting military operations will also cost money. If these are ongoing operations this will be represented as an annual cost. Short term operations will be represented as a one-off cost. Operations conducted on your own territory are considered to be free for the purposes of the game.

Intelligence

An intelligence order (or INTEL order) is an order posted in your nation forum, with the link posted in the Intelligence Orders sub-forum. Intelligence orders deal with the covert and clandestine apparatus of your state. The intelligence services of your nation can be both greatly rewarding and (at times) hugely risky in their pay offs. It is a component within your diplomatic arsenal which should not be ignored but at the same time should be used wisely.

Generally these orders will fall into one (or possibly more) of four categories; Intelligence Gathering and Analysis, Covert Action, Counter Intelligence and Security, Reform and Bureaucracy. (These categories of order will be dealt with in more detail later.) Players are both their nations leadership (giving the tasking) and the nations senior civil service/intelligence officers who plan and run intelligence operations and orders, orders should reflect this.

Additionally each nation will be provided with a pinned topic in their national forum entitled "Intelligence Reports" (or something to that effect). This topic will be the centralised repository for any additional (i.e. unasked for) intelligence you receive. This could be a tip off about; adversaries military manoeuvres, the diplomatic dealings of allies, danger to a head of state from a sub state actor or even notice of foreign intelligence activity upon your territory. This information will not provide much detail (unless you initiate a subsequent order about it) but will inform you an important situation, one that moderators feel your nation should and would have monitored with its intelligence community. (Note: only those nations in possession of some form of intelligence service or intelligence community will receive these reports.)

Intelligence orders will receive a more detailed response from moderators, but will reflect the quality of the order written, and the capabilities of your nation (no satellite surveillance and analysis from San Marino please.)

Intelligence orders should be named "[INTEL] Name of Order Goes Here" in your private forum for ease of use.

All orders should try to follow the following general format, and contain the following information required of them:

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Name of Project, Plan, Plot, Reform etc.

Brief Description: Briefly outlining basic information (i.e. Covert Action against Magicland.)

The Order Itself: Providing all the necessary details, desired outcomes (if applicable) and all information that you wish to provide.

An example of an intelligence order can be found here[link].

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Intelligence Gathering and Analysis

This is the primary mission of most intelligence organisations and divisions, wherever they be in the world. Whether it be HUMINT, IMINT, SIGINT, TECHINT, OSINT (or any of the plethora of "INTs") this order type will attempt to find out designated information or types of information about a designated target or group of targets. Orders should detail both the information or type(s) of information required, the target(s) of the order and the method(s) by which this is to be obtained. The more detail players provide with an order the better idea the intelligence mod will receive of how it will proceed (and the better your order can be processed) so as much as possible should be given. These types of orders are generally lower risk than their clandestine cousins in Covert Action and Counter Intelligence, but are the staple of any organisation and any world leader.

Covert Action

To use the American terminology for this type of order. Covert Action, Special Political Action, Aktivnye Meropriiatiia, whichever term of art your nation wishes to use, these operations are conducted with this kind of order. Covert Action orders cover a range of activities, stretching from the relatively low risk: benign propaganda within a foreign nation, protection of friendly leaders or low level funding of friendly political groups. To the high risk threshold activities: Political assassination, coup d'etat, arms supplies or large scale funding of political groups or parties. These operations are most always more risky than the other day to day operations of your intelligence community, however they do offer the primary means by which your covert apparatus can actively shape the global political landscape. Orders should provide details of the target(s), type of action(s) to be taken, how the action(s) will work/are planned to operate, the desired outcome(s) of the action(s) and any other relative detail (including, but not limited too; funding, security, deniability etc.) as with all orders the more detail provided the better it can be processed by mods.

Counter Intelligence and Security

Your intelligence services are both the sword and the shield. These are orders designed specifically to target or hamper an adversary's intelligence apparatus or to deal with any clandestine threats to your nation. Such activities range from, but are not limited to, surveillance of your own population, to routine checks on foreign embassy staff, to full scale mole-hunts or to the subtle art of deception and deceiving an opponent's intelligence and leadership. The operations can be conducted at home and abroad and the risk of operations can vary greatly depending on their aim(s), conduct and who is conducting them. Orders should again be as detailed as possible showing both the information or type(s) of information required (or the operation(s) to be undertaken), the target(s) of the order and the method(s) by which this is to be prosecuted. Again the more detail the better, so do you research on this as both mods and players are bound to have a more enjoyable experience, and good orders get processed better (and are a pleasure to process, getting them processed first). Any information you can add on your order can only help you.

Reform and Bureaucracy

These order types are those that may not be intelligence in themselves but deal with the intelligence services. These can be enquiries or reports on your intelligence apparatus, the establishing of intelligence agencies, expansion of capabilities, legal reforms and laws about what your intelligence agency(ies) can and cannot do, increases (one off or annual) in funding, basically any number of things, but things that can be essential to the smooth running of your nation, to your capabilities and to you intelligence service(s). These can have a major effect on how your other intelligence orders are processed, but again they should contain as much detail as possible and be well thought through and coherent. These orders are vital also for designating and/or changing your intelligence targets and requirements, they can have a direct impact on your "intelligence reports" forum. It can be used to:

• Alter your "intelligence priorities", so that you will recieve more or less "intelligence report" briefs about current goings on or about areas which the mods currently do not inform you of.
  
• Alter the quality of you larger intelligence order responses, or to allow you intelligence machinery to engage in new forms of intelligence and espionage.
  

Finally it should be noted that moderators will process all intelligence orders in character, this can have a dramatic effect upon the responses you receive, and should be noted by players, of course these "in character" responses will be shaped by and subject to the action and the orders of the player.

Research and Technology

A research order (or TECH order) is an order posted in your nation forum, with the link posted in the Research Orders sub-forum. Research is an active, ongoing, diligent, and systematic process of inquiry aimed at discovering. It includes every aspect of modern day research and new technology you can think of.

Research orders should be named "[TECH] Name of Order Goes Here" in your private forum for ease of use.

You should provide as many details as possible in your order, including links to any outside sources you deem appropriate.


All orders should try to follow the following general format, and contain the following information required of them:

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Name of Project.

Brief Description: Briefly outlining basic information (i.e. research grants to be provided for development of algae fuel cells.)

The Order Itself: Providing all the necessary details, desired outcomes (if applicable) and all information that you wish to provide.

Money: What is to be invested into the research of the project, how to use the money etc.

Article: We also ask players to write a brief news article about their order where this is appropriate (i.e. when the order is not covert) this will be edited by moderators, so need not be too detailed, but will help us to process orders as fast as possible.

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An example of a research order can be found HERE.

Poor research orders or unfeasable projects are likely to fail, however this will not become clear to you until it is too late! So make your orders worthwhile! Moderators will respond to an order with the effects and a time scale (e.g. 12 months) after which you will need to submit a follow up link, to which moderators will reply with the results of your enquiry. Both your initial order AND the follow up may carry effects for your nation.

Your Friendly Moderating Team is:

Head Mod: Phlegm Clem
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