Variant Rules

PLEASE BE SURE TO READ THESE RULES, AS THEY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN STANDARD DIP.

1) When not stated, the variant uses all the standard Diplomacy rules.

2) Chaos Builds - The variant uses Chaos build rules, which means that you can build in any empty SC that you own.

3) Movement around Africa - A fleet can move directly between the Atlantic Ocean (ATL) and the South Arabian Sea. Because of the long distance involved, this fleet will arrive with only half-strength (i.e. an attack power of 0.5, instead of the usual 1.0). Practically speaking, with the following order set:

F Atlantic Ocean to South Arabian Sea
F Bombay to South Arabian Sea

The move from Bombay would succeed, because 1.0 > 0.5. With support (e.g. from F North Arabian Sea), the move from Atlantic Ocean could succeed (1.5 > 1.0).

4) Convert Rule - During the adjustment phase, each power can disband one unit in a home SC, and build another unit in the same SC. This can only be done once each year. In effect, this means you can exchange one army for a fleet, or vice versa, as long as it is in a home SC. If Britain wanted to convert F Hindustan into an army, Britain would write "Convert A Hindustan" as the order.

5) Diplomacy Points - The variant uses Diplomacy Point (DP) rules. Please see the Ambition and Empire variant rules (http://www.diplom.org/Online/variants/aerules060824.pdf, start at the bottom of page 8) for a full explanation. There are two differences between the use of DP rules in the two variants. In the 1815 variant, each power can have a maximum of 4 DPs (instead of 3 DPs in A&E). Also, 1815 does not have any special exceptions to the DP rule (such as the Religious Rule in A&E).

6) Red Arrows - An army or fleet can move directly between any two provinces connected by a red arrow, including Ireland & Scotland, Spain & Morocco, Corsica and Sardinia, and Abyssinia & Muscat/Oman/Aden. A unit can also support actions in the province connected by the red arrow, including supporting defense of a unit in that province or supporting an attack on that province.

However, if there is a fleet in the intervening body of water (e.g. Irish Sea between Scotland and Ireland), then that fleet can block any orders across the red arrow. To do so, the intervening fleet must not move, and the player must indicate that they intend to block the order. This secret order will not be revealed (similar to Diplomacy Points orders), unless an order is actually blocked across the red arrow. If the intervening fleet is dislodged, then the order across the red arrow is not blocked. The intervening fleet can also support the movement of a unit across the red arrow, without the need to convoy the unit.

The default assumption is that orders are allowed across the red arrow. The player owning the intervening fleet must specifically deny permission.

Examples:

Example 1
British A Scotland -> Ireland
French F Irish Sea S F English Channel -> East Atlantic Ocean
France: A Scotland does not have permission across the red arrow
Result: The movement of the British army is invalid (denied permission by French F Irish Sea). Note that the intervening fleet can either hold or support.

Example 2
British A Scotland H
French F Irish Sea H
France: A Scotland does not have permission across the red arrow
Result: It is never revealed that France denied permission across the red arrow

Example 3
British A Scotland -> Ireland
British F London -> East Atlantic Ocean
French F Irish Sea -> East Atlantic Ocean
France: A Scotland does not have permission across the red arrow
Result: The two fleets bounce in East Atlantic Ocean. A Scotland to Ireland succeeds. It is revealed that France intended to block the move, although this is invalid, because the intervening fleet (French F Irish Sea) attempted to move.

Example 4
Swedish F Irish Sea S A Scotland -> Ireland
British A Scotland -> Ireland
French F Ireland H
Result: The British attack succeeds. Permission was not blocked across the arrow by the friendly Swedish fleet. The intervening fleet has the capability of supporting a movement across the arrow, without convoying the unit. This same attack would have worked with F Scotland as well.

Example 5
British A Scotland -> Ireland
British F London -> Irish Sea
British F Liverpool support F London -> Irish Sea
French F Irish Sea H
France: A Scotland does not have permission across the red arrow
Result: The French fleet in Irish Sea is dislodged. Therefore, the fleet cannot deny permission across the red arrow, and A Scotland to Ireland succeeds. It is revealed that France intended to block the move.

Example 6
British A Scotland -> Ireland
British F North Atlantic Ocean S A Scotland -> Ireland
British F London -> Irish Sea
British F Liverpool support F London -> Irish Sea
French F Irish Sea S F Ireland
French F Ireland S F Irish Sea H
France: A Scotland does not have permission across the red arrow
Result: This is the most complicated scenario, because it involves a potential paradox. If the French fleet in Irish Sea is dislodged first, then the British army in Scotland can cut the support of French F Irish Sea, and both British attacks succeed. If British A Scotland is denied permission first, then the attack on Ireland is invalid, and the attack on Irish Sea bounces.
I will use the second scenario. First, the order across the arrow is considered invalid. Then, the GM checks to see if the intervening fleet is dislodged. If it is dislodged, then orders across the arrow are now valid.

7) There are 63 supply centers. 25 SCs are required for victory. The game continues until one power is alone in first place with 25+ SCs.

8) The game can be ended in 3 ways: solo victory, draw including all survivors (DIAS), or a draw not including all survivors. A DIAS requires the approval of all surviving players. A draw not including all survivors can be declared by a vote in which the "Yes" votes control 50 or more SCs.