In
Diplomacy, an
Unwanted Convoy is a
tactic in which a
third party can heavily disrupt a
stalemate. Frequently, in a stalemate situation, two adjacent enemies will have two armies continuously attempt to move into each others' provinces. This forces each of them to keep the army in place. The orders for this might look like:
- GERMAN A Kie -> Den
- RUSSIAN F Den -> Kie
Since the rules of
Diplomacy prohibit two units moving through each other, these moves will
bounce.
Add in an
English fleet:
- GERMAN A Kie -> Den
- RUSSIAN F Den -> Kie
- ENGLISH F HEL C GERMAN A Kie -> Den
Now the German and Russian units can change places, because of the presence of the
unwanted convoy. Done at the correct time, this can nicely disrupt a
budding alliance.
The
Unwanted Convoy tactic nicely demonstrates the
First Law of Battle. Any alliance which is being built from a
mutual agression pact is very susceptible to
hostile third party tweaking.