Diplomacy is Not an Option is a Real Time Strategy & Base Building game that reinvents survival RTS

Playing Diplomacy is Not an option made me question not just my own preferences and likes when it comes to real time strategy games with base building, but also the definition of RTS games in general. Because this games doesn't have some core RTS elements and changes many others while still feeling like a great RTS to play.

Chapters
0:00 Questioning RTS elements?
0:40 Learning to enjoy such gameplay
1:23 What is the worst that could happen?
2:07 What got me hooked?
2:58 Updates and new content
4:00 This is not a review!
4:56 Gameplay loop & other games
5:58 Is this an RTS game?
7:06 Huge armies & Sandbox
8:12 Spells!
8:59 Research & Game modes
10:05 Different difficulty, different world
10:42 Conclusion

From the first time I played it I got hooked. I am still not sure is it the amazing combination of procedurally generated maps and detailed base building in the medieval world, the way resources collection force you to expand your kingdom and make yourself an even bigger target with stretched defenses or the quirky humor and watching the helpless enemy units flail about as they get launched into the air when hit by boulders from catapults or trebuchets.

Now I did mention that this kind of gameplay made me rethink the definition of Real time strategy games, well it is more about what I personally consider to be an RTS game. Which put in the simplest way possible is: collect resources, build a base, recruit units, send them out to fight until you destroy the enemy base. But in this game… There is no enemy base.

And I don’t go to attack the enemy I defend from that enemy, with base building turned to 11 with all the varieties of walls, towers and newly added traps and watch towers. Yes, ok there is the part where you can clean the map from enemy camps so you are attacking for a bit, but that is only a little while and ultimately there are no more static enemies on the map. They all come from off map. So that is why this and other similar games to it break one of my, and probably your own, tenements of RTS game design. And let's not forget the time controls. Playable pause is not exactly a standard real time strategy game element.
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In the RTS-game “Diplomacy is Not an Option” you will become a medieval feudal lord and you must constantly make hundreds of decisions a day related to city management and economic development. Hordes of bloodlusted enemies, swarms of scary monsters and crowds of rebellious peasants can attack at any second!

War-time laws
The task is to take control under foreign land, obtain its treasures in order to replenish the king's coffer. Though they forgot to warn that the natives won't be glad to see you.

Physical laws
Every gun has its certain range, and medieval shells fly by an arc trajectory.
Arrows do not pierce stone walls. On the contrary, arrows bounce off the walls.
Archers on the towers have blind spots. Closed gates can become an obstacle not only for the enemy, but also for your retreating units.

Social laws
Surviving hostile environments is an important part of the gameplay. Even the most loyal of your citizens tend to die from time to time. From various causes, such as illness, old age, depression, or being seriously hurt on the battlefield.

Economical laws
Economic processes in "Diplomacy is Not an Option" are visible. You will see how walls are being built stone by stone. Or how a fallen tree is cut into boards, from which the city will than be raised.

Magical laws
Every fallen warrior and every lumberjack who died from overstrain has the risk to join the enemy forces. Also the dead are very wayward.

Life laws
From the very first task, you will be given the entire available arsenal, and all the in-game mechanics will be unlocked. It depends on you which strategy to choose for your city to survive and prosper. Knowledge of the all listed laws will help you to complete different missions with various ultimate goals and types of enemies.

#DiplomacyisNotanOption#Gameplay#RTS

[mausolus]

And you got me hooked on this one. Seems definetely very turtler-friendly (which is more than I can say about most modern RTS games), and the huge array of options sounds great. While I'm not that much fan of medieval-fantasy settings (if devs would realease some "skins" for your kingdom, just cosmetics, I'll take that, hell, make it paid DLC and they get my money), I do like some of the building have more "mediterranean" vibe. I already mentioned wishfull thinking for "cultural skins", and also new enviroments (swamps, jungles, deserts?) would be nice thing to add in future, but I will certainly keep this game under my watch from now on. Thank you!

[JohnMiller-zrpl]

I remembered seeing splattercatgaming playing this but I don remember all of this, it looks really cool!

[mazyar]

I think a mod like this game would be great in Stronghold series

[rumatadestora]

No, I don't agree this is a real RTS. Elements, maybe, but as a whole it's a TD game. If you like hardcore RTS, you can try Ground Control 2 if you haven't already

[tupperdoseplastique]

I've skipped this one because I have their billions and they looked to similar for me. Well for their billions my first play attempt was awesome I progressed till I had every building and unlocked almost every unit than my game collapsed. Now the unpleasant part. I couldn't repeat it. The next ten play throughs I made mistakes in the early game and everything collapsed. That was the moment when I quit 😅

[diego]

Single player rts of wave defense are very fun, I don't like the graphics of diplomacy is an option but Conan and age of darkness, they offer many hours of game play, also last stand mode from dow2 ( if you haven't tried you must)
I will try this one for sure before stronghold remaster

[TheRealXartaX]

I did play this game but I didn't like it that much compared to other games in the genre like they are billions and age of darkness.

I think where the game HAS potential to be unique, is to focus more on resources and production chains (like stronghold/anno/settlers). But afaik they've yet to do that (nor do I know if they have any plans to do so).

And it's definitely real time strategy. I think old RPG's came up with a good term: RTwP, Real Time with Pause.

[sceptique]

Dommage que ce soit juste un tower défense☹️