In the last couple games I've been in, I think I've found the Diplomat to be (at least in my games) the most criminally underrated specialist in the game. The big thing is they turn two of the more "meh" specialists in the game - Assassins and Saboteurs - into the most hilariously obnoxious resources around. The game before the one I'm in now had me with a single outpost remaining, and they couldn't eliminate me before the game would end because I had a Diplomat, two Assassins, and four Sab's. The other crazy thing about them I never knew (and I'm not sure if this is a bug or working as intended because it's ridiculous) is they are totally uncapturable, as are any specialists at their outpost. I'm currently bearing down on my opponent's Queen, and according to the projection she'll just get away along with the other six specialists at the outpost because the Diplomat will immediately release them during the combat phase. Is it just me or is that insane? Not game-breaking the way the stackable specialists can be, but definitely worth using in my book.

In a world with admirals, kings, and tycoons (I hope i dont have to say how good those are) a get out of jail free card is nice to have. I do agree with you, the diplomat is underrated when coupled with its own minions.

I remember I used to never use diplomats. Then I came to the realisetaion that they were pretty good, and use them often in games. However, I've also found that they are best used for defense, and not that good on attack (unless generals are at play, then diplos are amazing)

There is no greater feeling than stacking a princess with a diplomat. I would always get my spec back and my enemy never saw it coming because I hid my diplomat out of their sonar range.

Although, I never really hire diplomats unless I'm already planning to go generals or need defense. You lose a lot of time with your specialist traveling to your opponents base and back. Personally, if I'm going assassin or saboteur, I prefer pirate over diplomat. A pirate makes your unit turn around mid transit instead of having to arrive at a base. Additionally, pirates have all sorts of other tricks that diplomats lack.

I can safely say that a diplomat is my least hired spec. I take infiltrators before diplos. Just never saw the point.

BUT the diplo has in my opinion the best byline in their hire description. "Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy"...might be the greatest thing ever written.

thrackerzod wrote:they are totally uncapturable

If you capture the outpost they retreat to, before they get there, aren't they caught for good ?

Overall, I agree that the Diplomat makes for beautiful plays. It's the slowness of the back-and-forth trips that hinders them. There could be an option that a diplomatic release goes at 2/3/4 times the normal speed !

Diplomats rock.

Use a speed spec with your assassin/sab, and with a 1d right after it. When the speed spec/sab hits and returns, it will run over the incoming 1d; bringing it back fast. Or pair it with a navigator and a string of 1d's for outpost "pounding". Doesn't work on experienced players.

War story involving a diplomat: i was being attacked by brown with only two kings, but I'd had unfavourable hires for dealing with such. I had a 150d sub headed at me (needing ~250d to defeat it) which I did not want to spare. So with a diplomat off screen, I smuggled my queen and an inspector to the generator he was attacking. It already had a security chief so all up I had 60 shields. (Another player loaned me a security chief. Thanks beige!) Then in a moment of insanity and "huge balls" (quote from another player) I *left* my Queen, smuggler, security chief to absorb browns 150d double king attack.

I did not have a princess.

Brown hit eating 60 shields, and the diplomat released my queen/smuggler/security chief flew to the nearest outpost. The inspector returned on its own speed. Fortunately brown had invested so much in his kings he had no speed. He had a choice: repeat the process, or give up.

This smashed his attack and suddenly nobody was threatened of his two kings and he was devoured. But browns demise was all made possible thanks to a humble diplomat.


Thanks for reading. Lastly before you all start hiring diplomats, when you have an attack paired with a hypnotist coming at you, hide yo wife, hide yo specialists, hide yo husbands coz no diplomat is going to save yo ass!