Strategic Notes
These notes are provided both as an insight to the designer's intentions, but also as an eye-openner to new players. The knowledge and tips are provided in the belief that the more information that is shared with all players, the more balanced the game will become. Players are encouraged to experiment with their own strategies, as suggestions below will surely breed counter-strategies. Players are also forewarned to abandon any preconceived notions they may bring from European Diplomacy experience: keep in mind that because the game is a 6 player game and not a 7 player game, the end game strategy starts much sooner.

Scroll down, or click on a flag to review the strategy notes for the North American powers.

Additionally, you may want to review an interesting article by George Glass on "Geography and Destiny" and how it applies to War in North America.

United States of America
The United States of America is the most powerful nation in North America and should be played by an aggressive personality who intends to maintain that position of dominance. The doctrine of "speaking softly, but carrying a big stick" holds as much truth in 1860 as it will hold in later years. The Union player should rely on his terrible swift sword, and the threat of that sword. The Union starts with 4 home centers strung awkwardly from east to west between the Canadians and Confederates.  The Union player must take and hold Missouri to prevent any eastward progression by the Indians or Texans.

It is almost always in the Union player’s best interests to put down the southern rebellion as soon as possible, as the Union player will be in a clumsy position---difficult to defend---unless the Union holds Richmond.  Should the Union player choose to make peace with the CSA, his best move is usually a merciless attack against the Dominion of Canada.  If the Union does not move swiftly either to the North, or to the South, the USA will probably lose.

The Union player must avoid picking a fight with both the CSA and the Canadians. It is unlikely that the USA can survive the onslaught should these powers attack simultaneously.  Fighting Indians before either the CSA or Canadians have been domesticated is usually a mistake. Finally, the Union player who attacks on three fronts at the same time is a fool. 

The Union’s best early ally is Mexico, and the Union should encourage any Mexican fleet builds in the Atlantic theater, as this severely limits the Confederate growth and defensive potential.  The Union should encourage the Canadians to go West, as this will help limit Indian and Mexican growth, but hopefully, keep the Canadians out of Wisconsin and worse yet, the Great Lakes.

The USA should be wary of peace between the Indians and the Texans or CSA as that usually means an attack on Misouri is forthcoming. The Union player might consider helping Texas into Kansas. This keeps the sneaky little Texan busy, helps to erode a Confederate-Texan alliance and takes care of the Union's Indian troubles for many years. If the Union player is of a particularly deviant sort, he can help Texas into Kansas, but at the same time help the Indians into Wisconsin. This will likely lead to war between Texas and the Indians, and allow the Union to concentrate on the CSA while the others squabble for defensible positions. On the downside, if the Texans and Indians can manage to trust each other, the Union will have created a fearsome mess: an angry Indian, a hostile Canadian, a strong Texan and an ever-present Confederate threat!

Confederate States of America
Johnny Reb’s first concern is the Union.  Through diplomacy or force of arms, the CSA must get the Union to acknowledge Confederate sovereignty as soon as possible.  If played wisely the Confederates can stall northern aggression, but offense against the Union is almost hopeless unless the Union commits a grave tactical error, or if the CSA has help from another power.  The difficulty is that Southern expansion is to the South, while the Confederates must defend north.  The successful Confederate player will defend against the Union but carefully balance this with a southern expansion.

The CSA should do everything diplomatically possible to prevent the US from mobilizing Wisconsin in 1860. If the US gets Wisconsin, Missouri and New York in the first year, that will mean 3 builds for the largest nation in North America. Ole Jeff Davis' first priority should be to wake other nations to the potential power and might of the United States of America. The US is a Confederate problem first, but other players should realize that the Confederacy is their first best protection against American Imperialism in North America.

Tennessee is a key Confederate state, because if the Union chooses to challenge the southern states’ rights of secession, the Confederates will have a hard time keeping a home center unoccupied (and thus capable of building) if the Union controls the border state of Tennessee. Because Tennessee borders all three of the Confederate home centers, Tennessee is easy to support and great for providing support.  

Other than the USA, virtually every other power is a potential ally to the Confederates, though the Mexican alliance can be very dicey due to the nature of the Gulf of Mexico and possible overlapping ambitions in the Caribbean. The Confederates should not completely discourage Mexican naval operations, as they are an excellent counter to prevent Canadian dreams of North American domination. Texas and the Indians are both good allies for the Confederates, and the wise Confederate diplomat will carefully play these two powers against each other, or in the best of all scenarios unite these two against the Union.

Dominion of Canada
The Canadian can build a tremendous empire, if he very quietly acquires the Pacific Northwest and Newfoundland.  However, to do this the Canadian player needs peace with the Union and relative peace with the Indians.  The Union player will likely encourage an alliance with the Canadian, but be warned that if the Canadian player allows the Union to dispatch with the Confederacy, the Canadian player will share a long and dangerous border with a powerful nation convinced of its own Manifest Destiny.  Canada wants an alliance with the USA, but only so long as the USA is busy with the CSA.

A Canadian invasion of the Union is doomed to failure without the complete support of the CSA, but with a Confederate ally the Union cannot stand for long. The CSA will surely encourage this action, but the Canadian should be wary---because unless the attack is properly timed---the elimination of the Union benefits the Confederates much more than it benefits the Canadians.  If the Canadians move south prematurely, the Canadians will give the Indians or the Mexicans the West.  If the Canadians do not move South at all, the Union will probably win the Civil War, and then Canada will have created an American juggernaut.

An early issue that will greatly affect the entire board, is the resolution of the Wisconsin question. If the Canadian takes Wisconsin, the Dominion may find it difficult to pursue a western push. If any non-Canuck takes Wisconsin, the Canadians have invited danger onto their doorstep.

Empire of Mexico
 At first glance, the Mexicans have no real enemies and the Mexicans should sow seeds of friendship throughout the continent to see what fruit develops. The Mexican position is interesting because there are plenty of opportunities, both on the Pacific Coast and in the Caribbean Sea. Mexico is in a land rush with the Indians and Canadians in the West and has similar opportunities in the Caribbean---if Mexico can get to Cuba, Panama or Hispaniola before the CSA. The danger is Mexico straddles the continent and Mexico must very carefully manage resources so as to not get caught with too many fleets in either the Atlantic or the Pacific.  Worst of all, don't get caught with altogether too many fleets---and an idle Texan neighbor.

The Mexican must be wary of Texas the little. Mexico is still smarting from wars with the Texas Rangers, and though the Mexican Empire is large, Texas is nearly impossible for Mexico to take on in a fair fight: geography and force-focus favor the Texans.  The Mexican player can attempt to solve his problem of split theaters by concentrating on one side or the other, then helping Texas into the opposite theater. This keeps Texas busy and it thwarts the unopposed ambitions of other players. If the Mexican player chooses to concentrate in the Atlantic, it might be beneficial to give California to Texas.  If the Mexican chooses to pursue a Pacific empire, it might be wise to help Texas into New Orleans or Apache. This helps protect a flank and keeps the Texans busy.  An idle Texas is a dangerous Texas, especially when there are Indians to tame.

Great Plains Confederation
The Injuns (to distinguish from my friends of the Hindu persuasion) are surrounded by supply centers and the expanse of the West. This makes Indians appear very strong---and therefore menacing to other nations. But the Indian position is wide open on all fronts, and the supply centers invite aggression from almost every nation. While the Texans don't seem to have enough supply centers, the Indians almost have too many supply centers! The Indians have a shot at grabbing Spokane, California, Kansas and Wisconsin: four open supply centers to grab, three armies to do it with. All that, and they must be wary of Texas trying to snatch Apache.

Kansas is the key to keeping the West out of the white devil’s hands.  The trouble is: Kansas juts eastward, pulling the Indians into potential trouble with Texas and with the Union.  The Indian player needs to grab as many western centers as possible, but to do so means weakening the front with Texas and the Union.  If the Indian is a gambler he can let Texas or the Union settle in Kansas, while the Natives moblize and strengthen their position.

The Union will likely be occupied with the CSA.  The Canadians will probably be happy moving towards Vancouver and Yukon.  The Mexicans can be limited to coastal interests on the Pacific.  But the Texans are a potential terror for the Indians.  Texan growth will come only at the expense of a neighbor, and that neighbor is more often than not of Native American blood. If the Indians can wrestle Oklahoma from Texas, the Indians will have shored up Kansas and dealt a heavy blow to the Lone Star Republic.

Because Texas is little, she seems vulnerable, but the Commanches and Apaches know the Texas Rangers well: Texas is rattlesnake coiled neatly into its den. The Indian diplomat must not allow the Texan to pretend to be little and weak and therefore secure alliances from his brothers in European blood.

On the other hand, a rattlesnake makes an excellent ally if you can hold the tail firmly enough! Missouri is often an Indian peace offering to the Texans, as it placates the Texans, keeps the Union at bay, and can be taken away should the Texans get belligerent.

Republic of Texas
Texas is a position reserved for the experienced Diplomat—a player who understands how events in Panama can impact Kansas.  The Texan position is compact—easy to defend if played properly.  Oklahoma is the obvious first build for the Texan, the question is, what is the second build?  Unlike other players, Texan growth will come only at the expense of her neighbors, so the Texan must be patient, ruthless and calculating if he is to have a hope of victory.  The wise Texan player will carefully watch and listen, to determine where strife and discord have bred weakness.  Texas can be a bear to each of her neighbors, but to do so the Texan must leave his backdoor open.  Therefore, timing is everything.  Texas should be especially concerned with the ownership of Wisconsin. Although Texas cannot impact Wisconsin at gamestart, Wisconsin will be a bellweather that indicates what alliances the Texan should fear and guard against. It is ideal for Wisconsin to stay in play, but this usually does not happen. Texas should realize that he has power to play kingmaker, and can make Texan goodwill conditional on who owns Wisconsin.

If the Mexican is sleeping, Texas can get California in 1865 and with some help or luck Texas can take Kansas from the Indians. Either move deals a heavy blow to the opponent, but leaves Texas open for a counter-attack, so Texas should have a good idea which way the political winds are blowing before such a bold move. The Texan president should not be disheartened if he is forced to retreat to his original holdings: Texas is very hard to eliminate and there are always those who will need a Texan friend.

Each of Texas’ neighbors will want a Texan ally, but if the Confederates, Indians or Mexican are granted a peaceful mobilization, Texas will find itself small piranha, surrounded by big hungry sharks.   The Texan should never give his friendship freely and should attempt extract territorial considerations from his neighbors.  Texas does NOT need supply centers, but Texas does need territorial gains. By all means, Texas should keep his neighbors out of the Ozarks, Pecos, Chihuahua and Laredo.  On the other hand, Texas should try to occupy as many of these same provinces as possible, so that the burden of trust lies with the Texan neighbor rather than the Texan player.  One army in a forward border post can do more to secure the Texan future than three armies confined to the Republic.