Diplomatic Influence -- Why, How, and When to use it.

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I've read a lot of articles on strategies, tactics, and what have you. However, I haven't seen a post about the best use of Diplomatic Influence.

To me, DI can be an extremely useful WEAPON against an opponent. My problem...I have only played as a Neutral Italy and find no use for DI until I join an alliance.

Could someone explain the WHY, HOW, and WHEN to use DI?

"Never fear the unknown...fear NEVER knowing"

 

[Diefledermas]

I would say (baring tech sharing) that diplomacy is an extremely powerful piece of the game.

First off it depends on the country. GI Tom appears to be the expert in my group dealing with diplomacy (he tends to play France ironically enough).

First off,

Coups can turn an enemy into a friend. For example, coup Italy pre-war and you have a new member of the Allies. Want Sweden's steel but not the cost of invasion as Germany? A coup will solve that.

Besides the obvious use of influence to nearby countries, it can be used effectively to bring Allies to the table in faraway lands. For example, Japan/Germany can try and bring Argentina and Chile into the Axis. Siam makes for a useful Japanese or British ally, etc...

Military access can allow the USA to reposition forces to the UK or France pre-war (imagine the 8th airforce ready to go in Sheffield). Military control has its own obvious uses.

Note: I don't believe this is in the rule book but the more DIP points you have (total) the more effective you are overall, so build up a reserve of 20 dip or so before attempting anything and keep that DIP reserve high for effective usage.

 

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Couping

How does couping Sweden get their steel?

 

[Diefledermas]

How does couping Sweden get their steel?

I shouldn't have written that. I was thinking about puppeting. But, I (believe) that friendly nations free up their resources for trade on the world market. This is a totally non-scientific theory but I've noticed that when countries sway to your side that resource availabity increases on the world market