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Obsolete rules: When Diplomacy was new(ish) the rules weren’t perfect (and, due to paradoxes, they still aren’t). Some House Rules created their own rules which were created to fill the gaps. Today’s rules are much fuller so these ad hoc rules are now obsolete.

Off-board boxes: Designed for use in variants. These were boxes in which multiple units could be placed, and linked space on the board. They might also be used to link two sides to the map, in global variants, for example.

Off-board initial placements: These were separated from the board. In some variants, powers start with units that aren’t placed on the board.

Off-the-Board Retreat: An order issued to a unit that has been dislodged but which the player does not want to retreat; it is, instead, disbanded.

OGP: Abbreviation for ORPHANED GAMES PROJECT.

OGRE: Abbreviation for the ORPHANED GAMES REHOUSER.

Ombudsman: A third party that was used to settle disputes between a player and a GM, and some inter-organisation disputes. Not often used in the UK Hobby. If you play online, think site management.

Online Diplomacy: Format for playing Diplomacy over the internet, usually meaning played on a dedicated Diplomacy website. Often referred to as Extended Deadline Diplomacy, although this can also refer to Diplomacy Apps, Play-by-Forum, etc.

Opening: A set of moves used in Spring 1901 and the following years, aimed at achieving a set objective. See BASE OPENINGS and EXPANDED OPENINGS.

Opsimath: A player who follows a foolish cause of action for a long period, only to change it near the game’s end. Not quite an ARMOURED DUCK but just as frustrating.

Optimist: A player who controls Russia and orders F GOB-Swe is Fall 1901.

Order: A written instruction given to a playing piece in Diplomacy.

Orders: Collective term for each player’s written instructions to their units.

Orders Phase: Alternative name for the Diplomacy Phase.

Order Writing Phase: Where it is separated from the Diplomacy Phase, the part of the game when players write their orders.

Orphan: In the days when games were run through Dipzines, if a GM stopped GMing, or the zine folded, any uncompleted games were ‘orphaned’. A good GM would give warning to the players (and readers) of the zine, and then seek another zine so the game could be moved to it.

Orphaned Games Project (OGP): Based in the US, this was an organisation that would seek to move orphaned games that hadn’t been moved before the zine folded.

Orphaned Games Rehouser (OGRE): UK version of the OGP.

Ordered To Move (OTM): In the Postal Hobby, if a unit was offered support to hold but the unit receiving that support was ordered to move, the GM would mark the ordered as failed and OTM.

OTB: Abbreviation for OFF-THE-BOARD RETREAT.

OTM: Abbreviation for ORDERED TO MOVE.