Diplomacy is Not an Option cover art

Diplomacy is Not an Option

A wave-defense RTS testing economic and defensive optimization against scripted hordes.

Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION3 /10READS1 /10VARIANCE2 /10OPTIMIZATION9 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    3/10

    Fast unit micro helps but isn't the ceiling

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    1/10

    Enemy hordes follow scripted waves, not adapting

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    2/10

    Some map and event variation, mostly fixed

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    9/10

    Economy, defenses and army composition against scaling waves

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

Compare with

Similar games

see all →

Ranked by shared genre first, then by how closely the cheat-test profile matches - a cross-genre tag means a pick matched on skill profile alone.

Rome: Total War cover art

Rome: Total War

Pure Optimization · strategy wargame

E
R
V
O
Rome: Total War
Medieval II: Total War cover art

Medieval II: Total War

Pure Optimization · grand strategy wargame

E
R
V
O
Medieval II: Total War
Stronghold cover art

Stronghold

Pure Optimization · city-building strategy

E
R
V
O
Stronghold
RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 cover art

RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Pure Optimization · theme park tycoon

E
R
V
O
RollerCoaster Tycoon 2
Thief II: The Metal Age cover art

Thief II: The Metal Age

Pure Optimization · stealth immersive sim

E
R
V
O
Thief II: The Metal Age
Dawn of Discovery cover art

Dawn of Discovery

Pure Optimization · city-building strategy

E
R
V
O
Dawn of Discovery

Game details

Released
2024
Developer
Door 407
Platforms
PC
Modes
Single player
IGDB users
70/100
Real Time Strategy (RTS)SimulatorStrategyIndieActionHistoricalSandbox