Machiavelli House Rules and Clarifications

The following sections are intended to:

1) Bring Machiavelli more in line with underlying concept of "pure"
Diplomacy mechanics which assumes that all units operate (execute their
given orders) simultaneously and with the same strength ("elite" units
excepted, of course). 

2) Attempt to clarify certain areas which are (or may be, either in fact
or by subjective interpretation) ambiguous. 

3) Eliminate, insofar as possible, latent non-simultaneity issues
arising from specific adjudication conditions. 

GARRISONS/CONVERT ORDERS 

Convert orders are simultaneous with, and of equal strength to, all
other types of orders. Therefore: 

A besieged Garrison may convert if it receives support greater than
strength of the besieging unit. The besieging unit would be dislodged
(ignore VII.7.h, p. 7). 

An Army or Fleet ordered to convert to a Garrison does not prevent the
simultaneous advance by another unit into the province vacated by the
converting unit (ignore the word "convert" in section VIII.3.c, p. 8). 

***

STRAITS

Ignore the section "Note on Piombino and Messina"; replace with the
following: 

A Fleet in a controlling province (Piombino or Messina) at the BEGINNING
of a phase allows the owner the power to grant or deny passage through
the associated strait. It does not matter if that controlling Fleet is
simultaneously ordered to move. 

Note that "passage" here can mean an ADVANCE, SUPPORT, or TRANSPORT
order. 

Occupation of the controlling space by the Fleet of another power on the
same move does not alter the right (or denial) of passage determined by
the player whose Fleet occupied the space at the beginning of the phase.

It follows, then, that if no power's Fleet occupies the associated
controlling space at the beginning of the phase, passage through that
strait is open to all. 

[N.B. The intention of this rule is to prevent a non-simultaneity
paradox inherent in the as-written official rules.] 

***

VENICE/VENICE LAGOON

Ignore VII.D.5 and 6, and replace with the following:

For purposes of determining control/calculating income Venice Lagoon is
treated as if it were a land province. 

Under the advanced rules, a Fleet does not have to be present on the
Lagoon in order to count it toward income computation. The last power
whose Fleet occupied the Lagoon (or the original owner) is considered to
control it for income purposes. 

Venice may contain a Garrison unit (in the city), a Fleet (on the
Lagoon), or both. 

Venice may be besieged, but only by a Fleet. 

A Garrison in Venice may only be converted into a Fleet on the Lagoon. 

A Garrison in Venice may give support into the Lagoon (the only
exception to land units not being able to give support into bodies of
water).