Simply stated, in Dip you are unlikely to be able to capture any spaces unless you have support. Each unit has a value of ONE so, unless an opponent's unit moves out of a space, your unit moving there WITHOUT support will result in a stand-off (usually called "bounce" on this site).
REMEMBER...
- If your unit could move into a space, it can support another unit in that space.
- If your unit could move into a space, it can support another unit into that space.
- If your unit can't move into a space that turn, it can't support there.
- If a space has two coasts, and your unit can move into the space, it can support another unit in that space or into that space, regardless of coast.
- If a space has two coasts, your unit can ONLY support another unit OUT FROM that space if it could could reach the moving unit's destination.
- If a space has two coasts, your unit on one coast can ONLY support another unit in or into a space it could itself move to.
Simple Support
1. If you order a unit to move it can be supported by any other unit that could also reach the space you are moving to.
eg: A(Berlin) MOVE TO Kiel; A(Munich) SUPPORT Ber-Kiel.
In this example, Berlin is now "attacking" Kiel with a force of two.
The more units you have supporting the greater the strength of the moving unit.
2. Units can be supported to MOVE (as described above) or to HOLD.
eg: A(Denmark) HOLD; A(Sweden) SUPPORT Den HOLD.
3. Remember a unit ordered to SUPPORT or CONVOY is also, effectively, holding, so you can support those units, too.
eg: A(Naples) MOVE TO Tunis; F(Ionian Sea) CONVOY Nap-Tun; F(Aegean Sea) SUPPORT ION HOLD. This works. The F(AEG) is supporting the F(ION) to hold it's space - it ISN'T supporting the A(Nap)-Tun.
eg: A(Warsaw) MOVE TO Galicia; A(Ukraine) SUPPORT War-Gal; A(Moscow) SUPPORT Ukr HOLD. This also works. The A(Mos) is supporting the A(Ukr) to hold - it ISN'T supporting the A(War)-Gal.
Support that DOESN'T work
1. Because you need to be able to move to a space to be able to support an attack by another unit into that space, if your unit can't move there, it can't support there.
For instance, an army CAN NEVER support into a sea space; a fleet CAN NEVER support into a land space other than a coastal space (eg. F(BALTIC) CAN support into Sweden, but F(Brest) CANNOT support into Paris.
As another example, a F(Finland) CANNOT support into Norway, because a fleet can't move to Norway, whereas an A(Finland) CAN support into Norway.
2. Support can NEVER be convoyed.
eg: A(Holland) MOVE TO Belgium; F(English Channel) CONVOY Lon-Bel; A(London) SUPPORT Hol-Bel. This doesn't work.
Support for spaces with two coasts
1. Support INTO the space with two coasts is ALWAYS possible if the unit giving support could move to that space.
eg: F(Barents Sea) MOVE TO St Petersburg (north coast); A(Moscow) SUPPORT BAR-StP(nc). This works - A(Mos) can move to StP.
eg: F(Barents Sea) MOVE TO St Petersburg (north coast); F(Livonia) SUPPORT BAR-StP(nc). This also works - although F(Lvn) cannot move to StP(nc) directly, it can move to StP(sc) so it can support to StP(nc)!
2. Support OUT FROM the space with two coasts is ONLY possible if the unit giving support could move to the space the moving unit is attacking.
eg: F(Spain [north coast]) MOVE TO Mid-Atlantic Ocean; F(Portugal) SUPPORT Spa(nc)-MAO. This works, because Por-MAO would work.
eg: F(Spain [north coast]) MOVE TO Mid-Atlantic Ocean; F(Brest) SUPPORT Spa(nc)-MAO. This works, because Bre-MAO would work (it doesn't matter that a unit in Brest can't reach Spain).
eg: F(Spain [north coast]) MOVE TO Mid-Atlantic Ocean; F(Gulf of Lyons) SUPPORT Spa(nc)-MAO. This DOESN'T work, because GOL can't move to MAO (it doesn't matter that it can move to Spain).
3. When supporting a unit and it involves a space with two coasts the support order MUST MATCH COMPLETELY.
This is VERY IMPORTANT. When a fleet moves to Bulgaria East Coast, you have to select that coast... so any support must ALSO select THAT coast.
When you enter that support you are given the options of BULGARIA, BULGARIA EAST COAST, BULGARIA SOUTH COAST. Selecting BULGARIA is not enough!
Equally, when you are supporting a unit at one coast to HOLD you must specify exactly which coast the unit is at.