Hey, guys! I'm actually writing an essay on how to effectively win a diplomacy game, sort of as a counterpart to the numerous Strat guides focused on the competitive world of this game. I was wondering if you guys had some suggestions beyond what I could come up with.

Another thing: I am also collecting some data about what specifically you guys like about this game, so feel free to share your experiences and opinions regarding this topic.

If you guys want, I can publish the essay once it's completed.

The basic topics I have already added cover Choosing your Starting Position, Identifying your playing field, Managing your Enemies, Allies and Vassals, Acquiring Information, Resolving Late-Game Gambits, Playing into your Role, Keeping Everything in Good Spirit, and Managing your Public and Private image.

Every one of these touches on predicting the moves of your opponents.

Lastly, I am using this game as a template for the essay:

https://www.warzone.com/MultiPlayer?GameID=17442399

A nation has the most advantages when they have malleable allies. An ally that you know couldn't lie to you even if they tried. As for all things, there must be a risk for a great reward. If you have neither influence nor power, you cannot expect to have other nations bending over backwards for you. If you have one without the other, you can always expect a conditional loyalty. Having both will almost always allow you to tame the more belligerent neighbors. For a starting position, influence usually trumps power.

I am assuming a game where the powers are more or less equal. I could write a wholly different thing just on GoT games, but I'm trying to keep it more general.

Be a powerful nation and take multiple huge bonuses through luck

Depends on the role you're trying to play. Playing as an outright conqueror, legitimately altrustic hero, or a self-serving influencer are three totally different things with different playstyles.