All the previous pages explain the main rules and resolve most situations that arise in CONSPIRACY. There are, however, a few exceptions and rare situations that can occur. They are explained in this page.
Self-dislodgment
An empire cannot dislodge or support the dislodgment of one of its own units, even if that dislodgment is unexpected. This is one time when support is refused or negated when it would otherwise be legal. However, such orders can be given for other reasons, such as creating a standoff. Following are some examples to further explain this rule.
In next diagram, the French army in Paris (par), supported by its army in Marseilles (mar) cannot dislodge it own army in Burgundy (bur) :
In next diagram, the French army in Paris (par), although supported by the German army in Munich(mun), cannot dislodge its own army in Burgundy (bur) :
In next diagram, the German army in Ruhr (ruh), supported by the French army in Paris (par), cannot dislodge the French army in Burgundy (bur) because France cannot legally support an attack against one of its own units. However, if Germany had supported its own attack (from Munich (mun)), then the French army in Burgundy would be dislodged :
In next diagram, the German army in Munich (mun) is in standoff with the Austrian army in Tyrolia, so neither unit moves. German armies in Ruhr (ruh) and Berlin (ber) tried to create a standoff with each other in Munich. However, the Austrian army in Bohemia (boh) sneakily gave support to the German unit from Silesia into Munich. In most cases, this supported attack from Silesia into Munich would beat the unsupported attack from Ruhr. But since that would result in Germany dislodging one of its own units, the move fails :
The next example demonstrates a situation in which you might decide self-dislodgment orders to create a standoff. This is sometimes a good defensive move. Below, England cannot dislodge its own unit, but its supported attack on Denmark (den) is necessary to standoff the supported Russian attack on the same province :
Self-standoff
While an empire cannot dislodge its own units, it can create standoffs by ordering two equally-supported attack on the same province. This is often done to maintain control of three provinces with two units. However, if one of the attacks has more support than the other, it will succeed.
In next diagram, the Austrian player is trying to control Serbia (ser), Budapest (bud) and Vienna (vie) with two units, keeping Budapest vacant. However, the move from Vienna to Budapest succeeds because of unexpected Russian support. It would not succeed if there was an Austrian army already in Budapest, as it would be dislodging its own unit. The move succeeds whether the support is from a foreign unit (as illustrated) or from a unit of the same empire :
Cutting support on your own units
An attack by an empire on one of its own units does not cut support. This rule is in the same spirit as the self-dislodgment rules. An empire cannot dislodge one of its own units nor can it cut its own support.
Exchanging places via a convoy
Two units can exchange places if either or both are convoyed. This is the exception to the earlier rule that stated, “Units cannot trade places without the use of a convoy”.
In next example, all moves succeed. The French army in Belgium (bel) exchange its place with English army in London (lon) :
