Among the range of weird pets, iguanas rank highly for me. I like my pets to be soft and cuddly. Iguanas, fish, tarantulas… no thanks.
I can see the attraction, I suppose, in the colourfulness of iguanas. There are two species: the green iguana and the Lesser Antillean iguana, the latter being imaginatively named because it is native to the Lesser Antilles. The green iguana species contains a range of genetically complex species that may be divided in the future, and they’re not all green.
One of the unusual aspects of iguana behaviour is that they are accomplished communicators, but not vocally. They tend to use their eyes to communicate. I suppose, for an iguana, a wink is better than a nod.
The Diplomacy ‘Iguana’
In Diplomacy, an ‘Iguana’ is a secretive player, one who keeps their intentions very much to themselves but will communicate freely. You never quite know what they want, what they’re planning, or what they’ll do to reach their objective.
Secrecy isn’t, ordinarily, a great strategy for Diplomacy. In a game where relationships, trust and communication are key features, secrecy isn’t very helpful. How can anyone trust you if you don’t tell them things?
Counter-intuitively, though, secrecy can be reassuring if a player can prove their trustworthiness on the board. If they say they’re going to do something, even if they don’t reveal the reasons behind their actions, and then actually do it, this is some sort of evidence in their favour. If they’re keeping things from you, there’s a decent chance they’re doing the same with others, too.
Of course, you will most likely be on your guard with them. You’ll be trying to read between the lines of their communication: can you see anything that might indicate what they’re thinking? And the board becomes more reliable than their words as a guide.
It’s a strange kind of trust, I guess. It’s the trust of necessity rather than the trust of honesty. While they need you, they’re with you. So how indispensable can you make yourself? And how strong are your defences if you see yourself becoming less useful?
If you’re the Iguana, you’re playing a dangerous game. But, for those players who make it work, it’s a strong way to play.
THE DIPLOMATICON 
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