Is diplomacy important to imperial campaign?

[leoku]

Is diplomacy important to the success of imperial campaign?

Has anyone completed the campaign without using diplomacy?

How do I make most use of the diplomat? Does diplomat's experience make difference?

[GeneralHankerchief]

Diplomacy is only important if you want to win.

I rely on it heavily, especially in the early stage where I try to secure trade rights with everyone except for who I'm trying to kill. In addition, I also try to secure some denarii by selling maps. This has various levels of success.

In the middle/end game, you basically use it to manipulate other factions into doing what you want. Whether it be bribing enemy armies or letting your allies bleed against a powerful enemy and you take the glory, it certainly helps.

Example: I'm doing a Scipii game where the Brutii are getting a bit too powerful for my liking. It's not civil war yet. In the east Pontus and Egypt are both large empires, and allies. I'm gunning for the wonders in Turkey and the Nile, hoping that the two baddies will retaliate against the Brutii as well as me. That way everyone's weak come the civil war.

I've never tried RTW without diplomacy and I have no plans to. It would simply be too hard.

Influence basically means that other guys agree to your deals asking for less in return.