How to get (slightly) more reasonable diplomacy.

Towards the bottom of the descr_strat file, there are values for diplomatic standings between factions. By slightly altering a few of these I have been able to get a (slightly) more reasonable diplomatic AI.

Although I've only tested this for about 50 turns, the HRE and Milan (I'm playing France) don't seem to want to kill me straight off the bat, and although they do still attack, they seem a little more reasonable in negotiations.

I imagine this will be possible to tune even more once the unpacker is released and we get to have a look at all the other files.

Can you describe what you edited ?

It sounds like 'reasonable AI' means 'more passive'. On what level do you play as well?

Towards the bottom of the descr_strat file, there is a section IIRC labelled Diplomatic standings. In this section, you have a list of factions, and an associated numerical value specifiying that factions standings with the others.

For example, it says:

England -0.2 France, Scotland

The range seems to be from -1 (Abysmal) to +1 (Perfect).

By altering some of the values here, I have seen a marked difference in how the AI performs in negotiations. Previously, I wasn't able to get a ceasefire from the HRE or Milan for love nor money, but now at least it seems possible.

Your relations with other factions are still, of course, influenced by in game actions, but this seems to set some sort of 'base' diplomatic standings.

I am playing on Hard/Very Hard. It doesn't seem to affect the aggresiveness of the AI, just your diplomatic standings with them*

* bear in mind this is initial impressions after the first 50 odd turns of a new campaign.