Überdiplomat - what to do with him

I recruit a diplomat, and wow he has 6 skill. I send him on a 1 turn mission from Venice to Bologna to buy the later and he gains +3 skill:
http://aycu40.webshots.com/image/375...2439795_rs.jpg

So now I have a 9 skill diplomat :2thumbsup: I don't want to let this guys skill go to waste, but I don't use diplomats very much except for basic trade rights/map exchanges so I am not sure how to use him effectively.

Does skill affect negotiations or is it only for bribery?

Any ideas on what I should do with him?

I am Byzantine E. and have expanded west to Venice/Bolonga and east to Antioch. Venice is dead, Turks are dead (Family died in battle in Anatolia so eastern Turkish provinces are rebel). I am not at war with anyone for the moment. Holy land and everything east is rebels. Crusaders are annoying me marching through Anatolia.

Tell me your cunning and evil plans, muahahahahaha.

Skill affects both. You can get the AI to pay you a tiny bit more with higher skill and bribery is a lot more successful usually (provided you have more than enough funds to bribe a unit in the first place)

As for what to do with him, he'd probably be good for bribing, but its overly expensive and most of the time it is not worth it.

High skill diplomats aren't as useful as high skill other agents in general. The difference in negotiations with a skill 0 vs a skill 10 diplomat are fairly negligible.

Perhaps you should send him to buy good cities. That should be easier with a high skill diplomat. Do you have Timbuktu, Dongola or Vienna? If not then send him and make a deal. Since you are in peace with everyone it should be doable.

Also, since you need Rome you can try to relocate his holliness, unless you want to fight his troops for a challenge (papal guards are tough opponents). So, first ally with him (if not already). Then buy some lands far off, like in England. Gift him these lands. Then buy off Rome. :2thumbsup:
(btw, I remember some 3 province rule, like the pope will only sell Rome if he has more than 3 provinces, not sure though, could someone help out?)

There was a discussion of bribing the pope a few weeks ago.

I am not at war but people don't like me too much due to eliminating turkey and venice. Oh well, I will see what the little guy can do.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cheetah

I remember some 3 province rule, like the pope will only sell Rome if he has more than 3 provinces, not sure though, could someone help out?)

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IIRC, any faction will refuse to sell provinces if it lowers its provinces count below 3...

Seems true; in my last game nobody would sell no matter the offer when they were small, but a big offer would be seen as generous by a large faction while it was very demanding to a small one.

Of course, you might provoke a war by this. As England, I bought Zaragoza from my French allies for 5k florins per turn for 15 turns. They were at war with Milan at the time, and I expected them to use the money to build lots of troops and retake Dijon and Marseilles. They waited until the tribute had ended, then declared war on me and betrayed our alliance.