I agree with Martok, the main point isnt having more diplomatic options for the AI( though a joint attack, joint blockade etc would be great). the main point is having a strategic/diplomatic AI which behaves sensibly. thats much more important, but alas, much more difficult to achieve.
the success of your ally should also to a far greater extent be one of the players concerns, in m2tw your allies are of no interest apart from not having to wage war on them for a limited time, but once youve reached a certain level of power they dont mean squat cause you can steamroll the world. the game would be better( as a grand strategy game) if you didnt get so immensely powerful so fast, but had a real need of allies throughout the game.
I also agree that for this time and age undeclared acts of war, breaking of alliances etc should have consequenses far more severe than a loss of reputation. Either it should subtract directly from some kind of "victory points" or it should be flat out impossible without first having fixed the formalities. look to the boardgame Empires in Arms, great napoleonic game.
btw, have any of you ever played it?
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