Diplomacy status at the beginning of the game

[Knight of the Rose]

Greetings!

The game starts in 1700, and the player can choose one of 12 factions. My thoughts are: Will you be in the same diplomatic stance as the nation historically was, say will the swedes be at war when you start the campaign? Or would you have free hands to do anything you want to? And would there be any start-off disadvantages, say the danes would hate you from the beginning?

What do you think?

/KotR

[Polemists]

I think it might be more realistic if the current diplomatic situations were evident, though it may be something like rome where while you may not be at war starting, you certainly don't like each other.

I mean there have been 100's of years of war at this point, you'd think some sort of predominant factional rivalry would rear it's head. I mean i'll be disappointed if Prussia and Austria start of at friendly status.

I don't think anyone really knows, but personally I'd like to see some alliances and wars starting off.

[Nelson]

I expect that the historic world situation will be in place regarding dynasties, alliances, wars, etc. That makes the most sense IMO.

[Martok]

While I'm not aware of CA having specifically said so yet, they have obliquely indicated that diplomatic relations will be set to neutral (amongst all factions) at the beginning of the game. Apparently this is being done so as to give the player greater flexibility in recreating history as they wish.

That said, it's also been hinted that at least some factions will have a greater natural antipathy for certain nations. So I don't think we have to worry too much about England cozying up to France, or Sweden becoming best friends with Austria and Russia, etc.

[Polemists]

Well I guess then at least there are the options to create the rivalries we want. While I think the options should be there to form new allies and enemies if history presents itself, i am also glad to see the historical precidence still takes effect. IE: If Austria wants Russia as a friend, they gotta work at it, etc.