alliances in R:TW?

we all know the faults of M:TW, but how much has R:TW improved things?

can nations be given a natural affinity for each other, so that they are more likely to ally with each other, and less likely to stab each other in the back?

can nations form leagues, or power-blocks, or are alliances purely a 1on1 affair that may just happen to span several nations? i would like to see leagues as a part of diplomatic strategy.

cheers

PeegeeTips

Originally Posted by Peregrine_Tergiversate

i would like to see leagues as a part of diplomatic strategy.

cheers

PeegeeTips

Well, I can reassure you that leagues will definately be available. Me? I'm really looking forward to creating an unstoppable league of the Seleucids, the Armenians, and me, the Parthians.

Diplomacy will be much, much more advanced in Rome Total War than it was in Medieval. Factions will be able to offer funds in return for tribute of troops, can offer to put the other in a protectorate when they are being mashed to the bone, and even set their own prices for ransom. There's lots more than just that as well.

I would like the dilomacy to be like Civ 2. That system was a masterpeice.

thanks, good news.

what about natural allies?

Quote from the E3 preview:
"One of the big improvements over previous games in the Total War series is something that fans have been clamoring over for years. Diplomacy has traditionally been very simple and not exactly the most useful tool. Quit your crying, Creative Assembly has heard your pleas. Diplomacy options will be much more complex for those that want to use them.
Now, when diplomacy has been initiated, players will find a large screen with plenty of bargaining chips. You can now trade goods and money, trade for rights of passage (even negotiate to move troops through enemy territory while not allowing them the same right), threaten nations, and more. The main point is that diplomacy is now a viable option. You won't have to stomp every nation to death in order to win.
Sneakier players will also be able to utilize spies to ferret information out to help in negotiations. Or if you like, assassins can be sent into to kill specific targets to weaken enemy defenses and either make them more susceptible to attack or maybe make them more agreeable to diplomatic offers"

Quote from GameZone preview:
"You can send diplomats to forge alliances, treaties and trade deals with other nations, or you can send in spies to evaluate their troop strength (spies can be caught and killed) or assassins to take out their leadership"

Quote from FiringSquad preview:
"Creative Assembly has promised a very detailed and important diplomacy system. Players will be able to demand or offer alliances, peace, bribes, and land. They'll be able to ask their neighbours to wage war against a common enemy, or to demand them to stop attacks"

cheers. but anything specific on affinity and leagues?

i ask this specifically in reference to mod-makers trying to recreate worlds other than that which CA intended, looking at how they struggle to (amazingly succesfully it must be said) create the setting they want.