Roman alliance - how will it work?

[USMCNJ]

we know that there are 4 roman factions. and that in the end you will have to fight 3 of them to become an emperor.
that means that in the end the 3 roman factions will be allied agains you.
my question is => before this happens what kind of a relationship will romans have?
will it be

a) like catholics in MTW => the pope (senate) will incourage other catholic (roman) factions to fight you if you attack a roman first. and that's as deeps as it goes. so if you are at war with the Greeks the other roman factions couldn't care less.


b) senate war is a roman war => if a faction declares war on the senate, or the senate declares a war on the faction, then all roman factions are automaticly at war with that faction. However, if you are at war with the greeks the other roman faction don't have to help you.

c) one for all, all for one => if a faction declares war on any roman faction, or if a roman faction declares a war on a non roman faction, then all roman factions are automaticly at war with that faction.

d) like allies in MTW => you are allied to the other 3 roman factions, if war brakes out, then you are given an option to join it or stay neutral. (maybe even side with the barbarians)

[Sjakihata]

there're 3 roman factions AND the senate.

I think everyone are allied at first, then later the senate might send a roman faction or two after you, once you're too successful

[Daevyll]

yes, but how are relations with the other factions handled?

It would be a bit silly if the Julii are at war with the Greeks, whilst they are allied to the Brutii for example.
Most logical would be if the Senate determinded 'foreign policy' for all Roman factions, unless one of those factions has 'broken off'.
In gameplay terms however that would mean you couldnt decide for yourself who to go to war with (although convincing the Senate to do what you want etc could be a whole subgame in and of itself...).

[Armchair Athlete]

In the Pak files from the demo there are diplomatic demands that the senate gives, and these include breaking relations with a certain faction, attacking a certain faction or capturing a certain city, among others. So if you are Julii and allied to the Greeks, while the Brutii are at war with the Greeks, I guess the senate will demand you end relations with the Greeks. Of course, you can always ignore them. However, after reading through some of the pak files I got the impression that if the senate declares war on you then the other Roman factions are also at war with you automatically. As the Senate has a large army, early on I think you will have to listen to their demands.

EDIT - also giving assistance to certain factions is another relevant option the senate can demand.

[USMCNJ]

In the Pak files from the demo there are diplomatic demands that the senate gives, and these include breaking relations with a certain faction,.....

this basicly means that we can make our own alliances outside of rome.
and it could also mean
a) that senate will ask us to simply breake relations with enemy of rome (or atleast one faction of rome)
b) or this could just be a pretext to war, and the senate could ask us to declare war later on (within a few turns)