Diplomatic mechanics theory

[Tamur]

I just wrote this up as a first draft for a section of the Diplomacy guide. But there are lots of folks who have been messing around with this area, and I am hoping to get some feedback.

Specifically, I have a hypothesis for the acceptance of a proposal based on environmental factors, and on factors internal to the proposal. If anyone can think of other factors that apply than the ones I have listed, please add them! I'm sure to be missing something here.

Important! This is not fact, it is simply a theory based on a lot of experimentation. I wrote it up because I needed to get my thoughts organised, not because I wanted to express the One True Way of diplomacy equations.


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After you table a proposal, that proposal is considered by your negotiating partner. This is by far the most crucial part of the diplomatic process – based on their thinking during this phase of negotiation, either you "win" or "lose" the session.

Variables: NR & FR

It appears that there is a simple scale rating (we'll say with values of 0 to 100) which is a measure of your faction's Negotiation Reliability as seen by that faction (NR for short). This is not universal -- each faction in the game will have an NR rating for your faction. For example, if the Egyptians have your faction pegged at NR = 25, then you'll have to work very hard, or pay a ton of "bribe" Single Payment, to shove a proposal through with them. The same proposal, given to the Greeks (who have you at NR = 80), would go through with no problem.

It also appears that there is a scale rating (again, we'll say it has values of 0 to 100) by which factions rank the feasibility of the current proposal. We'll call this the Feasibility Rating (FR for short). If you put forth a proposal that has FR = 100, then it is considered completely do-able by your negotiating partner.

Proposal Consideration

When a proposal is evaluated by a faction, they use their NR rating of your faction, combined with the FR of the proposal, to make a decision. Again, we hypothesise an Acceptance Rating variable (AR), and say that the equation is a simple:

AR = (NR + FR) / 2

Based on values of 0-100 for both NR and FR, the proposal will be accepted if AR is 50 or greater.

What builds NR?

A faction's NR (Negotiation Reliability) value toward your faction seems to be built from the following environmental factors:

• you have lived by your agreements with all other factions (positive)
• you have lived by your agreements with the faction whose NR is being calculated (positive * 2)
• you have given unprompted cash gifts (negative)
• cultural difference penalties (negative) or similarity benefits (positive)
• others...?

What builds FR?

A proposal's FR (Feasibility Rating) is affected by:

• The cash value balance of the offer and demand sides. This seems to include regions as well as Single Payments and Regular Tribute.
• The economic-system (not cash) value of rejection and acceptance (i.e. "Does acceptance or rejection bring us greater economic benefits?")
• The military value of rejection and acceptance (i.e. "Does acceptance or rejection bring us greater military strength?")
• The threat value of the proposal (i.e. "If we reject this proposal, are we in greater danger of attack?")
• Whether or not they have the resources (military, cash, etc) to respond to your Demands
• others...?

Examples

( will be giving examples of possible proposals and ratings down here )