A Question of Diplomacy

[SomeNick]

Yeah I agree too. It makes sense that if a country that is allied suddenly attacks there would be some sort of prior warning, especially in the arena of trade prior to attack.

The diplomacy system needs an overhaul. Not only do players occasionaly make an alliance and break it the next trun but the AI does it all the time.

I reckon if the Diplomat has high influence then a list of recommendations should be put forth in regard to what the player would like to achieve in a certain path of diplomacy. Then he'd have a better rough idea as to what to do. If you think about it that would be how it works anyway. A diplomat in some distant land would have his priorities already set out but would need to relay messages back and forth to his home kingdom/empire in order to know what he can do and not do in new situations arising from diplomatic relations.

[Avicenna]

The more you break agreements, the less likely it is that countries will ally to you. Also, a small country might think that the large one wouldn't concentrate all its efforts on it, so will risk to take some lands while the large country gets rid of the major threats around it.

[Ciaran]

There are some general findings about diplomacy in TW:
-The bigger you are province-wise the harder it is to get an alliance.
- (RTW-specific) Allies seem more inclined to backstab and attack you than a country that only has trade relations.
- (MTW-specific) If you and your enemy share allies the one who wins the first battle keeps his allies. In Rome, shared allies seem to side with the AI, no matter what.

[Severous]

Break your word and the AI remembers for a very long time. For years responses to your diplomatic suggestions will be met with talk about your word not being trusted. Attacking a neutral faction might likewise make factions wary of accepting an alliance?

Ive found alliances easier to make with factions that do not border yours and have a common enemy. That said I want Britian to ally with me so we fight a common enemy, Gaul, that separates us. Britians have declined ..although I have yet to offer a load of cash to sweeten the deal.

If you leave a region bordering an ally with weak garrisons it makes a tempting target. Too good to miss perhaps?