AI Diplomatic tricks

**Claudius the God** · 11-25-2006, 01:29

I read a while ago that to encourage a healthy relationship, use diplomats to contact allied factions - even if you have no reason to ask or give anything... the simple act of saying 'hello' to your allies keeps the relationship healthy and makes it more unlikely that they will break the alliance...

this is why you sometimes see foreign diplomats saying 'hello' with their diplomats but not asking or requesting anything from you...

**Ciaran** · 11-26-2006, 09:47

Still, I second Quillian, if you go to war with someone, and your ally is allied with that faction as well, it´ll be you who loses his alliance (not that I ever got what alliances are good for, except, perhaps, to trigger a war by scripted backstabbing - I had once a game as Egypt where I deliberately didn´t ally with any neighbouring faction. After some time, the Numidians came around, pleading for an alliance, offering cash and whatnot. I took the deal, and the very next turn they attacked. That led me to the belief that some backstabbing at least is hardcoded).
In MTW the rules were simple: the one who lost the first engagement lost his allies (not all, of course, only those who had to choose sides), which led to the infamous "Naval Incident" tactic used by the AI to break up alliances. Maybe this rule existed in earlier RTW versions (I´m not entirely sure about 1.2), but since 1.3 it´s definitely gone.

**Kralizec** · 11-26-2006, 10:52

if you go to war with someone, and your ally is allied with that faction as well, it´ll be you who loses his alliance

Maybe that's often the case, but not always.

In a campaign with Pontus in RTR Platinum (based on RTW 1.5) I had been at war with the Seleucids since 2 turns after the start of the game. They were allied with the Armenians. When I sent a diplomat towards the Armenians I found that I was still able to propose an alliance despite this.
They accepted, and I promptly got a ceasefire with the Seleucids.

Hostilities resumed shortly afterwards, but I forgot wich side started it (might have been myself)
Regardless, the Armenians supported me.

**Mooks** · 11-26-2006, 15:58

Told simply ; the RTW diplomacy system is really really sad. It has huge flaws in it, and isnt anywhere near as good as it could be. Blame CA, not your fault.

**bedlam28** · 11-27-2006, 17:24

Thanks guys, especially to Holy Bandit for the "not your fault" bit.

I really have learnt to dispise the Diplomacy. I have never betrayed an Ally and only attacked once I have been betrayed, and then I kill them hard and brutally to send a message.
But I always seem to get that I'm untrustworthy or not in their best interests.

AI however, betrays without consequence it seems.
After the Scipii's attempted to attack my Southern borders (I'm

), I have been in a brutal battle, year after year with them and have currently beaten them out of africa and taken Carhage and Thapsus. I have been Allied with Numidia for years and years, helping them against the Carthagians and generally being a good neighbour.
Of course they have repaid my kindness, support and loyalty by attacking Lepsis Magna whilst I fought over Carthage. So now I have a war with them and whilst they have no hope of winning they refuse to have peace!

Hmm, not looking for advise any more I think; merely Venting.... ho hum.
Feel free to add advice if I'm missing anything

**Caius** · 12-13-2006, 19:20

Originally Posted by holybandit

Told simply ; the RTW diplomacy system is really really sad. It has huge flaws in it, and isnt anywhere near as good as it could be. Blame CA, not your fault.

Yes, you become a protectorate and you cancel the alliance, it is useless

**SSJVegetaTrunks** · 12-14-2006, 04:36

this is why you sometimes see foreign diplomats saying 'hello' with their diplomats but not asking or requesting anything from you...

I always thought that meant they were trying to bribe my cities. I guess I was wrong.

**jhhowell** · 12-17-2006, 23:47

Originally Posted by SSJVegetaTrunks

I always thought that meant they were trying to bribe my cities. I guess I was wrong.

No, you were right. Example: if a WRE player keeps the Duke of Britain (forgot his name...) in Eburacum, his loyalty will quickly improve because the Celtic diplomat will try to bribe him and the city every turn. Perhaps even more important is the law bonus some of those loyalty traits carry with them.