Diplomacy and keeping relations up

[Maizel]

Great post, Thanks for the pointers.

I'm gonna try that soon

[Bob the Insane]

Interesting to see 100 florins has an effect, maybe I am wasting money with my 1000 florin gifts (they pretty much guarantee a one level increase in relations with that faction)?

Additionally I play with Hard campaign difficulty too and I suspect that your reputation automatically degrades over time with other factions if left alone...

[Rothe]

I suppose any tribute will make them less likely to attack you.

I suspect the following:

The AI is less likely to attack you if your relations are so-and-so or reliable and up from there. It may still attack you at so-and-so. This is logical.

If you are at so-and-so, some things may prompt an attack and some things make an attack less likely. I suspect that even if you pay 10 florins/turn it will help. I find that a bit against logic, the continued tribute makes a difference even if it is small, so it seems to have a separate additional influence from the relations with the other factions you see on the diplomacy screen.

Also, it is less likely for a catholic AI to attack you if you have high papal standing.

So, my tactic is to keep the relations at so-and-so with single gifts (maps/500 florins etc.) and also to keep up the small continued tribute. Also, I keep up relations with the pope.

I could be wrong, but so far it is working.

[Wallas]

Diplomacy works and keeps alliances together except against AI fleets. For example France started a war with me by landing his diplomat to my shores and by blocking my port at the same time. But in the next turn I was able to make pease and form a new alliance with them. We didn't even have a mutual border. To me it seems that AI can't controll it's fleets properly and he starts war accidentally with them.

[Slaists]

Well, that does not sound so unreasonable actually... with all those drunk, crazy sailors and all... They starte a brawl here or there and voila - you've got a war on your hands :) However, if the relationships with the attacking AI faction are good, they are likely to sue for peace and apologize for their fleet's actions... sometimes paying with a province or two...

Diplomacy works and keeps alliances together except against AI fleets. For example France started a war with me by landing his diplomat to my shores and by blocking my port at the same time. But in the next turn I was able to make pease and form a new alliance with them. We didn't even have a mutual border. To me it seems that AI can't controll it's fleets properly and he starts war accidentally with them.

[Slaists]

Keep a spy in your closest neighbor's cities. Then, when offering a gift to the faction you are likely to see their "priorities" revealed. I had Germans at "amiable" level for some time, however, their priorities were clearly stated as "war"... In about ten turns (from the time the war priority appeared) they attacked... got excommunicated the very next turn since (I guess) my relations to the pope were perfect :) The same could not be said about the Germans. (H Campaign difficulty)

I suppose any tribute will make them less likely to attack you.

I suspect the following:

The AI is less likely to attack you if your relations are so-and-so or reliable and up from there. It may still attack you at so-and-so. This is logical.

If you are at so-and-so, some things may prompt an attack and some things make an attack less likely. I suspect that even if you pay 10 florins/turn it will help. I find that a bit against logic, the continued tribute makes a difference even if it is small, so it seems to have a separate additional influence from the relations with the other factions you see on the diplomacy screen.

Also, it is less likely for a catholic AI to attack you if you have high papal standing.

So, my tactic is to keep the relations at so-and-so with single gifts (maps/500 florins etc.) and also to keep up the small continued tribute. Also, I keep up relations with the pope.

I could be wrong, but so far it is working.

[Oaty]

Also don't milk the AI for all its worth. Making a diplomatic deal that is either considered genorous or very genorous increases relations.

So if you can sell map info for 2000 at balanced and 1300 for genorous, you dhould opt for 1300 unless you need every florin you can get. Also selling the map info for 2700 at demanding may or may not be accepted but it can decrease relations.

[maestro]

I have to say that having heard loads of nay-saying about "M2TW diplomacy is broke" and "it doesn't work" and "the campaign AI is stupid!" that I'm having a great campaign as england on Vh/Vh, mostly cause i'v spent a lot of time and effort on the diplomatic front. I think that the trick is that you have to work at your relationships - keep in touch with your allies and keep an eye on your foes. I allied with the French (outrageous, I know) on my very first turn by marrying my faction heir to a princess of theirs and that forged an alliance which has lasted for over a hundred turns so far. Knowing that the HRE and Denmark would surely attack me, I allied myself quickly to Poland, the Vatican and Portugal and, more recently, to Venice. Again, I have worked on ym relations with my allies; periodically giving them map information or a thousand here and there to keep relations "amiable" or higher. Not a single Alliance has been broken because we have great relations. I can't help but conclude that all those nay-sayers who are whinging about the diplomacy being broken and complaining that alliances aren't worth diddly-squat are simply lazy: an alliance is only worth that which you put into it. If you make an alliance with someone early in the game and don't ever do anything to sure up your relations then they will eventually turn against you - it figures.

Again, by using the diplomatic channels, I have secured tens of thousands of cash from warfare. I have never started a war, but have brought about devastating retribution for those who have crossed me and as a result my diplomatic reputation is reliable. By demanding extortionate money for cease-fires when enemies realise their error of attacking me and for attacking common enemies with allies and again demanding monies there's a lot to be made through diplomacy and this can be used to pay for diplomacy. Diplomacy pays, folks, diplomacy pays.

In my latest "coup de grace", I have literally negotiated global peace! Due to my massive armed forces I was making less than ten thousand cash profit per turn so decided that I needed peace. I sold a cease fire to Milan for twenty thousand and used that coupled with my two, unmarried daughters to broker a couple of other alliances which netted the result of every war ceasing accross the globe! I couldn't believe it! Shows what can be acheived when you're a diplomatic power-house who is trust-worthy, powerful and influential. Oh, did I mention that the last two popes have been English?

Diplomacy takes some effort but is extremely rewarding and adds a fantastic dimension to the game.

[Jagger]

I agree with Maestro's assessment. Diplomacy does work in terms of alliances.

My problem/difficulty is reaching peace with an enemy. Nothing seems to tempt the AI into peace. Any tips on achieving peace during a long war with an enemy

[Slaists]

I have not tried the VH campaign setting yet, but I have similar experience on H. MTW 2 Diplomacy does make sense to me.

In my latest "coup de grace", I have literally negotiated global peace! Due to my massive armed forces I was making less than ten thousand cash profit per turn so decided that I needed peace. I sold a cease fire to Milan for twenty thousand and used that coupled with my two, unmarried daughters to broker a couple of other alliances which netted the result of every war ceasing accross the globe! I couldn't believe it! Shows what can be acheived when you're a diplomatic power-house who is trust-worthy, powerful and influential. Oh, did I mention that the last two popes have been English?

Diplomacy takes some effort but is extremely rewarding and adds a fantastic dimension to the game.