The Diplomatic Corps

**LuckyDog Trojan** · 02-21-2007, 20:46

Having played 2 or 3 campaigns as the Julli or Brutii, I've made limited use of my diplomatic corp. Oh sure, like most or all of you, I've certainly used them to set up trade agreements, bribe rebel or enemy armies and sell map info on occasion.

Beyond this, however, I've never really tweaked with the full capabilities that the R:TW diplomatic element brings to the game. After all, I was a Roman - and we Romans could care less about who is allied with who. Once I got rolling, I'd go wherever I wanted whenever I wanted to. Such is life when you're the biggest, baddest bully on the block.

But now... ... having started a fresh campaign as Parthia... things are a little different. Now, all of a sudden, I AM paying attention to who has alliances with whom. Pontus, Selecuia, Armenia, Scythia & Egypt all have alliances with each other.

So I think it might be a good idea to get on board with this regional pact and wait to see 'who blinks first'. (Sort of like August, 1914 all over again).

My question to you as fellow conquerors, to what extent have you / do you use your diplomatic corp? I've never really got into this aspect of the game before - but I'm sure glad CA made it a considered element of R:TW.

**professorspatula** · 02-22-2007, 01:04

Diplomatic corps? For crying out loud, what a term!

Diplomacy in TW games is somewhat lacking, and RTW is no exception. If you didn't pay too much attention to it as the Romans, I wouldn't worry too much about it as Parthia or anyone else. The AI loves to team up against you, especially in the east where you seem to be picked on no matter who you are. You can try and forge temporary alliances (and believe me when I say temporary as seldom do they last long or have any significance to them) but overall you are up against it. It's such a shame diplomacy isn't a bigger part of the game as I'd really relish an opportunity to attempt to take on a strong coalition of factions fighting for one another.

Aside for bartering for trades rights and the occasional cease-fire, diplomacy is something you seldom need to resort to when you have an AI hellbent on ignoring your demands or backstabbing you on the rare occasion they do agree to be friends.

**Mooks** · 02-22-2007, 02:32

Simply put. The diplomacy is good for nothing more then trade and map info. Other then that, pretend your dealing with a bunch of 4 year olds and you got a accurate picture of what its like.

**Omanes Alexandrapolites** · 02-22-2007, 09:08

Hi,
I love to use a group of alliances to gang up on the enemy. Once, when I was playing as the Scipii, me Armenia, The Greek Cities and Parthia ganged up against Egypt, Pontus and Gaul (somehow they were a super-power in the east, no idea why). Of course, since I was allied with these peoples, to insure their loyalty I had to pay them off - paying allies 1000+ per turn is a good way to prevent them attacking you.

The map was quite simple. The Greek Cities controlled everywhere in Southern Turkey excluding the region with the Mausoleum in it - that was mine. Parthia has a sandwiched empire between Gaul and Egypt, Pontus was large in the North of Turkey, Armenia was down to one province which was their homeland, Egypt had a huge empire down south controlling most of Eastern North Africa, while Gaul had surrounded Armenia. Of course my tactic was simple. Parthia and Armenia were poor so I offered them a huge 20,000 denarii per turn to build up an army. The Greeks, however, were rich enough to be able to hold out, although to ensure their loyalty I gave them 1,000 per turn. Sadly the Greeks army was meagre so I sent my full stack legions on patrol through their lands keeping the powerful Pontos away from the border allowing them to take control of the offensive against the enemy in the North. As for Gaul I sent a whole legion across the Gallic empire into Armenia to help them defend it while they built up an army. Parthia was left to fend for itself. I knew that if Gaul or Egypt got common borders they could possibly attack each other leaving me free to take out their outlying provinces. Parthia did, however mange to hold out. Once the Greeks and the Armenians had a nice army I sent my legions out and followed them. I besieged which ever towns they besieged and followed them all the way until eventually Egypt was back with its starting provinces and Gaul was dead. That left me free to finish them off quickly. Of course three turns after Egypt's destruction the AI decided that we had no common cause so attacked me. I just beat the brains out of my former allies....

**Punicus** · 02-23-2007, 17:26

I would love to say that having no alliances as a non-Roman faction makes no difference, but it can really screw you over when you're playing as Carthage with like eight enemies down your throat and not one friend to help you out (this happens to me every time I play as them, btw the difficulty is H/H).

Making use of your diplomats is really important, use them. And make sure you have enough of them, too. Running out of diplomats (to bribe and maybe call ceasefires when needed) while conquering enemy lands with no reinforcing armies to protect your main one will mean the death of that army, almost all the time if you don't go back.

**César Victor** · 02-24-2007, 20:54

As Roman, I never looked at my enemies and allies. Simply, everyone was an enemy! Even the Scipii, Brutii and Senate are eventually enemies so there is no real point to diplomacy as a Roman. Sure, you can bribe armies but I'd rather keep the cash and steamroller them instead.

But, like LuckyDog and his Parthians, I'm paying close attention to my allies as Germany. Three of my "allies" so far have stabbed me in the back- Gaul, Dacia and Thrace- and I'm not too happy with having Macedonia as an ally; they're only one city south of my most eastern forces.

I would be happy to stay allies with these people- it would make killing the Romans much easier, not to mention the trade income. But while they all keep stabbing me in the back, I'm just going to have to keep killing them all. Bloody deceitful AI peeves me off...