I hope they get rid of the random DOW's

[al Roumi]

I think this issue needs to be broken down a bit more than just writing off the whole diplomacy mechanism. Some DoWs are acceptable, and some aren't -for a variety of reasons.

The DoWs that are "unsatisfactory" are those (please correct me or ammend this list) which:
1. Go against the run of relations, e.g. when a "friendly" ally or trade partner reneges on your agreements and drops a DoW
2. An overstretched or ill-prepared faction DoWs -examplified by a complete lack of aggresive military action following the declaration.
3. When being a solitary belligerant against the player (or another faction), is not a sound option for the longevity of the given faction -i.e. they are outclassed.
4. Inter-AI, apparently random DoWs, between factions accross the map, with no contiguous territory or conflicting trade interests (e.g. Poland and Malta...).

So what "should" be happening in these instances?
1. It's fine for a faction to backstab you, but not so for them to do so when Friendly or Very Friendly. It would be more understandable for the player to see their changing attitude, concern or other, expressed in relations shifting towards at least "indifferent" before DoWing, with an increasing factor (e.g. territorial expansion) determining the change.
2. Factions already at war should not make DoWs that they cannot act upon. e.g. If the UP are at war with France and Spain, what is the point in them DoWing on Prussia?
3. Small or impotent factions, should seek the protection of others -small or large, against their greatest threat. Then, as a credible block, stick together and stand for their mutual interest and survival.
4. As I'm sure has been coded into the diplomacy mechanism already, Economic and strategic greed and concerns should drive the policy of AI factions. Quite how these sorts of events happens is a mystery -unless they are symptoms of a minor grievance overlayed on a "indifference" between the AIs -i.e that there is so little going on between the 2 factions to influence their dealings that for whatever reason, it seems reasonable for them to DoW. Perhaps this relates to point 2, but with the added requirement for Factions to have the means or possibility to commit troops against each other.