Diplomacy is entirely broken (The other side of the coin)

[Yun Dog]

Let me paint a picture with all this AI diplomacy hammering going on:

"In all these examples, pretend if you will, or can, that the tables are turned. Just for a moment."

You the player, suddenly find yourself playing this small single province nation, or vastly reduced nation that has gotten the pants slapped out of it by a large, very well run, vastly superior Empire that is expanding across the globe at a rapid and terrifying rate. Clearly all it has in mind is total and complete world domination. You know it, your fellow kings, queens and Prime Ministers know it, and so does the ruler of this terrifying nation.

What do you do as this faction you suddenly find yourself playing?

a) Sue for peace, knowing that at any moment you can be crushed and that essentially you exist at the pleasure of some despot sitting on his throne, or in Parliament somewhere? Why do you know this? Because most of the time you share a boarder with this nation. You know the composition of its armed forces, economic power and demenour...it's not rocket science.

Your lot in life, to live a meek and completely irrelevant existence.

b) Sue for protectorate status, join this mighty empire, become it's lap dog, feed off its teat and enjoy the benefits of being part of the global domination, albeit limited as ou hand all your wealth across yearly to the rich greedy nation. Your lot in history is to forever be at the mercy of it's rulers.

c) Stick up two fingers, tell them to go to hell and go down fighting with all guns blazing. Forever refusing to capitulate roll over and die.

d) Stick up two fingers at this might Empire, build up the biggest army you can and sit, in defiance for the rest of time in your nations capital. Both you and this terrifying nation know full well that your goal is to ensure that IF this nation decides to attack, you will ensure that you take down as many of them as possible. Why do you do this? Because you don't have the capacity to raise enough troop to go on the offensive. You can't protect your homeland and attack.

Keep in mind I'm only talking about the AI diplomacy.

WHICH one would you choose?

I'm sick and tired of the eternal bashing going on. There seems to be a ground swell of thought pervading this board that things are really, really, really bad.

So I ask again, swap positions, just for a second, and see if ANY of the behaviour you are seeing would be something YOU would do as the player if you were playing that nation?

It doesn't explain all of it, but it certainly removes a lot of the complaints I'm seeing.

you forgot E) act like your best mates - all the time placating him, stroking his ego, anything for peace, behind his back go and find some other nations who also hate the upcoming empire or are scared of them - then after some years of fat peace whilest you and your allies have been training and building up your armies - you stike with the speed of a cobra and the might of the thunder god himself - and your great enemy is no more.


now wouldnt that be cool


you can see the human player now FAT on his throne, comfortable in his delusions of grandure, an emisary from the pathetic nation of Hanover sir - "have you come for your monthly tribute" - No your majesty I have come for your surrender - "BAH HA HA HA - you and what army BOY" - me and the french army sir, and the Bavarian army sir, and the people of Austria, and the Danes"

"Sounds like thunder"

That would be french artillary sir


or F) Side with him and use him as your rabid dog on a leash to dominate other smaller nations, let the Human destroy the army while you sneak in and take the province, growing little by little a province here and there on the tail of the tiger, using your alliance with him to intimidate bigger neighbours and get rich. Until one of them makes you an offer to be rid of your great friend once and for all - hmm tempting

this is the politics of the day, double dealing, making any agreement to ensure you werent swallowed up, then switching sides at the last minute once you were sure of victory - not the beligerant model we have currently

I appreciate your trying to take a glass half full view over the half empty

but honestly mate you need to have some beer in the glass first