Only Needs Friendly to Ally?

Actually, I just realized that the actual relations were one higher than shown on the foriegn relations screen.

Hmm? I also ally at friendly. Is it supposed to be at close? Is the FR screen displaying the 'actual' relations wrong?

Are you sure it is not with one of the minor races?
I just tried it, and with the minor races you can ally when friendly. With the major races it was only with close.

No, the treaties screen and the FR screen show different answers with FR being one lower. I am pretty sure that the treaties screen is right.

I read somewhere, in the manual I think, that you are SUPPOSED to have a chance to ally at friendly. How big a chance depends on your diplomacy skill.

That'd tally with my experience...managed to ally with 4 in my last game all at friendly having researched all diplomacy techs. Only succeeded once in previous games, where I don't normally bother with the diplomacy.

I read somewhere, in the manual I think, that you are SUPPOSED to have a chance to ally at friendly. How big a chance depends on your diplomacy skill. That'd tally with my experience...managed to ally with 4 in my last game all at friendly having researched all diplomacy techs. Only succeeded once in previous games, where I don't normally bother with the diplomacy.

Ok, but it is higher than shown on all levels, not just friendly and close.