Simple use of diplomatic currency

from Elemental Forums

i have read alot on these forums about peoples concerns about the use of diplomatic currency outside of AI bribery.  what i propose is simple and can make diplomacy useful in multiplayer matches as well as give it value to players so that the AI can barter with it as well.

simply use it in game as another resource needed to produce things.  example.

you want to build a lumber mill, ok it cost you 40 gold.  however if you want to sell a palace or some other high level improvement to the people.  have it cost some diplomatic currency along with whatever it cost.  maybe add a few new improvements that your people maybe wary about.  use the DC to reassure them.

example 2.

you want to hire arvix.  hes a decent fighter and rather mercenary, gold will suffice for him. however if you want to hire reygre the immortal berserker then its gonna cost you some gold PLUS a lot of diplomacy to get him on your side.  also if he is killed then he is resurrected back at a random spot on the map with a complete loss of memory.  he no longer works for you and you gotta hire him again if you want.

perhaps you run across a powerful druid and being a druid has no need for money, but diplomacy can get her to your side, but it looks like you killed the mother wolf instead of save her.  you are gonna hae to spend DOUBLE the diplo points to get her to your side now.

you meet a dragon and it will cost you a lot of diplomacy just to get him to talk to you about the quest he wants you to go on to gain his favor.

there are lots of stuff that you could throw a little diplomacy at to help you along, AND make the resource more valuable as a trade resource for human players as well.

it wouldn't take any retooling of the system to implement this, a little programming i suppose(unless you want those diplo specific improvements).

just my 2 cents.

3,984 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

not sure i am for this idea.. however not sure i am against.. i can see uses for DC out side of diplomacy (i.e. dealing with other kingdoms) but it may take away from one of the potential good reasons to push diplomacy research...  I am kinds of fond that each of the trees has some thing unique about it that makes it desirable to pursue...

like i said just not sure... lets here some more input on this :D

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

I kinda like it, you can make the diplomacy tree have more techs to gain/produce more DC and the DC can be spent to influence people. It would be neat if you could spend just straight DC on an adventurer or use it to lower there price(i don't know about requiring for quests though).

But i think of DC like a physical representation of say your reputation or negotiating talent the more you negotiate the more stressed/tired your soveriegn becomes hence needing a break to recharge. Or expending some of your influence (calling in favors) to other empires which would reduce your pull with others(think of that guy that's always trying to get stuff for free) you need time between your favors hence the decline in DC.

Under that interpretation i could see it work.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

no, twohawks i am not saying they should get rid of it from the diplotree or anything like that.  everything will be exactly as it is now, its just you can spend those points on other things.  it gives hard value to it, so that a player can use it.  as it is now, you can only use it to influence the AI factions.  i want to use it to influence AI npcs, your own people, certian intellegent monsters.  basically make it a spendable resource.

example:

i can spend it on an improvement that the populace might normally object to.  say for instance, i could create a casino.  this would increase prestige  and monetary intake a great bit.  however since most people consider gambling to be sinful or atleast in bad taste the populace might not like that.  so it would require diplomacy points to win them over to the idea.  this would take from the pool, so i might not be able to bargain as well against a foreign power.  also it might keep me from trying to win over certain very powerful champions.