now i know we are very close to release so i have no illusions about getting this idea in the game before release. however, its something i have been thinking about.
the problem: why would any player ally himself with someone who is attempting a diplomatic victory? to me this is something that plagues these kinds of games and this victory condition.
the solution: break the alliance into 2 separate treaties. one is simply an alliance. with this alone you CANNOT achieve a diplomatic victory. this is to me 2 kingdoms working together closely, but they are still separate. the winnable condition is to have all other factions accept either a subjugation(for empires), or vassal(kingdoms) treaty.
now, what is the difference? if you are in an alliance you are still your own state. you can break that at anytime if you like. but if you are accept subjugation, then you become part of the player's kingdom that you yielded to. you will gain their color, and whatever else comes with their faction.
the benefit for this is that if you are about to be destroyed by either another opponent, or by the player himself. you still get to play, only you start working for the player you swore fealty to. you would be given control of only your sovereign. now the player you subjugated yourself to can give you control of cities, units, champions and whatnot. if say for example you were given control of a city, you can start making units from that city, and you would have control of them. you would lose all your treasury of resources, but then start building them back up. you could hire new heroes that would be loyal to you.
you could not attack the player that "owns" you, UNLESS you tried to start a rebellion. for example if the player that you work for gives you to much without thinking about it, you might revolt while he is at war. at this point everything that you control, becomes your old faction again. do it to soon, and he may crush your revolt. don't do it soon enough and he may subjugate everyone before you get your chance.
i think this would make a diplomatic victory much more interesting. it would make for a great enhancement to diplomacy for an expansion pack later on down the road.
your thoughts?
