Diplomacy Is Impossible

Because the computer thinks he's the shiznitz

One thing that bugs me incessantly about v1.1 is the fact that at any difficulty level (for opponents) higher than normal, diplomacy is effectively impossible.

The computer produces an endless stream of garbage units (which, incidentally, is one of the reasons it sux, piss poor planning does not win wars), that endless supply of garbage units make his "power" rating go through the roof, and he, therefore, refuses to conduct diplomacy with you, despite the fact that you are kicking his ass eight ways to Wednesday.

At the very least, every battle you stomp the computer like a narc at a biker rally should add to your diplomatic power ranking vis a vis that opponent. The only way to conduct yourself with him on a diplomatic basis as it stands now is to build your own endless stream of garbage, to inflate your own power ranking.

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You get this even at normal. I think one of the most glaring faults, besides the very wonky power calculator (the majority of the time, my fully armoured Sovereign can single handedly defeat their entire army), is the AI refusal to engage in diplomacy on its own outside of a few canned suggestions to send caravans or think about some treaties (not suggesting any it might actually want), and whatever completely absurd calculation is running their peace treaty determination.

I have had war declared on me by a computer opponent because I refused to pay their tribute, crushed the majority of their army and burnt down three cities in the space of seven turns without taking any losses, leaving them with one small city, their sovereign and a child (whose mother I gutted as he fled the field with the capital burning down behind him) in the face of a Kingdom that has just finished a production cycle that slammed it straight to the top of the power ratings....and they still expect me to pay THEM money for a peace treaty.

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So in summary

Obsevations

- Power calculation does not bare much relation to real power
- AI unit builds do a good jub of inflating their power rating, but a poor job of providing real power
- Diplomacy seems to be based on power calculation (and as such is currently producing unsatisfactory results)
- AI sends a stream of units which are easy to defeat, rather than a more concentrated invasion which would be harder

Suggestions

- Make the power formula more accurate (this may improve unit build selection, and AI estimation of the likely force required to defeat an enamy)
- Adjust the perceived power (perhaps based on unit loss history) for the purposes of diplomacy

Questions for you guys (or the developers)

- How does the power formula actually work
- where is the power rating most wonky (undervalues armour/undervalues groups/training)
- what would you do to increase your own power rating fastest at least cost

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Wintersong

Join Date 07/2006

+235

Quoting Khorak,

reply 1

and they still expect me to pay THEM money for a peace treaty.

As a gesture of good will, and mercy by your faction, to help them rebuild.

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I also love , I suicided my spouse into your city! Now I hate you forever! Then there is the Computer: "I hear you have children, want to get them married?" Player : "Sure, sounds good" Computer : "What? Why would I allow a child of mine to marry a degenerate ape like your child? Die in a pit fool!" Player : "@#$&*@#$%^@#$%*@#^$!?!?!?!?!?!?!"

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Agreed. Something REALLY needs to be done with the diplomacy system to make it more encompassing. Right now it's a joke, while the rest of the game is getting in proper order (Combat, Magic, Questiong, etc) the diplomacy system is sadly lacking.

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