So far Ill Ive heard out of most of you is why diplomacy is good, but not one of you have said why its going to be good. The old Turn based games like Master of Orion had diplomacy, not sure if even many of you even played that game. but you could trade Tech with the AI and make alliances, but again that worked well because that game was built from the start with that type of gaming in mind. Is that going to be the case with this new addon? I seriously doubt it, Ive modded this game and seen how the scripts work and ships gain their tech. So unless IC is going to do a full on revamping of the engine and rewrite the scripts I just dont see this happening.
You all can bash me all you want about the viability of having Diplomacy but for the most part its not a valid option unless you can trade tech, or gain territory with the AI. And you guys cant even agree or convince me that in MP games where is this or how is it going to work? And nit pick all you want about the Single Player button being there, call it SP all you want but when you get right down to it its Skirmish. For those of you that play by yourselves Diplomacy may work for you in this game if its done right. Watch and see when it comes time for the reviews that this new addon will get trashed. watch and see.
Just start thinking outside the box man.
Diplomacy can have very effective offensive uses in a purely human controlled multiplayer game.
i.e. Lets use the example of a standard 6 player game on a huge map. There are three players on each team. Say it's getting close to mid-game and u have concentrated on making your empire a diplomatic one. U make your midgame gambit and spend the resources to build, (I'm gonna make up a building) an embassy in enemy territory. In that system, even if it's controlled by an enemy player, his ships will not be able to target your ships as long as they make no hostile moves and you don't attack the enemy's empire directly. As long as you keep completing whatever NPC missions that planet's govt. asks of you and you keep their loyalty rating above a certain level you have diplomatic immunity in that system.
The benefits to your team are immediately obvious. Your trade ships can go more places without fear of being destroyed. You can move ships and materiel from one planet/system to another, even in enemy held territory. Allowing you to launch surprise attacks from anywhere you can negotiate your way into. once you decide you dont feel like playing nice anymore. So for example you clandestinely build embassies on 4 planets controlled by the enemy. Those planets are linked by phase lanes into the deep rear of the enemy's main border with your team's empires. This forces the enemy team to have to redeploy defensive structures to guard against a possible strike from anywhere along those worlds you have a non-aggression treaty in.
The possible options for multiplayer diplomacy are many. Just think outside the box a little and you'll see how things can be implemented to give the game more strategic depth with actual multiplayer consequences.
