[Freeciv-Dev] Re: treaties and embassies (PR#2274)

[Davide Pagnin <nightmare@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi, all! 

I'm here for some more ideas/comment on embassies and treaties. 

I have some point to propose/explain: 

1) A simple 'contact' should be sufficient to ask for a meeting with
other nation 

2) As how to define 'contact' I think it should be defined this way: 
"If nation A unit enters nation B not-fogged area then a contact is
made" (not needed to enter a city-radius, but two simple units that meet
themselves should suffice) 
I haven't looked at the code, and perhaps this is just the case, now... 

3) After a 'contact' is made, a turn count down should start, (say 20
turns), if no permanent diplomatic status is reached in the meantime,
the 'contact' will vanish and you lose the possibility to call the other
nation. 

4) A permanent status is alliance or peace or one side having an
embassy. 
(Cease-fire will expires at it's real end or at 'contact' expiration) 
(neutral is not permanent) 
(war isn't permanent but is remembered!) 

5) During a meeting, if you haven't an embassy you should have limited
diplomatic options (or better, you should have a limited knowledge of
other nation status, so there are less reason not to agree to a
meeting). 
Example: 
* you shouldn't see how much gold has other nation 
* you shouldn't see how many techs you don't know and that they have 
* you shouldn't see any cities of the other nation that you don't know 
etc. 

6) Embassy report should be more insightful (it should resemble the spy
report of your entire spy network) some possible report we can add: 

* demography number of all nation you have an embassy with 
* the names (thus the number) of every cities of the other nation 
(but not where they are) and which of them is the capital 
* the diplomatic status (treaties with other players) 
* number of units (perhaps detailed?) 

7) we can give some of the above information only if you reach a certain
discover (say espionage for the most powerful ones) 

More words which I like to say but that are somewhat confused: 

I feel that for being able to make and embassy (thus collect information
from the other player by your diplomats and spies) you need to have
already discovered 'writing'. 
Thus, I think that we can add a 'trade embassies' clause, but this
should be possible only if both side knows 'writing', otherwise writing
tech should be part of the clause agreement. 
I think that 'trade embassies' should have a cost. 
(a diplomat or gold equivalent is required, unless you have espionage) 

Moreover, I think that 'alliance' shouldn't be linked of having an
embassy, either side. 

Instead I think that 'shared vision' should be linked to having an
embassy, thus you need make or trade 'embassy' before or together with
'shared vision'. 

Eventually 'shared vision' should let you see also 'diplomatic reports'
of the other player. (They share with you they spy network reports) 


Feedback and comments appreciated! 


Ciao, Davide