[Freeciv-Dev] Re: (PR#5140) Help needs updating for AI diplomacy

["John Wheeler" <jdwheeler42@xxxxxxxxx>]

--- "Per I. Mathisen" <per@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> On Fri, 19 Sep 2003, John Wheeler wrote:
> Very good! A few nitpicks:
> 
> +   - You can't make an alliance with a nation if
> you're not at \
> +peace with them. \
> 
> This is only true for the AI, and it tells you what
> is wrong (more reasons
> than above hints at). So I suggest this line is
> dropped.

Whoops! I forgot to put in that bit about that only
being true for the AI.  The line could easily be
changed to:

"   - You can't always make alliances with the AI, for
several different reasons."

I put that line in there precisely because I found
that behavior very disconcerting until I got used to
it, since that is not the way human diplomacy (or IIRC
AI diplomacy in Civ2) works.

Since the game does *immediately* give the reason, I
agree the reasons don't need to be listed.  (If the
error message was only after the treaty was approved,
that definitely would need to explained ahead of
time.)

> +   - If you don't have an embassy, then you can't
> request any \
> +advances.  If you do have an embassy, you can only
> offer the \
> +advances the other nation doesn't know. \
> 
> How about: "If you don't have an embassy, then you
> can't request any
> advances, but you can give your own freely, but be
> aware that you can
> offer advances that the other party already has." Or
> something? The last
> part of the above sentence is kinda obvious, IMHO.

Or, "   - If you don't have an embassy, then you can't
request any advances.  (If you have an embassy,
advances you both know will show not show up in the
dialog.)"

Sure it's logical, but meeting someone before and
after making an embassy with them, having all those
advances disappear was a bit of a puzzle for me.

> +unless you really are ready to make war against
> them.  Don't \
> +expect other nations to stay at peace with you if
> you bribe \
> +their units, though.\
> ... or incite or poison their cities ... anything
> else that gives casus
> bellum (reason for war)?

Perhaps that should be split into another item:

"   - If you give someone a reason for war ("causus
bellum") by bribing their units or inciting or
poisoning their cities, they can declare war on you
without much damage to reputation."

Actually, I'm not entirely clear how causus bellum
works.  Is that list exhaustive?  Is there no damage
to their reputation?  Does yours get damaged?  (If the
answers aren't yes, no, and no, that line will need
adjustment.)
 
> Also, the AI will not look kindly on you building a
> spaceship. If you do,
> and you lead the race, it will declare war on you,
> even if you are its
> ally!

Good point.  How about: "   - The AI may declare war
on you if you're winning the space race, even if you
are an ally!"
 

I definitely do appreciate the feedback.

--

++JohnWheeler

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