allies and voting

We can ask France and Germany

I like the idea of the Unite Planets. But, I have no influence on what is voted on, and no influence on how the others will vote. Therefore, it is just another extra that could have been much better than it is.

As far as I know, there is no way to see how your allies vote in the UP meetings. I don't know if the way you vote changes their opinion of you, but my hunch is that it does not.

I'd like to see the United Planets idea taken further than it has been so far. Like the OP stated, you have no idea how the other civilizations will vote on the issue at hand. Why not have the option to speak with the leaders after the issue is announced, but before before voting? That way, you can try to swing them to vote one way, or they can try to bribe you to vote another way. The idea of bartering influence in the abstract (i.e., when trading techs, ships, and the like) could become much more real by direct bargaining with friends and enemies in the background at the UP meetings.

Just my 2bc.

Uru

I would also like to see an option to suggest a topic for a vote. Right now the topics appear to be random. Players should have the option to suggest a topics for a vote every "x" turns. Perhaps like in MOO2, there could be a chairman of the council who gets certain benefits (better espionage, more info on other races) as well as the ability to suggest a topic more often.

You can sort of guesstimate. If your allies are expanding into other's territory, and a proposal for a tax on starbases in foreign territory or taxes on bordering planets, they will most definetly vote "NO!". You pretty much have to look at their situation, and you can only help them that way.

In the trade thing, you can buy votes by trading credits for influence points. thats what they vote with.

Expanding the UP to be more intreractive has been discussed alot. I have not heard of any word on doing anything with it though.

Perhaps like in MOO2, there could be a chairman of the council who gets certain benefits (better espionage, more info on other races) as well as the ability to suggest a topic more often.

uhm we might play a different game here but in MOO2 there were only 3 possible results after a vote:
-no one is elected.
-you got elected and win, unless you don't accept the vote which unites all other races against you
-someone else wins, unless you don't accept the vote which unites all other races against you

Nothing with chairman or anything here...

Another way to guesstimate is by looking at their background. The Korx will generally go for anything to increase trade, but since they're strategy usually involves blowing up your trade routes they won't portect freighters. I have never EVER seen a Drengin or a Yor vote go towards limiting evil or warlike civilisations in any way. The altarians however, do it all the time. They also enjoy the vote which taxes you for being in their sector. The good ol' "Get orf moi laaaaand" tactic.
Oh, and the Torians do everything in spite of the Drengin. Not sure about the others yet.

In terms of expanding the United Planets, just having more information on what you are voting on would be a start. E.g. a tax on starbases is proposed, but I never know off the top of my head how many starbases I or any other race actually have.

Something like Sid Meier's (or should I say Bryan Reynold's...Sid, you thief ) Alpha Centauri would be great.

-"Erm, fellow Drenging, I need you to vote for me in the next meeting"
-"Only if you sacrifice your newborn to us, pinkskin"

I hope that the UP, espionage and diplomacy will be further expanded in future updates/expansions

I also think that the UP needs more options. (bribe for example )

And the options should be more logic. for example a question: How many modules the starbeses should have maximum: 2,4,8, nolimit.
If all options get 1 vote then the more influenced race will win, in this case let it be 2 modules. But if I say no-limit, the other options (4,8) still better for me so my vote should count for those also. (if no-limit cannnot win at least let it be 8).
I hope you can understand (my english is far from good )