What in the world is the "-militaristic" predicate?

from GalCiv2 Forums
In this ongoing thread here, Link, there seems to be no-one who can actually say what this predicate is. The context is the "reports" tab of the foreign relations screen, where a nation's relations to others is determined.
Please, if possible, take a look at the arguments and data listed in that thread and tell me what in the world the "-militaristic" predicate means.
- Is it a predicate attributed to other civilizations?
- Is it a predicate attributed to your own civilization based on some ratio (which?) of factors (which?) to that civilization?
- most importantly: How is the predicate earned, and what factors can counter it?

Thank you
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Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Agreed, this should be a bit clearer. Is it that this race is just militaristic, and doesn't like anybody? Or do they think I am too militaristic (as a race) and they don't like that, no matter what I do? Or did I fight too much in the past (regardless of my current military strength?) Or is it about THEIR military strength, i.e. their military is so strong that they don't need allies anymore? Or something completely different?
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks for answering! But some of the questions, Alien Duck, which you posed were discussed in the thread I linked to above.
Surely "-militaristic" cannot involve military strength, since this is a separate predicate, e.g. "++our military strength".
We need to know to whom this predicate applies (e.g. is "-militaristic" applied to them, to us, or to both only under certain (which?) circumstances), and why (that is, how can you gain this predicate, how can you lose it).
Star Control: Origins
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thats one of the interesting points.
By the way, in the diplomacy screen: Did anybody get something different than " their people don't have a real opinion on us". Just today the altarians contacted me and said "We really admire you and would like to give you 89 bc" (more like peanuts compared to my treasury - but I appreciated the gesture ). So I was grateful and checked the screen and that said the "no opinion" thing.

I enjoy the game very much and really appreciate stardocks support and attitude towards their game and their customers! Some developers and publishers should learn from that. (Since Stardock showws a lot of is interest in this subject: your "no cd protection and free" policy and your reputation for support would have been the deciding points for purchsing the game - if there were't so many others already!)

But back o the subject:
I think that some things in the game should be a bit more comprehensible. Like "militaristic". Or the difference between the abilities defense and hit points. Or what is the "starshipbonus" you get on some random events ( like starshipbonus + 16%). Are they cheaper, greater hull size, more hitpoints?

I read in a post that they intentionally made some game mechanics like economy more cryptic and that they don't say stuff like "10.000 population + trade center = 1.000 credits tax" or "100 credits to Drengin gives you friendly status". And I like that. It adds more atmosphere to the game, feels more real and not so coded and bound by strict rules - even though it is of course.
However some things could use some explanation or a better definition. A lot can be understood by trial and error, but I would rather use that time for trial and error in different strategies or more games than spending it on understanding the exact description of a tech or ability.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What's a predicate?

nice alex.. next time just google a word you dont know... in this day and age everything is on google anyway. Accdg to Answers.com
>pred·i·cate
1. Grammar. One of the two main constituents of a sentence or clause, modifying the subject and including the verb, objects, or phrases governed by the verb, as opened the door in Jane opened the door or is very sleepy in The child is very sleepy.
2. Logic. That part of a proposition that is affirmed or denied about the subject. For example, in the proposition We are mortal, mortal is the predicate.

Anyway, militaristic is a a modifier or "predicate" about that particular civ you are looking up. This is totally not about you since you can actually see that modifier even if u have not lifted a finger against anyone. It simply states that those guys u are looking at are either expansionistic / beefing up their military / intent on making war or have already initiated a war. The devs probably made a function which checks a bunch of those tendencies and returns that negative modifier if it reaches some threshold.

bottom line is you cant do anything about it. it's how they are. deal.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It wouldnt surprise me if it meant that there are not more planets to sent colony ships to; I've not tested this, though...
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
the empires i usully see it applied to are the Arceans, Altairans, those for sure, and iirc the Drath.

i'd bet the Drengin get it too, and proably the Yor, but i never worry about checking their report, since i never expect them to be nice to me anyway.

i don't think i've seen the Terrans, Torains, or Korx with this predicate, but i may just have missed it.

anyway, if it always appears on the same races and not on others, then it's a fair bet it's not something having to do with the player's empire, eh?

i always just figured that it meant, "these guys are militaristic, so they are have poor(er) relations with you than a non-militaristic race would."

i've not read the other thread yet... was this idea proposed and discarded or something?
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It's a randomly selected stat for another civ. Notice it appears for some civ's and not others. Plus, in the diplomacy screen, if you look through the windows you will see either "They are not very militaristic" or "They are very militaristic"
It's randomly applied at the beginning of the game to races who will probably go for Conquest (maybe occasionally cultural) victory.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
"-Militaristic" means that race is bloodthirsty, while "++Our military Strength" could mean they're cowed or just liking to stay close buy, preferably on a side opposite their enemies.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

What wicked flea says.

Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What wicked flea says.


So is this random? How do civs get to be that way? Is it some flavor element attributed to certain civs (randomly?) to make diplomacy more challenging, or is their some incentive to be militaristic?