How to request an ally attack another civ?

from GalCiv2 Forums
Firstly, thanks to Stardock for a great game and even better support. I've learned loads just by lurking here & reading others' posts.

I have a problem with diplomacy. I am playing as the Terrans in a huge galaxy with (at this stage of the game) Drengins, Yor, Dark Yor and Aceans remaining. I'm on Normal difficulty with randomised intelligence. I'm running beta 4.

Currently I'm getting my ass handed to me. I'm allied with the Aceans, at war with the Yor (who are demonstrating some beautiful AI by tailoring their ships to crush mine) and enjoying 'warm' relations with the Drengin. The Aceans are at war with the Yor but not doing very much about it.

I'd really like to ask the Aceans to start a war with the Drengin for me. When I click on "Attack" in the diplomacy screen though, the only race that shows up is the Dark Yor minors. The Aceans aren't allied with the Drengin, so I think I should be able to ask them to start a fight.

Anyway I had a search around here but couldn't find any info on this. I'm sure I've just overlooked something obvious but any help would be appreciated.

TIA

T
4,210 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I believe that a civ won't attack another civ if it's allied or relations are friendly or better. Though don't quote me on that, it's just my observation.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Okay, makes sense. I'll check that tonight - before I get wiped out.

I'd love to be able to ask my ally to to step up his war efforts against the Yor a bit. It's probably something I can encourage by giving him military techs so he can counter their ships more effectively.

Thanks

T
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
This is my only real complaint with GC2 as it stands. The 'diplomacy' system is more accurately a 'trade' system, and the player can only indirectly influence the AIs diplomatic decisions. The AI can send you all manner of informative 'I hate the x' or 'I am declaring war on x help me' messages, and the player can't. Even indirectly, there's no way that I've found to reduce the relationship between two AI - you can't say 'I don't like x, here's $6,000', etc.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yep, diplomacy is really lacking. I keep longing for the range of options I had in Space Empires III (there are more in IV I believe) and that's a game from... what... '97?
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
To be fair, good dip systems are *extremely* rare in TBS games across the board. I believe this is due to the one-sided nature of most of them, where in the end you're going to kill everyone anyway. It's a problem in GC2, though, since you actually can play in relatively non-violent ways... so you expect to be able to 'talk' to people instead of just 'sell' them stuff.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Good points actually. I hadn't really noticed the limitation until I started playing on harder levels. On the easier levels you don't really explore the game's limits at all, but once you're getting more of a challenge you need to use more of the game to win.

I expect the mechanics of relations between the civs are quite subtle & complex, like a web of all kinds of factors. The developers have probably only given us the ability to pull a couple of major threads. Maybe as the patches roll on and the changes get bedded in they'll open up more ways of influencing the engine.

T
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
There is also trouble with making the AI understand such commands and act appropriately on them. Just as with every other part of the game, the options are useless if the AI can't make use of them effectively.