FortyTwo

Join Date 08/2006

Alliances in DA

Now more frequent than before?

In my last few games of DA I've noticed that other civs are much more willing to ally with me than in DL 1.4x. I've found that developing an alliance doesn't take tremendous effort - I simply maintain trade and treaties, trade techs, build a moderately sized defensive fleet, and most importantly don't act aggressively against my neighbors.

On net, I'm pretty pleased with this. I was rarely able to develop alliances in DL. Now that I can, it much improves the role playing element of the game. I enjoy having some friends around that I can rely on, or that I can come to the aid of in their time of need. I've even had a minor (the I-League) ask for an alliance, presumably so I would could to defend them against their threatening neighbors, the Korx. Fighting off the invading Korx fleets - which I likely would not have done otherwise - made for one of my more memorable "storylines."

In any case, I'd be be curious to know if others are having similar experiences with alliances in DA, and their thoughts on the matter.

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Philocthetes

Join Date 10/2003

+153

FortyTwo, if I hadn't switched from the beta back to DL for my current game, I'd completely agree with you. I felt pretty much the same way about most of my DA beta games.

But back in DL-land, I'm playing with my typical pre-DA beta settings (huge map, common/abundant real estate, and Tough AIs), only for some reason in this game I've had something close to the experience you describe. It has pretty much become my "problem" b/c I didn't expect to have so many Close moments and b/c I couldn't pass them up, it seems like one of those pre-World War alliance structures might be shaping up.

I believe the only difference in my strategy is that I've finally learned to put more effort into throwing gifts at the AIs whom I want to court as allies. I'm also not sure I could pull of as much butt-kissing with the DA timeouts on diplo "moments." But basically I also

simply maintain trade and treaties, trade techs, build a moderately sized defensive fleet, and most importantly don't act aggressively against my neighbors

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They seem almost a little TOO eager to build alliances... double their military power and have tons of trade, you've basically got an alliance in waiting with everyone.

Personally, I'd like it if Civs would go for that first alliance easily, but would be uncomfortable with creating an alliance with you if you're allied with someone they dislike. A bit of disliking your association with them...

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well there is a point in allying somebody that is more stronger and powerfull than you, it is logical.

however its also nice ifthey take into account the ammount of allies you already have (though i would also wanna be part of thebigger coalition) and what kind of allies you have and what your alligment is.

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I personally hate the tweak thats happened with the AI alliances. Its probably just my neutral econ. strategy, but it annoys me to no end with the all-out galactic wars that insue once everyone is allied to everyone else. Its non-stop and it screws with my trade routes! haha.
I actually had a brilliant idea this morning to try setting all the civs at either a neutral philosophy or very close to it either way. I havent tried it yet, but Im hoping that a galaxy mostly neutral to eachother will be less inclined to create alliances and reak havoc...atleast until later in the game. lol. Perhaps this will solve my alliances greviances.

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You mean I can get a diplomatic victory again? ~Gasp~ Glee!

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Can anyone tell me if also with tech trading off it is possible to ally with other races?

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Marioflag : yes it is possible... have some trade and good military. (I always play with "Tech Trade" off)

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I'm also not sure I could pull of as much butt-kissing with the DA timeouts on diplo "moments."

I haven't found this to be a hindrance. From what I've seen, DA alliances require less in the way of butt-kissing than DL ever did. In DL I could throw money and techs at a civ and never get beyond "friendly"; as many have noted elsewhere, when a civ did become close, there always seemed to be a great deal of black-box randomness to it.

Now I just give techs every few turns, as I find it necessary for my own tech needs. I've done very little in the way of gifting.

You mean I can get a diplomatic victory again? ~Gasp~ Glee!

Roger that. I couldn't be happier. Many of my games end this way now - because I ally with all the good civs, then defeat any evil civs through a combination of influence and force. It makes for a much more enjoyable scenario than "my civ vs. the universe," especially when half the civs in that universe are friendly to me and share the same ethical alignment.

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Even though it seems everyone on this thread is pro-alliances, I figured Id give a quick update on my idea. It seems to have worked the way I wanted, though Im only half way through my current game. I went in and set each race(playing huge galaxy with the max 9 races) to as close a neutral alignment. With a few exceptions, i gave a race or two +- a few pts each way but a majority of them were pure neutral. In other words most were a dead 50 on the ethical scale, but 1-2 were either 55-65(leaning good) or 35-45(leaning evil). As opposed to most games ive played before where everyone was allied to everyone else and in a constant state of war. This time around ive only seen one or two alliances between races(which makes it all the more easy for me to go through them one by one and pick 'em off). Needless to say, ill be setting my games like this from here on out.

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A quick question --- in all the DA games I've played, once I make an alliance with an AI race, I've NEVER had them break it (unless you don't come to their aid if they are attacked). Are there other conditions that will make them break the alliance? Also, I've never had the AI offer me an alliance (or a treaty for that matter).

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Philocthetes

Join Date 10/2003

+153

I got offered some alliances in a few DA games, but I don't recall an AI breaking one.

If you've got more military strength than your ally, I doubt the AI is inclined to break an alliance to attack you. In fact, I don't immediately recall an AI breaking an alliance with me in any of my DL games either, even when I managed to go from a weakling friend to a potential threat.

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