The trouble is, now it seems impossible to get anyone to "close".
Getting friendly is rather easy, but close is now seemingly impossible.

The bug was to fix forming an ally when friendly, not to altogether prevent becoming close.

it is tough to make alliances.... but the game is alot more realistic, and I have watched relationships go all over the place.... I have two allies, and our alliance is strong.. it is keeping our enemies at bay.

I just formed an alliance today with the Atceans So it is possible.

I don't mind it being difficult to form a "alliance". But near impossible is another thing.

It seems to have gone from one extreme to another. (Mind you, I know its not impossible. The Ai did it. After a couple 100 turns.)

For me, It should build up after a long time of investment. Sorta like, the espionage feature. Let say, after 10,000 credits of trade. A alliance is formed.

Or a alliance of convenience to contain a "Greater threat". Like the dread lords. And after the dread lords are eradicated, then the alliance is dissolved. (Sorta like the "Botf" Military alliance to stop the Borg.)

As it stands now, The larger the galaxy. The easier of a aliance forming due to trade. (If Alliance's are based on trade value's) As I have read. ??? As of now, Alliance is near impossible to form on a smaller map.

i think the report tab is vital for alliances but one i always get is "militeristic" does this mean they dont like me beacause i am or they are militaristic or am i missing the point. By the way tributing money can help you. In 1.2 i went from neutral to friendly with a race by giving them a wad of cash, but this only works to an extent with good races.

it used to be way to easy to win via alliances now that they fixxed it its alot more realistic.

Agree, much too difficult to forge alliances now. With 1.3, they went from one extreme to the other. Can we please get that right? It has a huge impact on the way the game plays. As it stands, you could win a couple military conquests before you could win a diplomatic victory.

As a customer, it's great to see all these updates and I really do appreciate it. However, it's frustrating to see one problem fixed only to be replaced by another. Sometimes it's as if the developers are making changes without actually playing the game to see what effect they will have.

Well, you definitely can't "buy" close relations in 1.3. Just to test I spent about 10k+ as well as giving away ships and even planets to another civ, and we remained friendly the whole time and nothing more.

I am curious what other methods could be used to bring everyone closer together? Don't research a lot in the way of influence stuff? So they're not worried about our "alarming influence." Any ideas?

How strong is your military compared to the other race? Having a stronger military than them will make them more inclined to like you (just like having a weak military makes them more inclined to see you as a waste of time or, worse, as easy prey).

AI races, like nations in the real world, generally like to cozy up to a bigger dog. Allying with someone stronger than you earns you a degree of protection you could never muster yourself. Allying with someone weaker just exposes you to getting dragged into a war you don't want, and having to bail the lesser partner out when they inevitably get in over their heads. AI races, understandably, aren't eager to jump into a situation where that will happen.

So flex your muscles! Show the other race that you can not only hold your own, but you have the strength to help them out in times of need!


-Cauldyth

P.S. Just don't park your newly manufactured fleets too close to their border.

I am in the middle of a 1.3 game, gigantic, tough, with 6 enemies. I allied with the Arceans very early, then went to war with and destroyed the Drengans. The Thalians then allied with me. Right now the Arceans and Thalians are my allies, the Torians and Alterians are friendly and I am on the verge of conquering the Korx. I am a playing as Terran and have researched much of the yellow techs. It can be done!

Alliances aren't broken, but way tougher. I have a 4 person alliance as do the Arceans (in my current game). We are allied as well, but I was forced into a war because the Arceans started a war with someone, and they made peace and I am still fighting. One of my potential allies is at war with me, and the other one looks ready to make peace with the Arceans. I am looking for ways to force the Arceans to fight someone, or even start a war with them. It's so much fun now.

That's much more fun than being able to say "Hmm, I think I'll make the Arceans my allies," and the Arceans having no choice in the matter simply because you wrote them a big fat check. It's much more interesting to deal with opponents who behave like actual people - people who may have their own plans, which may not coincide with your own plans...

See, now that you say that I kinda realized it would be silly to just buy allies over time. You've gone and messed up my ideals with logic and reasoning   

I suppose it is probably better this way then, makes it a bit more interesting.