First I'll say that I'm enjoying this game. One thing that isn't a bug but annoys me is the diplomacy system. Namely how they know exactly how big my army is at any given moment and war declare me because of it.

Since Sins and all other strategy game I played [mostly Deadlock I-II] I end up allying with with a more aggressive npc and boosting them with research. I enjoy really fortifying myself and don't usually have the upkeep for a huge army. The problem is that in Elemental; the other forces are all like "Ch'hah he is all puny and weak, lets hate him."

There needs to be more diplomatic bonuses such as:

well learned for high research;

admired for having level five cities given the state of the world;

Pacifist, for not starting wars;

(not sure if this already happens) Generous for trading things and asking less than full value in return;

Benevolence for having alliances (because you are likely open to more)

It just doesn't seem right that they would be so angry at a nice guy. I'd rather border a wimp than a warlord. I seems counterproductive that I need to raise a massive army to unite the world because If I go to all that effort then why not slaughter everyone because they certainly would in your place.

I've seen several request subterfuge technology and if it does get added then how about a tech that make your army "seem" to be bigger than it is