Diplomacy Improvement Suggestions

I know that Dark Avatar is supposed to bring in some changes to the diplomacy system but I thought I'd toss out a few of my own anyway.

I would like to see a revamping of the trading system; I find it a bit odd that as you offer items to trade for it indicates by color (red or green) whether or not your trade is accepptible and you can keep doing this until you get exactly every last bit of stuff possible out of your trading partner. I know this represents negotiations, etc. but I for one find it a bit silly.

Here's my proposition: Replace the yes-or-no green-or-red system with a probability as to whether or not the trade will be accepted. This probability would be based upon your relationship with that race, how outrageous the trade offer is, and prior trade offerings you've made with them (either historically or in this current diplomatic exchange). Percentages could possibly be up at 100%, indicating this trade will be a sure thing for both races; or at a very low percentage, perhaps indicating that it would take some amazing negotiation to pull this off. The acceptance of a very low-probability trade would represent just that. Probabilities would also, of course, be anywhere within that range as well.

Now on the other side of it, if you "roll the dice" multiple times and try to get the other race to accept a trade (for instance, try and get lucky on a low-probability trade) you could damage relations with them. If you're constantly harping on another race to trade you one of their high-level techs for a deal they don't feel is at all worth it, it's going to piss them off. This could either happen only on repeated attempts or perhaps on the first time if it's a really crazy deal you're offering.

These percentages could be shown in the trade window and be colored green, yellow or red, respectively. They could, for instance, represent the "feel" your negotiators have of the other side's willingness to accept this kind of deal being presented to them.

Thoughts/comments?
5,806 views 8 replies
Reply #1 Top
Yes I agree with you. The current system is a bit flawed... I usually survive on tech-trading with other races for money and techs.
Reply #2 Top
Perhaps limit trades to one per turn, or if your trade is declined, you cannot offer another for two turns?
Reply #4 Top
I'd drink that koolaid.
Reply #5 Top
Indeed, another good idea from the Jade Falcon.
Reply #6 Top
what upsetts me along with every other game, is the fact that i can't make a fair trade!
Why on earth does the opponent always want 3-4 times as much as i get in order to make a trade? They trade fairly amongst eachother, but not with me.
Diplomacy doesn't SEEM to make any difference as it is now.
Reply #7 Top
If you trade tech for tech, you should get a reasonable deal. The system is as it is, I assume, to stop the player from, for instance, buying all the opponents' techs/planets/starbases/ships.
Reply #8 Top
If you trade tech for tech, you should get a reasonable deal. The system is as it is, I assume, to stop the player from, for instance, buying all the opponents' techs/planets/starbases/ships.

I'd disagree that you necessarily should get a fair deal. In any exchange between two empires one would, of course, desire to get the better end of the deal. I would see one empire doing what they could to come away with an advantageous deal on their end and if, by some tricky negotiations you could give your side an advantage, I would see one empire doing that.

what upsetts me along with every other game, is the fact that i can't make a fair trade!
Why on earth does the opponent always want 3-4 times as much as i get in order to make a trade? They trade fairly amongst eachother, but not with me.
Diplomacy doesn't SEEM to make any difference as it is now.


Part of that is probably your difficulty level and part of that could be called extortion of a sense; your opponent knows you want something it has and it's making you pay dearly for that desired good. I would call that realistic and smart. This system I'm proposing could represent your negotiators "turning the tide" so to speak and convincing the other side to part with their goods for a more reasonable (or perhaps criminally reasonable) price.