Um need jelp with alliances

The race your trying to form an alliance with must also have it.

You need to have close relations with a race before the Alliance option will show up.

The race your trying to form an alliance with must also have it.

No it doesn't. It is only required to offer an alliance, not to accept one.

No it doesn't. It is only required to offer an alliance, not to accept one.

What? Really, I had always believed both sides had to have it. I had even heard of people giving the tech to the AI to make an alliance. I never make alliances anymore, so I haven't done it since probably 1.31. Has it changed?

Sorry, I forgot about the close thing. See how long it's been  

Yup first you have to have the technology (just you, not both sides)

Then you have to have close relations with the race. Additionaly you may have to offer some incentive for them to accept (aka cash or tech)

Yea.   My bad. I went back and looked at some past threads to see, and it looks like I wasn't the only one under this misconception. I've seen where several people mentioned giving the tech before alliance, but only seen one instance of someone telling them they didn't need to give the tech to them. I think when I did use alliances. I gave it to them automatically after reading those posts back 5 months ago, so I never tried it any other way. It's never to late to learn something  . Might make use of it if they ever change getting "close" back to being logical in some way.

Thanks for all your help know i know what 2 do TK

change getting "close" back to being logical in some way

For me, figuring out how to keep your diplo status moving steadily up is still very frustrating in DL 1.4X. But I'm not an extremely methodical player given my paper-RPG tendencies, so maybe I'm missing some tricks (cheese, whatever).

That said, Dethadder is using "logic" in a very colloquial manner. By definition, the stuff we both find frustrating is logic, whether or not Dethadder or I might balk at some of the fundamental statements in the diplo code.

That said, Dethadder is using "logic" in a very colloquial manner. By definition, the stuff we both find frustrating is logic, whether or not Dethadder or I might balk at some of the fundamental statements in the diplo code

After upgrading to 1.4, the relationships just seem to have no rhyme or reason. You get your info on the report with the + and - thing, but the actual "friendly" or "close" didn't seem to coincide with the report at all. Trade seemed to help, but things like ethical alignment and such seem to have no bearing. I would treat every Civ equally, both with distributing trade routes and tribute offers. For some reason though, An AI of opposite alignment with less positives in the report would get "close" just out of the blue. I actually turned the alliance victory back on after they made it harder to get, but never got one even when trying. I think I posted something about that when 1.4 first came out. Ever since I have just done the conquest thing and an occasion tech victory. Maybe one day I'll figure out the secret.  

After upgrading to 1.4, the relationships just seem to have no rhyme or reason. You get your info on the report with the + and - thing, but the actual "friendly" or "close" didn't seem to coincide with the report at all.

True that man. I'll have a race with three pluses and one minus be hostile, and at the same time a race with just one minus and nothing else be friendly.

Honestly, the only races I can ever get an alliance with are those who are of the same ethical alignment, I am doing massive trading with, have at least double their military strength, AND have never gone to war with. Sometimes I think that report should just print out: -- I don't like you

I'm not sure what I've been missing. I've never felt the need to offer an alliance. What real benefit does it convey?

For me it's just a comfort thing when you aren't the strongest. The others will look at your total strength including your ally, I think before declaring war. So I guess it's kinda like a quick boost in military rating. And at some point I have to stab them in the back or kill them. Sad really  

For me it's just a comfort thing when you aren't the strongest. The others will look at your total strength including your ally, I think before declaring war. So I guess it's kinda like a quick boost in military rating. And at some point I have to stab them in the back or kill them. Sad really

Ally = last to die.   

I do that with the Thalans usually. They never seem top have alot of planets, don't start off right next to me, and inevitably I willhave to fly through there space to get to osme one else.

I've never felt the need to offer an alliance. What real benefit does it convey?

It will insure that you are dragged into a war at the most inconvenient moment of the game, usually against the strongest AI in the game, while the good ally who did the dragging sits on his/her/its hands/tentacles/appendages during the entire war. Then, just as you are starting to make headway against the common enemy, your good ally will decide to go to war with another, usually with the race who is right up against your now undefended border on the other side of the galaxy.

Just my experience.

Once you are dragged into the war, you can always arrange for a peace treaty.
The alliance will remain intact.

It will insure that you are dragged into a war at the most inconvenient moment of the game, usually against the strongest AI in the game, while the good ally who did the dragging sits on his/her/its hands/tentacles/appendages during the entire war.

I've used alliances in a number of my DL 1.4X games, and several times WhoStoleMyNickName's experience did not match mine, although sometimes those allies are...

When they're good, I've had allies who basically seem to give me a map zone I can safely treat like home turf. Even if you don't want an alliance win, allies can help you on the path to tech or influence wins that don't force you to turn traitor in the end game.

It will insure that you are dragged into a war at the most inconvenient moment of the game, usually against the strongest AI in the game, while the good ally who did the dragging sits on his/her/its hands/tentacles/appendages during the entire war. Then, just as you are starting to make headway against the common enemy, your good ally will decide to go to war with another, usually with the race who is right up against your now undefended border on the other side of the galaxy.

This is pretty much as I thought, which is why I've avoided it. I've not been allied in a strict sense but I've often joined in a war on the side of an AI with whom I want better relations. The usual scenario is the AI thanks me for my effort by promptly making peace, leaving me alone in the war. He then sits around with constructors ready to snatch up any resources freed up by the war, mine or the other AI's doesn't really matter. Finally, as I'm about to go in for the kill, my erstwhile "friend" cherry picks some of my opponents choicest planets before I can get my transports there. With friends like these who needs enemies?

Enemies strengthen you; allies weaken. -- Elrood IX (Dune: House Harkonnen)