How do Alliances Work?

from Stardock Forums
I've researched almost every tech and I still can't form alliances. I CAN ask someone to go to war with someone else, but I can't form an alliance. What am I doing wrong?
343 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
(I hope Brad agrees with my on my earlier replies to this...)

You and the other civ have to be 'Close' in dimplomatic standing before the option for an alliance even appears. I think, however, that the option needs to show the minute you get the tech ... and then the other side should refuse if you are not close enough.

As it stands, this looks like a bug ... and many people (including me) have been left frustrated by it.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
I find this tech-related diplomacy interesting, but confusing. I am used to having most diplomatic treaties available at the start. Now I am a big fan of the CIV series, so I understand having to research techs to make more diplomatic options available. But Civilization pointed out which techs to get.

I guess this wouldn't bother me so much if the Foreign Policy>Treaties page didn't list 'Alliances' until you achieved that tech. That, and if Gal Civ made it clear that you needed to research these treaties before you could use them. For awhile, I didn't know there was an 'Alliance' tech.

Don't get me wrong. I like the fact I need to research Translators before I can even talk to another race. I just think there should be better clarification.

(BTW, I have not been able to start my own Subjects on the forum. Tried twice, and they don't come up. Help?)

~SDC~
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I've gotten both the Torians and Altarians close (lots of tech trading!) and have Alliance researched. Now the Alliance option is listed, but both races refuse to ally. Should I give/sell them the tech first?


~SDC~
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Generally they won;t acept the alliance even if you have the tech and are "Close" unless they also think you are slightly stronger than them... But yes, bribery works.

~SDC~
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
I won my last game on Intelligent using alliances. Myself and the Drengin had wiped out everyone else. We traded a lot he sometimes paid me tribute so we were close and each controlled about half the map. Instead of trying a long war, I proposed an alliance but I had to throw in one extra tech to finalize the deal. Since the game would end soon after that, it was no big deal.

However, the message at the end said I won a Cultural Victory. Is that right?

Todd