Diplomatic advantages/disadvantages in relation to the player

How does it work?

from GalCiv2 Forums
Various things in the game - techs, diplomatic translator trade goods and so on - boost your diplomatic ability, giving you a better deal when trading with others. What I wonder is how this is handled in relation to the player. Unlike the AI, a player doesn't care what your bonus to diplomacy is: Just because the AI has the diplomatic translator trade goods you aren't going to cut it a better deal, correct? So, it would seem the player has an unfair advantage because he is 'immune' to diplomacy boni. Or what? How does the game handle this issue?
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Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I imagine that (if anything) if an AI race starts getting higher diplomacy bonuses, it would in effect "cancel out" any bonuses the players might have...

hi dip player vs low dip AI = good prices for the player
lo dip player vs hi dip AI = bad prices for player
hi dip (or low dip) player vs hi dip (or low) AI = normal deals all around.

it would probably only effect any proposed deals you were putting forward.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
i think that the "bonus" the ai has makes it change what it WILL and WONT accept in trades
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
think that the "bonus" the ai has makes it change what it WILL and WONT accept in trades


This is the way that I understood it. I personally don't care if an AI has diplomatic translators but when I go to trade with them I will be able to get fewer techs from them than someone who doesn't have them. The stingy but diplomatic heavy Terrans are a good example. I trade with them as little as possible simply because I don't get nearly as many techs from them because thier diplomacy is higher. Maybe not as high as mine but high enough to make it so I get 2 techs instead of 5.

Felk the SmoothTalker
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I will be able to get fewer techs from them than someone who doesn't have them.


Agreed as far as I can tell, its the diffrence in diplomacy skills that determines what kind of price you can get for buying and selling goods. It also determines what trades the AIs are willing to intiate!

Yeah I dont trade with Terrans... Drengin, Alterians, and Talans tend to pay well for my stuff! (Torians too but I dont trade with my my prey)
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I also assume that a high diplomacy AI also gets better deals on techs/alliances from other AI's, which indirectly aids it against you.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The high-diplomacy AI races kind of screw themselves, though, by not accepting trades. I'm sure we've all seen races like the Terrans turn down trades that would be vastly in their favour just because they have a much higher diplomacy rating than you do... I can't see how it helps them to turn down your offer of Plasma Weapons V for Sensors, for example.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The high-diplomacy AI races kind of screw themselves, though, by not accepting trades. I'm sure we've all seen races like the Terrans turn down trades that would be vastly in their favour just because they have a much higher diplomacy rating than you do... I can't see how it helps them to turn down your offer of Plasma Weapons V for Sensors, for example.


My point exactly. Not trading techs is very dangerous and will hurt you a lot in the long run. This is something the developers need to look into.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
So, what's the conclusion? Does the player get an advantage over the AI's in that he is not fooled by the enemy's diplomatic translators or is there some kind of mechanism in place to balance this out?
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It's already been said. You aren't immune to diplomatic translators, since you have no say in what happens. If the diplomacy of the AI is higher than you, you can make a clever crafty bid, and the AI will tell you to stuff it. Diplomacy always involves the AI, so there is no advantage at all.