What are some of your better diplomatic maneuvers

[morteduzionism]

I pulled off a diplomatic negotiation that could (if it was in real life) be considered the greatest move in diplomatic history...or any type of history...well maybe...you be the judge


I play as Spain.

Early in the campaign I discovered the Italian States, my ally, had gained control of Curacao which put us on a road towards confrontation.

When my trade fleet finally reached the east Indies I discovered that all the trade nodes were taken. The nations were: Maratha, Mughal, Genoa, Sweden and...the Italian States

Since it was still relatively early I decided to take a 'wait-and-see' attitude. During this time Spain was able to gain other islands in the Caribbean most notably Jamaica and the Leeward Islands.

What else happended during this period is that an alliance was formed with Poland and war broke out between Austria and Prussia. I [Spain] ended up taking the Rhineland (destroying Austria), Bavaria and Prague (taken from Purssia). In addition to these events, the Italian States repeatedly declined to trade/sell Curacao.

After taking Prague I realized my army was isolated in the middle of potential enemies and in a pretty indefensible position. Besides I didn't want Bohemia anyway...

I originally tried to trade Prague for Vienna (controlled by the Poles) but the Poles weren't interested.

Then I got an idea: see if the Italians would be interested

They were.

I traded some insignificant technologies, Jamaica, the Leeward Islands, Prague and 11,301 gold for Curacao.

On the surface it might seem like I got the short end of the stick but wait...gaining Curacao completed my mission to get New Spain to join my faction which will bring much better returns than Prague and the two islands. The additional tax income from the transaction more than covered the 11,301 originally spent

Those gains alone made it a good deal. But there could be more...

I don't know if anyone noticed/remembered but I have an alliance with Poland and France. I know France is interested in the Leeward Islands and I'm pretty sure Poland has an interest in Prague.

Those are now owned by the Italians and not me.

What could make this the greatest moment in diplomatic history is if Poland declares war on the Italians in order to get Prague.

I would side with Poland to justify attacking the Italian trade fleet in the east Indies and Rome.

Hopefully France will side with us because of the Italian possession of the Leeward Islands.

That one deal, if it plays out like I hope, would bring to Spain: large amount of territory/tax revenue, trade in valuable spices from the east Indies and an avoidance of a potentially long costly war with Poland. When I took Prague oodles of Polish forces began converging on the region...

It's like the Louisanna Purchase: gave up a little and gained a lot

What about you? Any momentous moments in diplomacy?

[Flavius Silvanus]

As France I trade that German province to a smaller german kingdom on the first turn, and it usually keeps me out of war with the germans, and doesn't really effect me ecomically.

[Archimonday]

Having War Declared on me by Russia (the largest super power at the time in my campaign), Rampaging through it like rolling thunder, burning everything to the ground, and suing for peace before handing the territories back, stone age as can be

[Ahlerich]

Having War Declared on me by Russia (the largest super power at the time in my campaign), Rampaging through it like rolling thunder, burning everything to the ground, and suing for peace before handing the territories back, stone age as can be

i see your understanding of diplomatic maneuver is similar to clausewitz's

[Archimonday]

Precisely

[MortenJessen]

Hi there.
In my present long campaign, playing as France, I made trade agreements with both Württemberg and Westphalia for a military alliance, in turn one. As it is, those two nations are usually in danger of being "dutchified", and the Netherlands are usually one of Frances major continental problems early on. That paid of (unfortunately at a bad time, when my Rhine Armee was occupied fighting the Austrians in Bavaria, but eventually I took over both Holland and Flanders.
Later in the same campaign, since having beaten Austria in Bavaria, I ended up having an extended border to the increasingly hostile Prussia, I am now also allied with Poland Lithuania and Russia. Having mostly secure borders in Europe, my early alliances made sure that I was capable of securing an early foothold in India, with out even having to anger any one in the process (Ceylon). Nice.
That my alliance with Westphalia and Württemberg now has me engaged in a brutal struggle against the British in America, and their Prussian allies in Europe is a another case, but since I am in a superior position due to the two minors early loyalty, I consider it a matter of honour to have them survive, so I am not going to simply strike back and take over their former lands when they are destroyed (as I did in Bavaria). I have two major armies supporting them directly.
Y.S.
M. Jessen

[Garand]

I've had two great diplomatic moments. The first, in my game as the Ottomans, was to secure an alliance with Austria on the very first turn, which has lasted the entire game so far (40 years). We've fought several battles together and relations are warm. This secured most of my northern flank and freed troops to defend myself against Venice, Persia, and Georgia (who all declared war the very next turn), Poland two turns later, and Russia.

The second greatest diplomatic move was in the same game. In around 1725 or 1730, things were going well. I had eliminated Persia, Georgia, and had Venice on the ropes. I was pacifying Afghanistan and Baluchistan, and had secured Sindh as well. Since things were going well, I was contemplating an eventual move to take over colonies in the New World, specifically either in Mexico or Florida. However, I didn't have the ships or troops available to send to the New World due to the multiple wars I was fighting in Europe. During a routine diplomatic mission to try to trade techs for cash to buoy my economy, I made a trade offer to the Cherokee, who promptly gave me a counter offer: I give them Sindh, they give me Georgia (the state) and we enter an alliance.

Now this isn't a very realistic trade, but I was anxious to move into the New World, and I think the Cherokee wanted a far-flung colony to hedge their bets against the Brits, so after some mulling, I decided to accept. No big colonization fleets, no massive army trying to quell angry natives... it worked out pretty well.

[ctuth]

I've had two great diplomatic moments. The first, in my game as the Ottomans, was to secure an alliance with Austria on the very first turn, which has lasted the entire game so far (40 years). We've fought several battles together and relations are warm. This secured most of my northern flank and freed troops to defend myself against Venice, Persia, and Georgia (who all declared war the very next turn), Poland two turns later, and Russia.

The second greatest diplomatic move was in the same game. In around 1725 or 1730, things were going well. I had eliminated Persia, Georgia, and had Venice on the ropes. I was pacifying Afghanistan and Baluchistan, and had secured Sindh as well. Since things were going well, I was contemplating an eventual move to take over colonies in the New World, specifically either in Mexico or Florida. However, I didn't have the ships or troops available to send to the New World due to the multiple wars I was fighting in Europe. During a routine diplomatic mission to try to trade techs for cash to buoy my economy, I made a trade offer to the Cherokee, who promptly gave me a counter offer: I give them Sindh, they give me Georgia (the state) and we enter an alliance.

Now this isn't a very realistic trade, but I was anxious to move into the New World, and I think the Cherokee wanted a far-flung colony to hedge their bets against the Brits, so after some mulling, I decided to accept. No big colonization fleets, no massive army trying to quell angry natives... it worked out pretty well.

DarthMod or Vanilla??

[Garand]

Vanilla

[dutch81]

Mine was also with Spain and Curacao ... however my was a simple straight up trade Curacao for Flanders ... it kept me from going to war with Holland and Great Brittain and got me all of New Spain.

[Humble Warrior]

You shouldn`t get diplomacy like that in Darthmod. It`s just really unfeasible even in a `what-if` world like Empire that the Native Americans would ask for any other part of the world. I used to get the Iroquois asking me for Scotland after they kicked me out of America which was ridiculous. Not only does it go against American Indian ethos, but why would they want to own such a place so different from their own land when there are still parts under European rule? All the Indians would be interested in is getting their Homeland back. Darthmod fixed most of this, so they don`t ask such crazy things unless, they happen to own most of America first!

[morteduzionism]

Update:
I was naive.

To think AI factions would put self-interest over the tendency to get-human-player.

The Poles, for some inexplicable reason, decided to get an alliance with the Italian States instead of simply taking that one ungarrisoned city from a weak minor faction.

After a few turns the Italian's started raising a garrison in Prague...

I was so annoyed (for this and other reasons) that I started a new campaign.