Attack Faction - Assistance Requested / Provided

[Amaranth]

In the diplomacy screen we can ask for assistance against another faction, or offer our aid for an attack. But how does the system exactly work ?

When you offer or request help from another faction you are not allied with, they won't join the attack, but we can still select that option, unlike military access option which is hidden unless you're allied with that faction or select alliance option, attack faction is always there even though you're neutral with them. Now I know that attack faction only gives reputation if the battle is fought on the battlefield, with your ally next to you on the same field. But your allies fight by your side even though you don't ask for aid. So what's with that option ? Does is makes sense to ask/offer aid with a neutral faction ?

[Lord Minotaur]

i dunno how to answer you, but when i ask for assistance they do nothing!!! they dont attack the enemy that i want them to assist me. rtw and m2tw are very screwed up with diplomacy and the AI