Are all Spanish diplomats this aweful?

[TomSawyerAM]

I'm playing my first DM campaign as the Spanish. They were one of the only factions I never played in vanilla, so I figured what the heck.

Anyway, I'm around 245BC so not too far in, but far enough to be knee deep in Cartheginians, Gauls and Julii. I have 6 or 7 diplomats kicking around the world and every single one, EVERY one has negative traits and is completely useless. I haven't managed to wrangle anything greater than trade rights out of any other faction. I'm currently at war with no fewer than 6 other factions (every single one attacked me first, except the Carthiginians. They looked at me funny, I had to take 'em out). I can't get a ceasefire out of any of them or an alliance from anyone else (Germans, Brits and Greeks all told me to take a long walk off a short pier) and I'm starting to really get squeezed.

Did diplomacy change much from vanilla to DM 8.0, are the Spanish terrible diplomats, or am I just not doing something right? Campaign settings are H/H. Any advice or help is appreciated.

[Grand Duke Vytautas]

I'm playing my first DM campaign as the Spanish. They were one of the only factions I never played in vanilla, so I figured what the heck.

Anyway, I'm around 245BC so not too far in, but far enough to be knee deep in Cartheginians, Gauls and Julii. I have 6 or 7 diplomats kicking around the world and every single one, EVERY one has negative traits and is completely useless. I haven't managed to wrangle anything greater than trade rights out of any other faction. I'm currently at war with no fewer than 6 other factions (every single one attacked me first, except the Carthiginians. They looked at me funny, I had to take 'em out). I can't get a ceasefire out of any of them or an alliance from anyone else (Germans, Brits and Greeks all told me to take a long walk off a short pier) and I'm starting to really get squeezed.

Did diplomacy change much from vanilla to DM 8.0, are the Spanish terrible diplomats, or am I just not doing something right? Campaign settings are H/H. Any advice or help is appreciated.

Hi there
Well after 1.5/1.6 patch diplomacy was changed to the wrong side (even more messed up) imo. Now factions get mysteriously insulted from your proposals (don't even know why) and don't speak to you anymore on that turn. Yes my diplomats are also getting loads of negative diplo traits (like tactless, dicourteous, undiplomatic). And yes I hate it very much when I have reached some exp with diplo and after 1 proposal it's gone arghhh
So now I mainly use my diplos:
1. to get trade rights - now it's kinda risky to also demand money cuz faction might refuse and dont talk. You can get trade rights and money if you have good economic infrastructure and the rival faction has enough money (check in 'financial rankings'), but so far I've gotten 2000 denarii most on h/h
2. to trade maps. Sometimes I get additional money this way
3. to sell my factions' map to distant faction for some cash. Don't even think about selling it to neighbor - you'll get attacked very quicly. Try to keep them not knowing your strength.
4. to get alliance if possible
5. about ceasefire: I never ask for it, cuz stupid diplo AI won't agree no matter what. Imo it thinks that you're scared, although you might be sieging it's last settlement. Plain stupid! On the other hand I beat the crap out of their armies, if they don't accept ceasefire, invade and sack their lands and then they come beggong me for ceasefire - and I can get tribute or even protectorate this way But yes it's stupid when you're fighting multiple enemies, but no action is really goin on, kinda like 'strange war'.

Here's a diplo guide for ya, that might help a bit too (has good diplo strategies)

To sum up, DM doesn't have modded diplomacy AI, it's just from 1.5/1.6
Secondly, RTW is not mostly about diplomacy, but TOTAL WAR , so be ready for betrayals and sudden attacks anytime All factions are you're rivals remember. Ally with your neighbour's neighbour. Keep large garisson near every border to prevent betrayals and invasions.

Hopefully Medieval 2 will have 100 times better diplomacy, so it could actually mean smth and have serious consequences of starting a war (I believe in CA - seriously)
Hope that helps

[jw1089]

what you can do is to donate money. i am playing as the Brutii and i have begun the civil war. the julii were at war with germany, so i started giving them monet ro hold them off. when the civil war started, i was immeadilty able to get alliance and military access with germany. also, giving money will increase the influence of your diploamts. it should be noted that i was givinl ALOT of money, cause i had a surplus, but u should be able to get better treaties/better diplomats by donating