Is reputation and faction relation system currently used or will be used in the future?

[nvm]

I've noticed that no matter what your faction relations appear to be always fixed on "Reasonable", which I presume means that it's not used. But recent post by Quintus Sertorius about nomadic enclaves had made me ponder whether it could possibly be used. While I understand the need to keep relations stable to make sure AI doesn't act up, could it be possible to make them work by certain buildings either improve or decrease relations with a neighbouring faction of a particular culture depending on whether the building symbolizes concessions or harm to them? Or would this just bring more chaos?

Also, the reputation system itself seems to be still intact, but does it even do anything?

[QuintusSertorius]

We use it extensively in the scripted events, and set it at the start in the descr_strat:

; >>>> start of diplomacy section <<<<
; All values revised for EB2 by team historians:
;
; 1) Historical Ally: +0.50
; 2) EomEimF (Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend: +0.30
; 3) Potential Trading Partner: +0.20
; 4) Suspect Motives: -0.20
; 5) Historical Enemy: -0.70
; 6) War with Non-neighbor: -0.90
; 7) War with Neighbor: -1.00

faction_standings	f_aedui,		0.50	f_boii, f_casse
faction_standings	f_aedui,		0.20	f_arevaci, f_kh
faction_standings	f_aedui,		-0.20	f_baktria, f_bosporan, f_carthage, f_epeiros, f_gandhara, f_getai, f_hayasdan, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_makedonia, f_nabatu, f_numidia, f_parthia, f_pergamon, f_pontos, f_ptolemaioi, f_saba, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_aedui,		-0.70	f_arverni, f_rome, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_aedui,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_arevaci,		0.50	f_lusotannan
faction_standings	f_arevaci,		0.20	f_aedui, f_arverni, f_boii, f_casse, f_kh
faction_standings	f_arevaci,		-0.20	f_baktria, f_bosporan, f_epeiros, f_gandhara, f_getai, f_hayasdan, f_lugia, f_makedonia, f_nabatu, f_numidia, f_parthia, f_pergamon, f_pontos, f_ptolemaioi, f_rome, f_saba, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_seleukid, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_arevaci,		-0.70	f_carthage
faction_standings	f_arevaci,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_arverni,		0.50	f_casse
faction_standings	f_arverni,		0.20	f_arevaci, f_boii
faction_standings	f_arverni,		-0.20	f_baktria, f_bosporan, f_carthage, f_epeiros, f_gandhara, f_getai, f_hayasdan, f_kh, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_makedonia, f_nabatu, f_numidia, f_parthia, f_pergamon, f_pontos, f_ptolemaioi, f_saba, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_arverni,		-0.70	f_aedui, f_rome, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_arverni,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_baktria,		0.30	f_parthia, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_baktria,		0.20	f_bosporan, f_kh, f_makedonia, f_numidia, f_pergamon, f_rome
faction_standings	f_baktria,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_boii, f_carthage, f_casse, f_epeiros, f_getai, f_hayasdan, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_nabatu, f_pontos, f_ptolemaioi, f_saba, f_sauromatae, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_baktria,		-0.70	f_gandhara
faction_standings	f_baktria,		-0.90	f_saka
faction_standings	f_baktria,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_boii,		0.50	f_aedui
faction_standings	f_boii,		0.20	f_arevaci, f_arverni
faction_standings	f_boii,		-0.20	f_baktria, f_bosporan, f_carthage, f_casse, f_epeiros, f_gandhara, f_hayasdan, f_kh, f_lusotannan, f_makedonia, f_nabatu, f_numidia, f_parthia, f_pergamon, f_pontos, f_ptolemaioi, f_saba, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_boii,		-0.70	f_getai, f_lugia, f_rome, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_boii,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_bosporan,		0.50	f_getai, f_kh, f_pontos
faction_standings	f_bosporan,		0.20	f_baktria, f_gandhara, f_hayasdan, f_makedonia, f_pergamon, f_ptolemaioi, f_rome, f_saba, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_bosporan,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_boii, f_carthage, f_casse, f_epeiros, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_nabatu, f_numidia, f_parthia, f_saka, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_bosporan,		-0.70	f_sauromatae
faction_standings	f_bosporan,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_carthage,		0.50	f_numidia
faction_standings	f_carthage,		0.30	f_hayasdan, f_makedonia, f_pontos, f_ptolemaioi, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_carthage,		0.20	f_casse, f_lusotannan, f_nabatu, f_pergamon, f_saba
faction_standings	f_carthage,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arverni, f_baktria, f_boii, f_bosporan, f_gandhara, f_getai, f_kh, f_lugia, f_parthia, f_rome, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_carthage,		-0.70	f_arevaci
faction_standings	f_carthage,		-0.90	f_epeiros
faction_standings	f_carthage,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_casse,		0.50	f_aedui, f_arverni
faction_standings	f_casse,		0.20	f_arevaci, f_carthage, f_lusotannan, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_casse,		-0.20	f_baktria, f_boii, f_bosporan, f_epeiros, f_gandhara, f_getai, f_hayasdan, f_kh, f_lugia, f_makedonia, f_nabatu, f_numidia, f_parthia, f_pergamon, f_pontos, f_ptolemaioi, f_rome, f_saba, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_casse,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_epeiros,		0.50	f_ptolemaioi
faction_standings	f_epeiros,		0.30	f_getai, f_pontos
faction_standings	f_epeiros,		0.20	f_numidia, f_pergamon
faction_standings	f_epeiros,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_baktria, f_boii, f_bosporan, f_casse, f_gandhara, f_hayasdan, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_nabatu, f_parthia, f_saba, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_seleukid, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_epeiros,		-0.90	f_carthage, f_kh
faction_standings	f_epeiros,		-1.00	slave, f_makedonia, f_rome
faction_standings	f_gandhara,		0.50	f_ptolemaioi
faction_standings	f_gandhara,		0.30	f_hayasdan
faction_standings	f_gandhara,		0.20	f_bosporan, f_nabatu, f_pergamon, f_rome, f_saba, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_gandhara,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_boii, f_carthage, f_casse, f_epeiros, f_getai, f_kh, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_makedonia, f_numidia, f_pontos, f_sauromatae, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_gandhara,		-0.70	f_baktria, f_parthia, f_saka
faction_standings	f_gandhara,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_getai,		0.50	f_bosporan, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_getai,		0.30	f_epeiros, f_kh, f_pontos, f_ptolemaioi
faction_standings	f_getai,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_baktria, f_carthage, f_casse, f_gandhara, f_hayasdan, f_lusotannan, f_nabatu, f_numidia, f_parthia, f_rome, f_saba, f_saka, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_getai,		-0.70	f_boii, f_lugia, f_makedonia, f_pergamon, f_sauromatae
faction_standings	f_getai,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_hayasdan,		0.50	f_pontos
faction_standings	f_hayasdan,		0.30	f_carthage, f_gandhara, f_nabatu, f_pergamon
faction_standings	f_hayasdan,		0.20	f_bosporan, f_kh, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_hayasdan,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_baktria, f_boii, f_casse, f_epeiros, f_getai, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_makedonia, f_numidia, f_ptolemaioi, f_rome, f_saba, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_hayasdan,		-0.70	f_parthia
faction_standings	f_hayasdan,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_kh,		0.50	f_bosporan
faction_standings	f_kh,		0.30	f_getai, f_pontos
faction_standings	f_kh,		0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_baktria, f_hayasdan, f_numidia, f_pergamon, f_ptolemaioi, f_rome
faction_standings	f_kh,		-0.20	f_boii, f_carthage, f_casse, f_gandhara, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_nabatu, f_parthia, f_saba, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_seleukid, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_kh,		-0.90	f_epeiros
faction_standings	f_kh,		-1.00	slave, f_makedonia
faction_standings	f_lugia,		0.50	f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_lugia,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_baktria, f_bosporan, f_carthage, f_casse, f_epeiros, f_gandhara, f_hayasdan, f_kh, f_lusotannan, f_makedonia, f_nabatu, f_numidia, f_parthia, f_pergamon, f_pontos, f_ptolemaioi, f_rome, f_saba, f_saka, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_lugia,		-0.70	f_boii, f_getai, f_sauromatae
faction_standings	f_lugia,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_lusotannan,		0.50	f_arevaci
faction_standings	f_lusotannan,		0.20	f_carthage, f_casse
faction_standings	f_lusotannan,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arverni, f_baktria, f_boii, f_bosporan, f_epeiros, f_gandhara, f_getai, f_hayasdan, f_kh, f_lugia, f_makedonia, f_nabatu, f_numidia, f_parthia, f_pergamon, f_pontos, f_ptolemaioi, f_rome, f_saba, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_seleukid, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_lusotannan,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_makedonia,		0.50	f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_makedonia,		0.30	f_carthage, f_pontos, f_rome
faction_standings	f_makedonia,		0.20	f_baktria, f_bosporan, f_numidia
faction_standings	f_makedonia,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_boii, f_casse, f_gandhara, f_hayasdan, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_parthia, f_saba, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_makedonia,		-0.70	f_getai, f_nabatu, f_pergamon
faction_standings	f_makedonia,		-0.90	f_ptolemaioi
faction_standings	f_makedonia,		-1.00	slave, f_epeiros, f_kh
faction_standings	f_nabatu,		0.50	f_ptolemaioi
faction_standings	f_nabatu,		0.30	f_hayasdan
faction_standings	f_nabatu,		0.20	f_carthage, f_gandhara, f_numidia, f_saba, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_nabatu,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_baktria, f_boii, f_bosporan, f_casse, f_epeiros, f_getai, f_kh, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_parthia, f_pergamon, f_pontos, f_rome, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_nabatu,		-0.70	f_makedonia
faction_standings	f_nabatu,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_numidia,		0.50	f_carthage
faction_standings	f_numidia,		0.20	f_baktria, f_epeiros, f_kh, f_makedonia, f_nabatu, f_parthia, f_pergamon, f_rome, f_saba, f_saka, f_sauromatae
faction_standings	f_numidia,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_boii, f_bosporan, f_casse, f_gandhara, f_getai, f_hayasdan, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_pontos, f_ptolemaioi, f_seleukid, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_numidia,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_parthia,		0.50	f_pontos
faction_standings	f_parthia,		0.30	f_baktria
faction_standings	f_parthia,		0.20	f_numidia, f_pergamon, f_sauromatae
faction_standings	f_parthia,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_boii, f_bosporan, f_carthage, f_casse, f_epeiros, f_getai, f_kh, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_makedonia, f_nabatu, f_ptolemaioi, f_saba, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_parthia,		-0.70	f_gandhara, f_hayasdan, f_rome, f_saka, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_parthia,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_pergamon,		0.50	f_rome
faction_standings	f_pergamon,		0.30	f_hayasdan, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_pergamon,		0.20	f_baktria, f_bosporan, f_carthage, f_epeiros, f_gandhara, f_kh, f_numidia, f_parthia
faction_standings	f_pergamon,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_boii, f_casse, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_nabatu, f_saba, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_pergamon,		-0.70	f_getai, f_makedonia, f_pontos
faction_standings	f_pergamon,		-0.90	f_ptolemaioi
faction_standings	f_pergamon,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_pontos,		0.50	f_bosporan, f_hayasdan, f_parthia
faction_standings	f_pontos,		0.30	f_carthage, f_epeiros, f_getai, f_kh, f_makedonia, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_pontos,		0.20	f_kh, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_pontos,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_baktria, f_boii, f_casse, f_gandhara, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_nabatu, f_numidia, f_rome, f_saba, f_saka, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_pontos,		-0.70	f_pergamon, f_sauromatae
faction_standings	f_pontos,		-0.90	f_ptolemaioi
faction_standings	f_pontos,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_ptolemaioi,		0.50	f_epeiros, f_gandhara, f_nabatu, f_rome
faction_standings	f_ptolemaioi,		0.30	f_carthage, f_getai
faction_standings	f_ptolemaioi,		0.20	f_bosporan, f_saba, f_kh
faction_standings	f_ptolemaioi,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_baktria, f_boii, f_casse, f_hayasdan, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_numidia, f_parthia, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_ptolemaioi,		-0.90	f_makedonia, f_pergamon, f_pontos
faction_standings	f_ptolemaioi,		-1.00	slave, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_rome,		0.50	f_pergamon, f_ptolemaioi
faction_standings	f_rome,		0.30	f_makedonia, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_rome,		0.20	f_baktria, f_bosporan, f_gandhara, f_kh, f_numidia, f_saba
faction_standings	f_rome,		-0.20	f_arevaci, f_carthage, f_casse, f_getai, f_hayasdan, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_nabatu, f_pontos, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_rome,		-0.70	f_aedui, f_arverni, f_boii, f_parthia
faction_standings	f_rome,		-1.00	slave, f_epeiros
faction_standings	f_saba,		0.20	f_bosporan, f_carthage, f_gandhara, f_nabatu, f_numidia, f_ptolemaioi, f_rome
faction_standings	f_saba,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_baktria, f_boii, f_casse, f_epeiros, f_getai, f_hayasdan, f_kh, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_makedonia, f_parthia, f_pergamon, f_pontos, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_seleukid, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_saba,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_saka,		0.20	f_hayasdan, f_numidia, f_sauromatae
faction_standings	f_saka,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_boii, f_bosporan, f_carthage, f_casse, f_epeiros, f_getai, f_kh, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_makedonia, f_nabatu, f_pergamon, f_pontos, f_ptolemaioi, f_rome, f_saba, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_saka,		-0.70	f_gandhara, f_parthia, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_saka,		-0.90	f_baktria
faction_standings	f_saka,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_sauromatae,		0.20	f_hayasdan, f_numidia, f_parthia, f_saka
faction_standings	f_sauromatae,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_baktria, f_boii, f_carthage, f_casse, f_epeiros, f_gandhara, f_kh, f_lusotannan, f_makedonia, f_nabatu, f_pergamon, f_ptolemaioi, f_rome, f_saba, f_seleukid, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_sauromatae,		-0.70	f_bosporan, f_getai, f_lugia, f_pontos
faction_standings	f_sauromatae,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	f_seleukid,		0.50	f_makedonia
faction_standings	f_seleukid,		0.30	f_baktria, f_carthage, f_pergamon, f_pontos, f_rome
faction_standings	f_seleukid,		0.20	f_bosporan, f_gandhara, f_hayasdan, f_nabatu
faction_standings	f_seleukid,		-0.20	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_boii, f_casse, f_epeiros, f_getai, f_kh, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_numidia, f_saba, f_sauromatae, f_sweboz
faction_standings	f_seleukid,		-0.70	f_parthia, f_saka
faction_standings	f_seleukid,		-1.00	slave, f_ptolemaioi
faction_standings	f_sweboz,		0.50	f_getai, f_lugia
faction_standings	f_sweboz,		0.20	f_casse
faction_standings	f_sweboz,		-0.20	f_arevaci, f_baktria, f_bosporan, f_carthage, f_epeiros, f_gandhara, f_hayasdan, f_kh, f_lusotannan, f_makedonia, f_nabatu, f_numidia, f_parthia, f_pergamon, f_pontos, f_ptolemaioi, f_rome, f_saba, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_seleukid
faction_standings	f_sweboz,		-0.70	f_aedui, f_arverni, f_boii
faction_standings	f_sweboz,		-1.00	slave
faction_standings	slave,			-1.00	f_aedui, f_arevaci, f_arverni, f_baktria, f_boii, f_bosporan, f_carthage, f_casse, f_epeiros, f_gandhara, f_getai, f_hayasdan, f_kh, f_lugia, f_lusotannan, f_makedonia, f_nabatu, f_numidia, f_parthia, f_pergamon, f_pontos, f_ptolemaioi, f_rome, f_saba, f_saka, f_sauromatae, f_seleukid, f_sweboz

faction_relationships 	f_aedui, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_arevaci, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_arverni, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_baktria, at_war_with 	slave, f_saka
faction_relationships 	f_boii, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_bosporan, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_carthage, at_war_with 	f_epeiros, slave
faction_relationships 	f_casse, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_epeiros, at_war_with 	f_kh, f_carthage, f_makedonia, f_rome, slave
faction_relationships 	f_gandhara, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_getai, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_hayasdan, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_kh, at_war_with 	f_epeiros, f_makedonia, slave
faction_relationships 	f_lugia, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_lusotannan, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_makedonia, at_war_with 	f_ptolemaioi, f_kh, f_epeiros, slave
faction_relationships 	f_nabatu, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_numidia, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_parthia, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_pergamon, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_pontos, at_war_with 	f_ptolemaioi, slave
faction_relationships 	f_ptolemaioi, at_war_with 	f_pontos, f_makedonia, slave, f_seleukid
faction_relationships 	f_rome, at_war_with 	slave, f_epeiros
faction_relationships 	f_saba, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_saka, at_war_with 	f_baktria, slave
faction_relationships 	f_sauromatae, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	f_seleukid, at_war_with 	f_ptolemaioi, slave
faction_relationships 	f_sweboz, at_war_with 	slave
faction_relationships 	slave, at_war_with 	f_sauromatae, f_saka, f_numidia, f_getai, f_sweboz, f_saba, f_arevaci, f_bosporan, f_nabatu, f_boii, f_gandhara, f_pergamon, f_lugia, f_kh, f_epeiros, f_ptolemaioi, f_seleukid, f_carthage, f_rome, f_makedonia, f_aedui, f_parthia, f_lusotannan, f_arverni, f_hayasdan, f_baktria, f_pontos, f_casse

faction_relationships 	f_carthage, allied_to 	f_numidia, f_rome
faction_relationships 	f_ptolemaioi, allied_to 	f_nabatu, f_numidia
faction_relationships 	f_seleukid, allied_to 	f_baktria, f_gandhara, f_hayasdan, f_makedonia, f_pergamon

[Jimalim]

Relations and Reputation work the same as in any other game of Medieval 2 so I don't know what you mean.

Relations determine whether or not a faction is likely to attack you or accept your proposals.

Reputation determine whether or not a faction accepts your proposals.

E.g., if you are "Trustworthy" it's very easy to form an alliance/get military access/etc. While if you are "Dubious", the AI is less likely to accept these.

[Hellenikon]

I've noticed the same (on Hard difficulty), no matter if i try to keep good relations, after two or three turns the relationship goes down to neutral. It feels like unless you are constantly giving gifts or making generous deals, even with allies, it's not posible to maintain high relations.

However i can confirm that the reliability system is fine, as in it sticks for the whole game, going up and down depending on your allies/diplomatic actions.

[myarta]

Do you have trade rights with them, but aren't actually trading? Relations isn't something I've looked into extensively, but I recall reading that having a trading route but not trading goods causes relationship deterioration. Better not to make the deal with someone you can't possibly reach, apparently.

[Poppis]

Do you have trade rights with them, but aren't actually trading? Relations isn't something I've looked into extensively, but I recall reading that having a trading route but not trading goods causes relationship deterioration. Better not to make the deal with someone you can't possibly reach, apparently.

I don't think this is a thing. At least I can't see anything like this in the descr_faction_standing.txt.

[myarta]

Sounds like it was a myth, then. I think they were looking for explanations for why relations with distant factions decrease despite having no interaction with them, and the thought was maybe it was due to agreeing to trade but not actually trading. It sounds like alternative explanations are a network of alliances that make a faction unrelated to your wars still less happy with you because they're friendly with someone who IS allies with your enemies. And also that perhaps there is a general decrease in relations due to expansion. One thing I like about the newer engines is the explicit mention of all the factors in the diplomacy screen.

[QuintusSertorius]

The best way to keep good relations with a faction you're not aggressive towards is regular tribute of small amounts. Like 100 mnai a turn for tens of turns.

[nvm]

Maybe that's just me but I have literally never seen relations with any other factions go above or below Reasonable, and I'm playing on Hard campaign difficulty. I do often see notifications that my relations have deteriorated to being only Reasonable however.

[QuintusSertorius]

I only play on Hard, and I've had them up above Reasonable, by using the method above (small regular tributes) with factions I can trade with.

[QKuhlmann]

I think, nvm and Hellenikon might have a point here regarding the relations of the player-faction with the ai-factions. As I also noticed in former EB-campaigns, that relations with any faction nearly always seemed to be "reasonable", I made a few little tests this morning:
-First an Aedui-campaign, (m/m) where I contacted Rome (faction standing -0.7) with my diplomat in gallia cisalpina. First turn the relations were "so-so", second turn they turned to "reasonable" and stayed there.
-Then another Aedui-campaign (m/m), where I approached the eloitheroi (standing -1.0) with my diplomat: Relations started with "poor", turned to "so-so" after one turn and to "resonable" after three more turns.
-Then an Avernii-Campaign (h/h): Relations with Aedui started "reasonable". After a few turns I decalred war on them and the realations lowered to "so-so". I autoresolved a few battles, enslaved prisoners in one case. Although the war continued the relationshops soon switched to "reasonable" again. Also, some agressive rebels attacked me. Relations with them: "resonable".

So, if this is not intended for balancing the game, I would suggest that the phenomenon could be one for a closer look when 2.3 is out. In other Kingdoms-Mods you always have all kinds of relationships with the ai-factions, from abysmal to outstanding, the ai hates or loves you for rational or irrational reasons. In EB it seems to be nearly always turning into direction reasonable, no matter if you are neutral, allied or at war with a faction. Seems to be a little bit too much reasonability in this world compared to the real one.