Fun with diplomacy

from Stardock Forums
So i'm trying to write diplomacy despite problems with my right hand due to carpal tunnel but it's still really fun.

With the extra polish time, we've been able to fully implement some of the extra diplomacy stuff we wanted to do. For instance, the way the aliens and you converse, textually, depends on your relative diplomacy abilities. And it'll let you know.

Here's a favorite: If you're winning the war and offer a peace treaty but you have a low relative diplomatic score, instead of sounding diplomatic you say stuff like:

"Good god, we're just so kicking your ass. Now, look at the left and right side of your terminal and we can discuss a peace treaty. Did I mention you guys just completely suck when it comes to war? I mean really, what the heck were you thinking fighting us? Hello?"

I know some people would prefer that we have selectable attitudes in diplomacy (MOO3 is doing this). My view is that in GalCiv diplomacy is so central to the game and something you'll regularly go to that I'd rather automate that. If you care about being suave and knowing the right thing to say to the Drengin versus the Altarians you'll put your energies into diplomacy. The reality is that leaders are briefed by experts on what to say. I'm sure this will come as a shock but George W. Bush is probably not an expert in diplomacy. He has advisors who tell him what he should say depending on the diplomacy. In turn, those advisors get their information from research.

In short, you wanna make sure not to offend the Arcean ambassador, research more diplomacy technologies.
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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
That is a very powerful idea....the idea that your research in various fields affects the quality of the PEOPLE that serve under you, not just the mechanisms and structures themselves. If the information systems that you have are bad then your decisions will be on the basis of faulty information.

For example the Japanese didn't have radar during WWII, so their judgements were based on reconnaisance from scout planes. That lack, in part, would keep them one step behind the Americans and in part cost them the battle of Midway and the whole war.

If, in the future, this were applied to the information sytems we as the player have, you could create a game within a game. Researching techs could add to or improve the interface itself as new techs created new systems or improved the quality of information received.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Frogboy (in a fit of understatement) said;

(snip)

"I'm sure this will come as a shock but George W. Bush is probably not an expert in diplomacy."

(snip)


Neither, it appears, are most of his advisers. ;)

Elrikk

PS. I like the idea of linking the foreign ministers tone to the diplomacy skill. Adds a sort of RPG element to the game.

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I agree with Elrikk :D

The game is allready great, now you're making it awesome!

Sorry about the carpal tunnel :sniff!: I used to pound on keyboards all day, everyday for years. Was so happy when i started supervising and let the others do the work, hint :-) Found an unusual sport rub that seems to help me it's made with emu oil. I also you a tablet more and more.

rich

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
use a tablet more and more :sniff!:

now if i can only get a usb port to interface with my brain i can avoid typing alllllllltogether LOL
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Frogboy said "I'm sure this will come as a shock but George W. Bush is probably not an expert in diplomacy."

I thought this was pattently obvious. And obvious about his advisers, too.

The diplomacy stuff sounds great. Having it "develop" as you research diplomacy techs gives it a changing face that should keep the game "new" for a long time.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
It's the mouse that's giving me problems. I also think I used my Thinkpad a bit too long (the trackpoint requires a lot of manual dexterity).
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
superb stuff, groundbreaking.

One minor point, I hope no one takes offense. We aren't all from the US and the parochial dialogue (which is right, it should be conversational) is very American, you probably don't even notice it, but for a galactic strategy game with non humanoids its quite obvious to Limey like me.

A mid atlantic interpretation of your excellent extract would be-

Good god, we're really kicking your ass. Now, look at the left and right side of your terminal and we can discuss a peace treaty. Did I mention you guys just completely stink when it comes to war? really, what were you thinking of fighting us? Well?"

rabid ridicule mode posture adopted

oao

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Brad, yes my TP also needs a lot of manual dexterity and so I understand you... ;)
For diplomacy, I like that idea.
What happens then to AI that are not developing diplomacy?
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Steevo,

The language Brad tried to use wasn't quite "American Parochial". It was an attempt to be "American teenslang", but I think Brad kinda showed his age doing it.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Hey now! I'm hip dammit! HIP! HIP!!!

Dude!

Aha! I said dude and hence that makes me significantly in tune with today's proactive teen. Or perhaps I need to increase the proactivity by 15% or more..
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
AI that fall behind on diplomacy you sound much more impressive to and can get better deals.
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
BTW, all this is something that wouldn't be doable in a multiplayer game.
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Brad do you ever sleep :D

ps the new movie we are doing is "Dude where's my Game?"

the dude where's mycar made enough money to make a sequel groan :-((((
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
I thought "dude" was part of last year's teenslang. Hasn't this year's teenslang produced something new?
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
This morning I read an article in the local paper about a book that was just published on this subject. It would appear that teenslang becomes obsolete faster than computers. According to the book the most important two words in todays American teenslang (or at least when the book was written) are "deck" (similar to the antequated term "fresh") and "fin" (similar to the outdated "wack" or "lame"). And I would not be surprised to learn that these terms are themselves outdated now.

Perhaps it would be better if, instead of trying to copy teenslang, Stardock made up new terms. This would reduce the chances of GC going from "deck" to "fin".