Some ideas that might make Diplomacy more attractive to the online multiplayer community:

Modify the game to allow us to set up 6v6's and 7v7's.  All we need is one huge random single star map that would accomodate 14 players.  Just set it up so that no player color may be used more than twice.

Allow for custom map auto-download.  (I'm referring to Galaxy Forge-made maps.)

Create some new standard planet types and a checkbox for the Game Option area where the host can check off whether to use the original planet types or include the new ones.

Based on what little I saw in that video, it almost looked like a second military tree--the research improved a ship's damage.

AMEN. THAT is what a diplomacy upgrade should do. Maybe not EXACTLY that, but the kinds of bells and whistles that let you do stuff like pay for protection, or make a weaker player pay you not to attack them. I've always offered a CPU a peace treaty JUST before I crush them. In the real world, they'd already be pretty much defeated at that point, and there'd be a decent chance of a surrender or something.

Making an update I'd imagine would take more time than this "Diplomacy" expansion has. Why? Because if you're making a balance patch, you need to play a bunch of 3+ hour games on different map sizes, etc, to make sure that everything feels "right." It's not a matter of coding, it's a matter of tweaking numbers.

I can fully understand why THAT would take a while. But from what I've seen of Diplomacy, I'm not impressed. If they add in stuff like what Guesswho described... that would be somewhat different

As far as all of us complaining about Diplomacy... Up until I saw that youtube video, I was planning on just buying it to support Ironclad. I didn't expect it to do much. But I'm so thoroughly unimpressed that I might not now. I'll wait for more official information first, of course. So if Diplomacy is as small a change as it seems, then I can understand why they aren't saying anything - it would hurt sales. I know Diplomacy isn't done, I get that. But it will need a lot more (than what hasn't been announced except to PAXbrats) to get any money from me.

That is SORELY needed. The map system needs an overhaul. You can't download maps in-game, and in order to even get them into Entrenchment, you have to modify the manifest. That's just dumb.

I understand the point of the manifests, and it sorta makes sense for mods, but maps? If they're mod-only, just crawl the map directory and look for 'em. Disable the mod, crawl again. That's what almost every other game does.

And while letting you download maps would require a bunch of new network code, it is sorely needed.

That should explain it.

Are you sure you're installing custom maps in the right place?  I have added customs to my game without touching any Manifest files.  I just put them in the Galaxy Forge folder in the Application Data Sins folder (not the Program Files main Sins folder).  As far as I know it's actually very easy to add custom maps to Sins--if you know where to find your Application Data folder and that Galaxy Forge folder, which can be a problem for some people since some computers (Vista) have them hidden by default.  (I recommend that people just create a shorcut to their Application Data Sins folder.)

Downloading and adding maps, especially Sins maps which are just tiny little text files, really isn't a big deal at all.  However, it seems like gamers have just become increasingly lazy over time (consolized?) and won't bother to take the 2 minutes needed to add a custom map to their game.  It just takes a 2 minute investment of time to have a better 2 hour game.  Can't say I understand players' reluctance.

There are a few different places you can put maps. In my case, since these maps require a mod I use, I didn't want to accidentally load them when not using the mod. So, it has to go in the mod folder, and then you need to modify the .manifest or it won't notice them. Which is dumb.

[Bad attitude]I appreciate you assuming I was lazy and hadn't looked into it...[/Bad attitude]

I had to manually type in 30 filenames in the file to get it to work. Not a huge deal, but a pain in the ass nonetheless.

Besides, what if you want to join an online game, but don't have the map? Guess you can't join if there is no download available on the internet.

The comment about laziness wasn't directed at you, but at some of the people in the online multiplayer community.  (Why would I call you lazy for doing what appeared to be more work than you needed to do?)

However, in the case of my maps, I offer to either e-mail them to people or tell them where they download a single map pack with a URL that is easy to remember (so no need for a non-existent copy-and-paste).  Mine are available at http://tinyurl.com/Sins3 and I name my games "tinyurl.com/Sins3".  Sometimes people figure it out just by seeing the game name.

Sorry Whippersnapper, I've been in a sour mood today...

While your solution works, it still is leaps and bounds behind other multiplayer games. Ironclad (or Stardock) ought to give us a better solution. Even if that just means they give you a place to specify a CLICKABLE download URL.

If you actually followed the links provided by other posters, you would realise that these things that you want (alternate victory conditions, completely different diplomacy system etc.) ARE included in Diplomacy.

Envoy cruisers can reduce the allegiance of enemy planets to incite rebellion, you can form research pacts with other factions and diplomacy still works with locked teams. Lack of information does not mean lack of content.

The links effectively show that with some research, you can do what the AI can already do. Yeah, that's simplifying it a tad, but there's not a ton more than that, that we know of. Nothing that's been mentioned will change gameplay more than a little, at best.

Still waiting for some official news...

Heck, I just hope nobody at Stardock (or anywhere, but considering where I'm posting this ...) picked up the h1n1 virus that was going around there (seriously).  That was scary to see on the website, but I suppose it's just a matter of time until we see that more often.  //somewhat OT conversation

I am quite curious to see what comes of Diplomacy, as I've never experienced a game that had a specific addon for something like that.  The rumors I've heard versus the official words shared show a bit of a contrast, but I suspect once everything is locked in then we'll see something that will spark at least my interest even more.  But who can tell until then?  Ah, well.  Maybe the waaahmbulance will have a few more passengers in the meantime, but I can understand the consternation of the fans when we all know something is coming, whats come before has been awesome, and nobody will officially give us much more than a few clues as to what it is.  It actually reminds me of <insert present-giving holiday of choice> eve, when it would be impossible to get to sleep as a kid.  Oddly enough, now that I'm a parent I find it even more difficult as I'm worried about what my kid will think come morning.

So far everyone seems clear of it

How about adding diseases to gameplay? really....................

I have to admit, the teaser info sounds really underwhelming so far.  Improved diplomacy options only really benefits single player.  Team games and co-op vs. the AI will be totally unaffected.  Balance changes to cap ships and pirates is nice, but frankly should have been included with a patch for Entrenchment seeing as how it's the improved defences that make them a total joke these days (and certain cap types have ALWAYS been a joke).

The community is dying off these days, which means the modding community has no incentive to continue their work.  The modding community are generally the most die-hard fans, so when they start to move on it's not a good sign.  More information ASAP to get people fired up again is badly needed.  This cannot be understated.

(Sorry about the double-post... I tried editing the original but with all the quotes, it wasn't quoting properly)

I disagree.  We don't know this yet.  Diplomacy could greatly benefit UNLOCKED Multi-player team games, and make them very interesting. 

Diplomacy may actually revive, or boost the Multiplayer community.  Less time & hassle picking teams.  Just pick your own preferred team as you play.  You get the picture?  If not, try playing a game (even now) with unlocked teams.

A decent chunk of the expansion will be a total revamp of the diplomacy system which on the surface, may appear to only affect games vs. AI.  However, the ability to form trade and research pacts as well as give your fellow players missions will undoubtedly have a very positive effect on multiplayer games.  The new Envoy Cruiser will also give you the ability to subvert enemy planets over time via espionage giving you a non-violent way to conquer planets.  We have a lot in store for this expansion, so don’t underestimate it.

Finally some chunk of info. I guess I'm not in hell yet.

I wonder, who in his right mind would let an envoy cruiser into his territory if it can be used to take over his planets.
Oh well, I trust there's more to it. Keep it up.

That sounds like a good peak into what's up.

Does anyone know if Blair posted that dev journal he had a few months ago?  I've been reading up on game designers recently and want to see how IC does it.

That's funny because it's the same info that's already been known just worded differently and with a "developer" tag on the poster.

I want a facepalm smiley!

That's exactly why no one is that excited over it...

actually, not quite. the official infos only mentioned the envoy cruiser, but said nothing about their function. the unofficial youtube clip showed that the envoy cruiser was able to do sabotage. however, that this includes taking over planets, in whatever way that would be, is to my knowledge a new information. and could be a fairly significant one.

I do wonder though how this ship could get near a world. would it be invisible or cloaked as a trade ship? or would attacking it automatically produce war? but then it would be useless in a war situation if the enemy can simply destroy it like any other ship. or letting it in could produce some big benefit also.