Diplomacy

The main diplomacy interface

In Imperator, diplomacy involves the actions and treaties that countries conduct and sign with each other, ranging from a simple improvement of relations to demands for tribute and fully-fledged alliances and defensive pacts. The most important facet of diplomacy is a country's opinion of other countries, which significantly affects what diplomatic actions are possible and whether they look for cooperation and friendly relations or pursue a more aggressive policy. Most diplomatic actions and modifiers can be seen and accessed through the Diplomacy screen.

Opinion

Every country has a specific opinion value of every other country ranging from -200 to +200, which represents how well that country sees the other country and is one of the most important factors in how they act towards each other. Countries with a high opinion of another country will be much more receptive to diplomatic and trade requests and will likely pursue a cooperative attitude, while countries with a low opinion will usually refuse requests or demands, break existing treaties, and regard the other country as a rival or enemy. Opinion values go only one way; a country's opinion of another country is not necessarily the same and often different from the second country's opinion of the first, and it is entirely possible that one first country is friendly to the other while the second is hostile.

A country's opinion of another country is determined by the sum of all opinion modifiers that the first country has towards the second. Some opinion modifiers are based on some persistent property of the two countries and their relationship, such as having the same religion, being in an alliance, or having a particular diplomatic stance; these modifiers have a fixed value and will remain as long as the source of the opinion modifier is still valid. Other opinion modifiers, usually given by events, missions, or other actions - particularly accumulating aggressive expansion - are temporary modifiers and have a specific yearly decay that reduces the effect of the modifier each year, until it reaches 0 and disappears. The Relation diplomatic actions category allows a country to directly influence another country's opinion of it, spending gold to improve relations or aggressive expansion to worsen them, though there is a limit to how much a country's opinion can be improved through diplomacy alone.

Diplomatic relations

Most treaties, such as alliances, defensive leagues, and guarantees, as well as many types of subject states, take up one of a country's diplomatic relations slots. Every country has a cap on the amount of diplomatic relations it can have normally, with each relation over the limit giving a −10% political influence modifier. This diplomatic relations cap forces countries to carefully choose their allies and to some extent subjects to be as useful and reliable as possible, rather than simply accepting every treaty they can and creating a vast network of clients to easily overpower its rivals.

The most important modifiers for a country's diplomatic relations cap are listed below:

Type	Modifier	Diplomatic Relations
Country rank	Great Power	+2
	Major Power	+2
	Regional Power	+1
	Local Power	+1
	City State	+2
Inventions	Summitry ( Oratory Invention)	+1
	Foreign Network ( Oratory Invention)	+1
	Defending Liberty ( Oratory Invention)	+1
	Local Embassies ( Oratory Invention)	+1
	Allied Representatives ( Oratory Invention)	+1
Diplomatic stance	Neutral Stance	+1
National ideas	Permanent Ambassadors ( Oratory idea)	+2
Great wonders	Diplomatic Traditions effect	+1 for Tier 1 +2 for Tier 2 +3 for Tier 3 +5 for Tier 4
Laws	King of Kings (Monarchy law)	+2
Religions	Ritualist	+1
Deities	Traphu (Bon deity)	+2 without owned holy site +2.5 with owned holy site
	Trapusa and Bahalika (Buddhist deity)
Ruler Traits	Loving	+1
Heritages	Heritage of Kassandros (Macedon)	+2
	Arvernian Heritage (Arvernia)	+1
	Iberian Heritage (Iberia)	+1
	Boeotian Heritage (Boeotia)	+1
	Carian Heritage (Chrysaoric League)	+1
	Cyrenaican Heritage (Cyrenaica)	-1
	Delphic Heritage (Delphi)	-1
	Aetolian Heritage (Aetolia)	-1
	Corinthian Heritage (Corinth)	-1
	Attalid Heritage (Pergamon)	-1
	Heritage of Mithridates (Mithridatic Kingdom)	-1
	Achaean Heritage (cultural)	-1
	Religious State heritage (mission created)	-1

Diplomatic reputation

A country's diplomatic reputation represents the effectiveness of its diplomats and affects how likely a country's diplomatic proposals will be accepted. Generally, every point of diplomatic reputation gives +1 point towards another country's acceptance of any diplomatic action. It is possible for diplomatic reputation to become negative, at which point it will make other countries less likely to accept diplomatic offers.

In addition, every point of diplomatic reputation above 0 gives the following effects:

• +0.03% Aggressive Expansion Decay
• +0.05 Integration Speed
• +2.5% Improve Opinion Maximum

The main sources of diplomatic reputation are listed below:

Type	Modifier	Diplomatic Reputation
Inventions	Proportional Agreements (Oratory Invention)	+3
	Polybius Square (Oratory Invention)	+3
	Noble Envoys (Oratory Invention)	+2
	Humane Conduct (Oratory Invention)	+1
	Open Negotiations (Oratory Invention)	+1
	Diplomatic Immunity (Oratory Invention)	+1
	Career Negotiators (Oratory Invention)	+1
Diplomatic actions	Supporting Rebellions Abroad	-5
Laws	Non-Interference Edict (Monarchy law)	-5
Trade goods	Honey (capital bonus)	+3
Great wonders	Diplomatic Traditions effect	+3/6/9/15 for each tier
	Diplomatic Doctrines effect	+3/6/9/15 for each tier
Religions	Hindu	+1
Deities	Diktean Zeus (Cretan Hellenic deity)	+3 without owned holy site +3.75 with owned holy site
	Eacus (Iberic deity)
Ruler Traits	Plain-speaking	+3
	Blood of Lysimachus	+1
	Epileptic	-1
	Sarcastic	-3
Heritages	Heritage of Antigonos (Antigonid Kingdom)	+2
	Aeolian Heritage (Aeolia)	+2
	Cnidusian Heritage (Knidos)	+2
	Heritage of Kassandros (Macedon)	-2
	Kalingan Heritage (Kalinga)	-2

Diplomatic range

A country can only use most diplomatic actions on other states within diplomatic range, except for ending or declaring wars and asking for or canceling military access. Another country is considered to be within diplomatic range if the distance from the current country's capital to its capital is within the current country's diplomatic range value. A country's diplomatic range is significantly increased by inventions and country rank; this means that it is possible for a larger power to initiate diplomacy with a smaller, somewhat distant country even if the converse is not possible. In addition, all neighbouring countries are considered to be within diplomatic range, regardless of the distance to their capital.

Diplomatic stance

Each country chooses a default diplomatic stance from five choices. Changing stance costs a base of 30 Political Influence, increasing by +10% for each previous stance change done by the current ruler.

These are as follow:

Diplomatic stance	Modifiers	Opinion modifiers
Neutral A Neutral diplomatic stance means there is no active focus towards any particular diplomatic end. This lack of direction limits efficiency in pursuing specific goals but it also allows greater flexibility in making new agreements and alliances.	Diplomatic Relations: +1	None
Appeasing An Appeasing stance is focused on presenting a more palatable image abroad while strengthening ties with existing friends. Some would say it a way of making amends for past sins.	Aggressive Expansion Decay: +0.20% Improve Relation Cost: −25%	Allies: +25 Others: +10
Mercantile A Mercantile diplomatic stance means that all efforts are focused on making new trade deals as well as increasing the profitability of existing ones.	National Commerce Income: +25%	States with same Diplomatic Stance: +30 Others: +20
Bellicose A Bellicose diplomatic stance means that all diplomatic efforts are focused on justification for expansion and intimidation of nearby countriess.	Aggressive Expansion Impact: -10% Claim Fabrication Speed: +1 War score Cost: −10%	Neighbours: −20 Others: −10
Domineering A Domineering diplomatic stance is one where focus is entirely devoted on the tying of foreign subject states closer to the mother country.	Loyalty of Subject States: +10 Integration Speed: +0.25	Subjects: +20

Diplomatic actions

Diplomatic actions are the primary way that two countries interact with each other, allowing a country to negotiate various agreements, make demands, improve relations, and more. Many diplomatic actions have certain restrictions, such as requiring a certain country rank or opinion threshold; most actions also require that the target country be within diplomatic range, and cannot be done by or to subject states. After taking an action, the current country will be unable to take any more diplomatic actions against the same country for the next 30 days.

If the government type is a republic, the senate will vote on all diplomatic actions. As with all such actions, the Senate must have at least 30 approval to take most diplomatic actions, and pushing it through will cost scaling tyranny unless the country has at least 51 Senate approval.

War Actions

Main article: Warfare

Declare War

Declares war on another state, hidden if the country is already at war with this faction (even if only as a secondary participant). A casus belli (CB - Reason for War) and wargoal to be used in this war must be chosen, which will determine the goal of the war to get ticking warscore. War may be declared without a valid CB but this will incur a large penalty to aggressive expansion, stability, and war exhaustion. Wars cannot be declared against a country's subjects, or if the country has less than 20 stability.

Sue for Peace

Open a window to choose a negotiated end to wartime hostilities. Only available if at least one of the parties involved is the warleader of their side, and secondary participants cannot sue for peace for the first 36 months of a war unless they are completely occupied. Subjects can never sign a separate peace.

Demand Military Access

Sends a demand for another country to allow military access through their country. If refused, the current country will immediately declare war with the Gain Military Access wargoal. This is a special type of war where no demands can be made except that the victor will always gain military access through the losing party's territory for the duration of the truce.

Ransom Prisoner

Ransoms a character that is imprisoned by the other country. The price required depends on the other country's opinion of the current country and the imprisoned character's attributes, with a significant emphasis on martial skill. Most commonly used for commanders that have been captured after losing a battle.

Alliance Actions

Main article: Treaties

Offer/Dissolve Alliance

Creates an alliance between two states, where the two countries agree to aid each other in defensive wars and can be called to arms in offensive wars. Allies get +50 opinion with each other. Cannot be done if either side is a great power.

Offer Guarantee

Creates a guarantee of protection from the current country toward another state of lower rank, where the guarantor agrees to aid the other country if is attacked by another power. The country being guaranteed gets +10 opinion towards their guarantor, and the guarantor gets +5 opinion towards the country being protected. Restricted to Regional powers or above.

Invite to/Join/Leave Defensive League

Create a new defensive league or join, invite to, or leave an existing one, where all members of the pact agree to aid the others if any of them are attacked. Only the leader of the defensive league can invite other countries to join. Members of a defensive pact get +25 opinion towards all members. Restricted to City States and Local Powers.

Access Actions

Ask/Cancel Military Access

Ask another country for military access, which lets a country freely move its armies through another state's territories and dock its navies in the other state's ports. A country that has military access through another country gets +10 opinion of that country. Unlike most actions, asking for or cancelling military access does not require the target country to be within diplomatic range.

Offer/Revoke Military Access

Offer military access to another country, letting their armies and navies move through the current country's territories. As above, improves relations by +10.

Influence Actions

See also: Subject nations

Release Subject

Cancel the current country's overlord status over this country. This action takes on different names depending on the type of subject, such as Cancel Tribute or Cancel Satrapy Status.

Cancel Subject Status

Cancel the current country's subject status with the overlord. Can only be done by certain subject types, and gives the formerly overlord a Show Superiority casus belli for 5 years. This action takes on different names depending on the type of subject, such as Cancel Tribute or Cancel Tribal Vassal Status.

Start/Abort Integration

Begin the process of annexing a subject state into an integral part of the country. Can only be used on certain types of subjects (e.g. feudatories, client states, satrapies) and requires that the subject have at least +190 opinion of the overlord and that the subject has been under its overlord for at least 10 years, unless it has been under the overlord since the start of the game.

Integration can be aborted at any time, but all progress will be lost.

Demand Subject Transfer

Can be used on disloyal subjects of another country to have them peacefully transfer their allegiance to the current country. Requires that the subject has at least +80 opinion of the potential new overlord. A Subject is deemed disloyal if their Subject Loyalty drops below 33.

Demand Subject Status

Send an offer for the target country to peacefully become a subject of the current country, requiring the other country to have at least +100 opinion of the current country. Different actions are available for all subject types that are possible between the potential subject and overlord. Countries are typically hesitant to accept subject status unless the current country is much stronger than the target.

Intervene in War

Joins the side of the target country in one of their wars, requiring that the target country has at least 100 opinion of the current country and that the current country is at peace. Can only be done by Great powers or countries that have adopted the Power Diplomacy Oratory invention.

Enforce Peace

Demands that a country make white peace in one of their wars, joining the opposing side if they refuse. Restricted only to Great Powers, if they are not already at war.

Threaten War

Demands that another country cede a single territory that the current country has a on, starting a war for that territory if they refuse. Restricted to Regional Powers or above. A 5 year truce is applied after doing so.

Sell Territory

Allows a country to sell a single territory to another country in return for gold. In particular, can be used to grant territories to subject states (i.e. by selling territories for free). There are no restrictions on what territories can be sold - even if they are not adjacent to any of the potential buyer's territory - though the buyer is unlikely to accept unless it is neighbouring or otherwise of interest (e.g. same dominant culture or has a claim).

Covert Actions

Support Rebels/Abort Rebel Support

Supports rebels and stirs discontent in another country, giving -8% Unintegrated Culture Group Happiness to the target and +0.02 Aggressive Expansion Change and -5 Diplomatic Reputation to the current country while it lasts. Starting to support rebels also gives +2 aggressive expansion. The target will get a Show Superiority casus belli against the current country, and the current country will join any rebellions that happen against the target. Cannot be used if the current country is at war or has a truce with the target, and is restricted to Major Powers and above.

Fabricate/Cancel Fabricate Claims

Main article: Claim

Starts the process of fabricating a claim on a specific province, which gives a casus belli and war goal. Costs a base of 20 political power, and can only be done on provinces within control range (i.e. neighbouring the current country or has a nearby coast). Only one claim can be fabricated on a country at a time.

Claim fabrication can be cancelled at any time, but all progress will be lost and the political power will not be refunded.

Relation Actions

Improve Opinion/Cancel Improve Opinion

Start the process of passively improve another state's opinion of the current country, which costs a base of 25 gold to start, modified by the Improve Relation Cost modifier. Improving relations has a base cap of +100 towards the country's subjects and +50 towards all other countries, modified by the Improve Opinion Maximum modifier. Opinion is improved by a base of 1 point each month, also modified by the Improve Opinion Maximum modifier (so that opinion improves at the same rate for both the country's subjects and all other countries, taking 100 months to reach the cap for the country's subjects and 50 months for all other countries) and decays by 1 each month once the action is no longer active. The opinion improvement process can be cancelled at any time, and will be automatically cancelled once the modifier reaches its cap.

The most important modifiers for a country's improve opinion maximum are listed below:

Type	Modifier	Improve Opinion Maximum
Inventions	Proxenoi ( Oratory Invention)	+20%
	National Seal ( Oratory Invention)	+10%
	Permanent Ambassadors ( Oratory Invention)	+10%
	Command Incentives ( Oratory Invention)	+20%
	Hereditary Ambassadorship ( Oratory Invention)	+20%
National ideas	Hospitium ( Oratory idea)	+33%
Diplomacy	Diplomatic Reputation	+2.5% per point
Ruler Traits	Silver-tongued	+25%
	Poet	+10%
	Blunt	-25%
Great wonders	Diplomatic Doctrines effect	+5%/+10%/+15%/+25% depending on the tier
	Diplomatic Expansion effect	+10%/+20%/+30%/+50% depending on the tier
Heritages	Tarentine Heritage (Tarentum)	+10%
	Iceni Heritage (Icenia)	-10%
	Montane Heritage (group)	-10%

Insult

Insult another state, giving -50 opinion with a yearly decay of 1 and gaining 1 aggressive expansion. Insults can be stacked to decrease opinion arbitrarily low, and the target country gets a limited duration Show Superiority Casus Belli.

Send Gift

Send 2.4 times the target country's monthly income for the target to gain +25 opinion of the current country, with a yearly decay of 1. The maximum total opinion boost from gifts is capped at +25; subsequent gifts will set the value of the modifier back to +25, but cannot be used to stack the opinion bonus higher.

Mechanics