I'm pretty sure that I understand the principle of a diplomatic victory: IIUC, One needs to earn 300 diplo-points before anyone else does. That's at least what I can gather from the f11 screen in my games. I'm not sure I understand the fine print however, and would like to see if I get it right. Maybe this would help other people, because in searching these forums for answers, I came across many posts from people who seem confused.
- You earn diplomatic points by performing missions for other factions.
- You earn diplomatic points by having an envoy ship stationed at another faction's gravity well.
- You earn diplomatic points by signing pacts and treaties.
Correct so far?
- You can earn diplomatic points by completing research in the Diplo tree. Right?
- You cannot share a diplomatic victory however. You can only ally yourself with another faction during game setup and make sure that shared victories are turned on (to the right number of teammates); then your team can win a diplomatic victory if one of your teammates earns one.
Right?
IIUC, most of you turn the diplomatic VC off in multiplayer (which I have never tried).
What confuses me is how this works in SP. I can see some AIs accumulating Diplo points, but I do not see any AI trying to do so systematically when the diplo-VC is left on. Do some actually try? I can see AI settings for Aggressive, Fortifier, Random, Researcher, and Econ, but none for diplo.
What confuses me further is how to go about getting good enough standing with an AI so that I can send them an Envoy without them shooting it down. I am also unsure if by doing so, that we then *both* accumulate diplomatic points, so that while it makes a diplomatic victory for me more likely, I also help my opponent. And finally, I am confused as to how these mechanics work if I turn the diplo VC *off* -- IIUC, the AI will still research the diplomatic tree -- but with what end? It cannot win a diplo-VC, so is it trying to go for pacts? I have never seen an AI attempt to make a pact, but perhaps they make pacts with one another (never saw it however).
If I am interested in having the diplomatic aspect of trinity come more into play in my SP games (and currently I still play only SP for a number of reasons), what should I do (besides the obvious of leaving the diplo VC on)? Is it necessary, in game setup, to make locked teams? Is it necessary to have "allied victory allowed" and set the number to exactly the same number of AI players on a locked team? (I've never played with an AI ally, but it might be fun to play, instead of the FFAs that I have been playing so far, against an allied team of weaker AIs...?)
Any information I may not be understanding is welcome. I am basically unsure how the difference between "allies" and diplomatic bonuses and diplomatic victory conditions is delinated, as well as to how that works in SP.
Thank you greatly.
