Diplomatic capital?

from Elemental Forums

I think that diplomatic capital is a rather confused concept. The AI respects it, but for no apparent reason aside from it being called 'diplomatic capital.' In my humble opinion, it either needs to be removed from the game, or have a tactical function in the game.

For example, it could have something to do with religion. Create a 'prophet' unit type which cannot attack or defend, but can, if stationed in a city, provide a small boost to prestige for that city, or in times of war, send a prophet to an enemy city to steal part of the enemy city's population, giving it to the city which the prophet came from. Or, even use them to move population between your own cities in the same manner.

Or, it could have something to do with actual relations. Create a 'spy' unit which is invisible whose function is to provide LOS intelligence on enemy troop movements and city information, and to find and take out enemy spies. Arm the spy unit, and get an extremely expensive invisible assassin unit for straggling enemy units or outposts.

Either of these units would require diplomatic capital to make, the same as how iron and crystal are used. Given the resource's rarity, this would make both human and AI opponents actually have a reason to covet this resource. If they don't have any natural sources of their own yet, they would still want the resource to create some defensive spies, to be able to counter enemy spy actions. Or defensive prophets, to counter enemy prophet actions.

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Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

It is used for recruiting special units if I remember correctly. Like darklings

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

If anyone is interesting in learning about diplomatic capital in real life, check out an entry level book on sociology. Diplomatic Capital works surprisingly like the real thing in this game. It is one of the most unique concepts and shows some real intelligence by the devs. I think Fb thought it up in WoM. Basically you are accumulating owed favors and good will that can then be "spent" when needed. Not spending in certain ways is more valuable because you can hold it over those that owe it to you. The game even takes it so far as to allow us to use that capital to hire on neutral parties. An elegant example of how it is used in real life. The only thing one might criticize is the political commentary that some might draw from this game mechanic. 

The best nations for DiploCap are the traders, traitors, and peacemongers. Even so, it behooves any nation to at least attempt to gain some for defensive purposes.

Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Ah, recruiting special units.

I guess that makes sense, seeing as how I haven't had a game where I managed to get both a diplomatic resource and special unit resources at the same time yet. Bad luck, maybe.

As the game is right now, then how would one use diplomatic capital for defensive purposes? If I don't happen to be able to recruit darklings, what can I do with it besides trade it for gold to pay off aggressive nations? IMHO diplomatic capital should be useful whether we're fighting the AI or a human opponent, at least to a small degree. So, even if it's possible to use it to recruit special units if I'm lucky with the map layout, there should be at least something that everyone can use it for to gain some kind of small edge in a conflict. I think of it as being similar to the concept behind how recruiting darklings would not be popular with other sovereigns thus costing dip. capital, the other things that I can create with it should also be similarly unpopular with other sovereigns. Prophets and spies fit the theme.

Also, should it be possible to go into negative values for dip. capital? This would make that resource unique in the game. Consequences might be something like being unable to recruit said special units from resources until whatever debt is repaid. Other punishments might be being unable to rush-build things, recruit heros, or go on quests.

If diplomatic capital is envisioned as seanw3 says, debt should be possible.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

If you have much more than another nation, you get a diplomacy bonus. This area is yet to be fully implemented, but we will see some more interesting stuff when they start working on diplomacy.