Unlike usually, the task to write this update was given to me. I hope this matches the quality of previous updates, considering my English is what it is. The headline already reveals what this is about - Diplomacy. I know it doesn't really tell much, so let me explain about it and how it got to K&B.
First, I'd like to thank Mister SCP for actual creation of this system. I had only a minor role on this, mainly the original idea.
If I'd had to explain diplomacy system with a single sentence, it would be "a system for players to use diplomacy in Random Maps" So, forging alliances and declaring wars.
The best thing in this system is that it wasn't included in Aoe3, nor in any other mod so far, so it's definitely something fresh and unique, just the way we like it.
The idea for this kind of system was quite new, it started about a month ago. Naturally, I was inspired of Rise of Nations' diplomacy system, which is pretty similar to this one. Obviously, things like "you need to send some resources to player in order to make alliance" are left out, by being overly complex for AI.
The original idea for diplomacy was kinda silly (like my ideas usually are). The point was to have 7 techs for each player, one diplomacy tech for each player. It would have also had QV (Quest Var) triggers for each tech, and therefore hundreds of triggers. Not really practical, right? Certainly plausible though, but there was a much shorter way as I presented the idea to Mister SCP.
A diagram showing the basics of diplomacy system.
I hope the above picture explains how the system works generally. And even if it does, I still make it clear here.
1. All player start in peace, nobody can't attack others. Next question will be "what about in team games then?". Well, it will naturally be in FFA games only.
2.1. At start, all players will have the ability to propose alliances with any player. Why I said "propose" is because both players need to have the tech researched. If only the other player researches it, nothing happens and you get nothing from the resources you spent. Alliances can be very effective though, as you can wipe your enemies with your ally. The allies have shared LOS.
2.2. Also available from the game start, players are able to declare wars to any other player. Unlike alliance, only other player needs to research the tech. This can be also done after making an alliance with other player, so you can't really trust anyone.
As all players are in peace with everyone from start, this will eventually need to be done with all the players in order to win (remember, it's still FFA!). Remember though that when the war is declared, you can't ally with the same player anymore. A peace can be proposed however.
3. When the war has taken place between two players, they can propose peace. Again, as in alliance, both players need to agree. The players have no shared LOS, as in alliance though, they can't just attack each other. And, as shown in diagram, war can be declared, with endless loop of proposing peace and declaring war, if you want. Each of these costs resources though, nothing is free.
If any of these have happened, there is a message about that, like "King Baldwin the Leper and Salah al-Din are allies!"
There haven't been any diplomatic changes with Player 2 yet, so he can still become an ally or an enemy. Player 3 is currently an enemy and Player 4 is a peaceful neighbour.
Above you can see the different tech icons for each stage of diplomacy. Not hard to guess what they symbol, eh? Anyway, all of them have a number to show the player to make diplomacy with.
All of these techs are available in a special building appearing only in diplomacy games. It won't be at start though, but villagers can build it at any age. This building isn't textured yet, but I can tell it's originally something not European in Aoe3.
The costs for each tech are still not decided, but I'm sure iliander figures out some numbers. The diplomacy system won't be in all maps (at least for now), not because it's hard to include, but because we want you to be able to play normal FFA games too.
The list of maps where this system appears is not decided, but it is mentioned in map's loading screen.
We had talk about tower defence map, and we decided to reject it for now. However, peugeot407 joked, but oddly with American spelling:
peugeot407 wrote: Every single Act in the AoE3 campaign, TWC and TAD included, had one or more tower defense scenarios...
K&B salutes... Mister SCP. It seems he got an unused catapult from WotTA files to work. Something for medieval mod, definitely.
K&B refutes... The United Nations Security Council. It can't get important decisions done, as it's very old-fashioned. The world has changed since the World War II.
I am so disappointed, I downloaded K&B expecting it to have diplomacy but I couldnt find it at all.