Diplomacy

I think its already been mentioned somewhere else on the forums, but the treaty thing works like this:

Trade agreement = Ships won't shoot at each other, resource bonus generated for each empire

Trade and Research agreement = Trade agreement + research point bonus for empires

Military Alliance = Trade and Research agreement + ability to resupply at each other's resupply bases

Partnership = Military Alliance + ability to see each other's stuff


Vassal = Basically a one-sided trade agreement, with the vassalized empire giving tribute to the other empire in resources.

Non-aggression/non-interference = speak for themselves. The difference between the two is that in Non-interference, if your ships enter the same sector, they will shoot at each other.


Its important to remember that these treaty names have as much or as little bearing on actual relations as you wish for them to have. So, you may sign a "military alliance" with another empire simply for resupply rights, and actually have no military pact. Your actual diplomatic status is RP and up to you.

Another example: If I were to "vassalize" another Empire, I would not make them sign a "vassal" treaty, since several other treaty types are superior. I would probably make them sign a "military pact" treaty, plus whatever other conditions I wanted to attach (i.e. annual tribute, call-to-arms clause, etc)

Edit: Actually, now that I think about it, its probably a good idea for everyone to post notifications of signed treaties on the forums, as well as the treaty clauses should they wish. Obviously this would not apply to "secret" treaties, or treaties with secret clauses...