User:Witness3's Diplomacy house rules

This was heavily inspired by the Gorgon's Alliance videogame. Basically, you have diplomacy levels just like you have province loyalty. The levels of diplomatic relationship are unique to each relationship between realms: If the level between two realms improves, it improves for both. If one kingdom declares war on the other, for example, the relationship automatically switches to enemies for both.

Diplomatic relationships define what you can ask or demand to another domain. Relationships may be established between any domain and realms, and so on. Bloodline strength plays a factor here as you will be required a high lineage to gain vassals - who would bend the knee on a lesser noble?

Level	Type	Actions in favor	Bidding involvment
-2	Enemy	None	Always against
-1	Tense	Only by negotiations	against if convenient
0	Indifferent	yes if it's convenient	only in support of other friends
1	Friends	yes if it doesn't hurt	in favor if convenient
2	Allies	will do sacrifices	in favor if possible
3	Vassal	Always	Always in favor

Relationships should be decided at start by the DM, keeping an eye with the Lore. If no special relationship is mentioned, "indifferent" is the starting default level. Improvement may be done via the Improve relationship action (see below), a normal diplomacy check or certain quests or negotiations. A treaty with a vassal becomes binding only when an Invenstiture ceremony is held.

Alas, ruining relationships is much easier. Failing to honor a binding contract, refusing to perform an action, or violating the other's domain rights will lower by 1 level the relationship. This may happen once per turn. If aggressive acts such as conspiracies or war are performed against a realm, the relationship immediately drops to Enemies even if it has already dropped for the turn.

To win the alliance of a domain, you must be at least of the same bloodline strength of the target domain and be allied in diplomatic relationships. The nature of the vassalage will depend on the domain definition (holding, lands, etc).

The following actions expand and may even replace the regular Diplomacy action. Note that benefits from Embassies (3E) or free Diplomacy actions should extend to these actions too.

This actions is used when full depth diplomacy actions are required. A full diplomatic commission is formed and sent to the target capital, to discuss diplomatic matters. An embassy will allow a court action instead.

The regent's diplomatic expedition shows with a series of demands, and may also suggest some counter-demands if they wish so - they are not binding. The target's regent (or court) must decide if they send the expedition away right now or change the terms. If they send the expedition right away, no action is performed and the GB returns to the regent (unless we are talking evil domains).

After that, each round, each side may spend 2 RP and either a) change a demand (either side) b) add a new term , c) remove a term at all or d) accept the deal. This goes on until both parties agree on the terms.

At any moment after the first round, should anyone want to forfeit, they may do so - the negotiation is not binding until they both agree. Any regency spent is lost and the action is considered performed even on a failure.

Countering the negotiation: Anyone with a presence in the capital province may try to stop the negotiations from happening. The mechanic is the same as the original Diplomacy action with a DC of 15 - the diplomatic level between the two.

Negotiations as players: Should two regents start a diplomatic discussion, outside the ufficial channels, you may require they nevertheless follow the action mechanic. Diplomacy based only on roleplay may be ruled as a simple promise, without any real binding. It's up to the DM.

NATURE You can put on the negotiation plate offers of this nature: military (anything that involves the army), political (province rights, attitude towards other domains and/or management of actions), commercial (spending or purchase of assets or GB), heraldic or dynastic (investitures and titles, negotiations concerning RPs or blood points, marriages, recognition of a title or a right).

GESTURE beyond the nature of the request/offer, the kind of gesture is also important. A designation is full-time. A concession is basically a loan, while a permission is a guarantee of neutrality. A partnership is the guarantee that your domain will actively participate.

TABLE: Hierarchy of values by human culture, from highest to lowest

Anuire	Brecthür	Khinasi	Rjurik	Voosgard
Heraldic	Commercial	Political	Commercial	Military
Military	Military	Commercial	Military	Commercial
Political	Heraldic	Military	Political	-
Commercial	Political	Heraldic	Heraldic	-

A messenger is sent to the king to ask for a simple matter, urging a simple response. Nothing can be sent in gift and no negotiation may happen.

The target recipient must answer either yes or no. Anything more will require a negotiation or a diplomacy check.

This works exactly as the Diplomacy action in mechanics, with one exception: upon a success, the relationship between the regent and the target domain is improved by 1 level.

No more than 1 level per season may be improved this way, no matter who performs the action.

Note that reaching The vassal status this way is binding only via Investiture. The relationship is handled as Allies until such ceremony is performed.

Let's say we are playing the Black Baroness of Roesone.

Realm	Level
Diemed	Tense
Ghoere	Enemies
Aerenwe	Allies
Medoere	Friends
Peaceful seas of Nesirie	Friends
Impregnable Hearth of Haelyn	State Religion
Ilien	Indifferent

Now, Roesone is fearing Ghoere is up to some of the usual shenanigans and wants to press from the north to conquer the northern roesonian provinces.

Roesone asks Kalien for Espionage help. The Baroness starts with a simple Request action. Kalien is indifferent, so it needs something in return.

The DM rules that Kalien is interested in GB only, so the normal Diplomacy standard action can be used.

Roesone then asks Aerenwe for military support. A negotiation is required even if they are allies because some limits must be defined. Luckily, Roesone has an embassy there, so this will require just a court action.

Round 1: Roesone proposes unlimited military aid if the realm is attacked. Queen Liliene of Aerenwe change this to "Limited military aid if Aerenwe is attacked too". This does not sue the barones needs, so the negotiation will start.

Round 2: The baroness spends 2 RP and changes to "Limited military aid no matter who gets attacked". Liliene spends 2 RP too to add "The requester pays 5 GB per season to support this expense no matter what".

Round 3: Marlae of Roesone spends 2 RP to change the second term: The requester will cover 40% of the expenses for the military aid. Liliene agrees, but Marlae has yet to agree.

Round 4: Marlae agrees, but then Liliene has a change of hearth! She spends 2 RP and adds: "Payment over 5 GB will be split into annual rates of 5 GB each, no interest".

Round 5: They both agree.

The final, binding treaty will be:

Now, Kalien returns with results: Ghoere is indeed moving the troops at his southern border! Marlae needs as many friends as she can. The wizard of Ilien may be a useful resource, but Aglondier must be convinced that Ghoere is a threat to everybody - Marlae cannot afford to spend time in negotiations under war. She decides to improve relationships with Ilien.

The bidding war goes unopposed - Marlae is friend with the sisters of Nesirie who do not interfere in such matters. Relationship between Roesone and Ilien is now Friends. Roesone has a new potential resource, not an ally yet.