Chapter Eight: Diplomacy

Most players often overlook diplomacy. This is unfortunate, as the art of diplomacy can sometimes be more powerful than military might. Not only can diplomacy keep a strong aggressor off your back, but you can gain valuable information in the form of world maps as well as hard-to-get technology. Additionally, forming diplomatic relationships can lead to powerful alliances, letting you join forces with another civilization and jointly attack a foe. Following, you will find several diplomatic tips that will aid you in your conquest.

Keeping the Peace - The Early Game

When opening up negotiations with another civilization, try to maintain a peaceful relationship, particularly in the early game.

One of the quickest ways to developmentally fall behind the early civilizations is to engage in an early conflict. Pumping much-needed early game resources into a war effort that will typically be a prolonged stalemate lets your other rivals leap ahead in scientific research, expansion, population growth, and nearly every other facet of the game. Playing catch-up is difficult; instead of being brutish in the early game, assume a friendly position. Knowledge and advancement are keys to getting ahead in the early game. Through friendly negotiations with other civilizations, your own cities can obtain maps of the surrounding area, new technological advances, and even money. Securing these is far more important than wiping out another civilization early on. So, by all means, keep the peace, if only for a little while.

Next: Milking a peaceful arrangement