Politics 2.0 - Neutrality, Refreshing Alliances and Wars, Declaring Peace

[Kiithnaras]

The goal of this is to give greater purpose to Wars (other than just blocking alliances) and to give Pirates a different feel from other nations.

 

My initial thoughts revolve around altering the default Enemy state to a more Neutral state, changing the dynamic of the political climate and increasing the importance of Wars. Neutrality would be the default state of any two nations. Alliances act as presently, mutually determined by voting. War status is treated as a mutual state even though the declaration is not necessarily.

 

Neutral Status - Default state of not allied and neither nation declared war on the other. Pirates consider themselves neutral to Nations, usually:

• Can enter each others' ports freely without using a smuggler flag (cannot enter within 30 minutes of hostile action to target nation).
• Cannot construct outposts or craft in each others' ports (existing outposts and structures remain) - Would reverse position if outpost teleports receive a cooldown (again) or go away entirely (still no crafting).
• Can join either side in a battle as long as they are not allied with/belong to the opposing side or at war with the side they intend on joining.
• Can freely engage on the OW.
• Can freely assault each others' ports.

War Status - Occurs for both nations when either decides to declare war. Nations consider themselves at War with Pirates:

• Cannot enter each others' ports without a smuggler flag
• Gains/Reduces Hostility 20-50% faster

Allied Status has no change from present mechanics (Allied ports and fleets essentially treated like own nation ports and fleets).

 

Pirates:

• Cannot ally with any nation
• Are treated as being at War by every Nation.
• ^ Cannot enter Nation ports without Smuggler status
• ^ Nations receive Hostility gains/reduction against pirates. Pirates must declare war on specific nations to match these gains.
• Consider themselves Neutral to Nations otherwise
• ^ Can join either side in any battle unless they've declared war on the side they intend on joining or the opposing side are Pirates.

Both alliances and wars should be able to be refreshed during any voting period except the period initially following their signing (presently, alliances and wars must expire and revert to Neutral for one voting period before able to be re-signed. Very silly).

 

Additionally, any two nations at War can, following the initial war-signing period, declare Peace by mutually voting for Alliance with each other. This sacrifices the ability for either nation to create a new alliance during that voting period, and it will not create an alliance between the two but end the current War and return them to Neutral status. I'm on the fence as to whether Alliances can be broken in the reverse of this manner as War declarations only require one voting nation. Perhaps an alliance could be terminated if both parties mutually vote to terminate it.

 

This system would go hand in hand with the fort gun mechanics I proposed over here

 

Dems muh thoughts, thought Ah'd share! Cheerio!

Edited October 16, 2016 by Kiithnaras

[Anolytic]

My opinion is that if any "neutral" status should be introduced, then it should be exactly like war, except without the ability to attack each other's ports. And I don't think making such a change should be any kind of priority.

Both alliances and wars should be able to be refreshed during any voting period except the period initially following their signing (presently, alliances and wars must expire and revert to Neutral for one voting period before able to be re-signed. Very silly).

That is not true. The system is currently as you suggest (alliances can be resigned after one voting round has passed, same with wars). The reason that alliances expire occasionally despite being voted to renew, is that there is a bug currently so every few rounds all voting outcomes aren't counted. Devs have stated it should be fixed with the coming patch.

[Kiithnaras]

Ah, excellent, didn't know it was a bug. Thanks!

 

Regarding port attacks, as I mentioned it'd still be possible to create hostility near a neutral nation's ports. Doing so would deny port entry without a smuggler flag for 30 minutes. Neutral nations would also have a slower hostility increase compared to nations at war. But I can see the concern with this. It's mainly to give a bigger purpose to declaring war on someone other than just preventing alliances with them with your current allies.

Edited October 16, 2016 by Kiithnaras