Diplomacy

For the Diplomacy tradition tree, see Traditions page.

Version

This article has been verified for the current PC version (3.14) of the game.

Diplomacy between plantoids and arthropoids

Diplomacy comprises the actions and agreements that empires can take with and against each other. Most diplomatic actions and agreements are mutually beneficial.

Empires with the Pompous Purists civic can send but not receive diplomatic propositions. This includes border access, so whether an empire has borders open or close towards them is decided solely by the Initial Border Status policy. It also means that if two empires have the civic they cannot conduct diplomacy with each other.

Envoys[edit | edit source]

Envoys are minor leaders that can be assigned to perform various diplomatic tasks. Once an envoy is assigned to a task, it cannot be reassigned again for a year. Envoys can be assigned to the following tasks:

Improve Relations with another empire, which grants +0.25 opinion per month to and from the target empire (up to +150) and removes the embassy requirement for certain diplomatic actions
Harm Relations with another empire, which grants −0.5 opinion per month to and from the target empire (up to −150) and removes the relation requirement for negative diplomatic actions
First contact, which establishes communications
Build a Spy Network, which increases infiltration in another empire over time and allows for operations to be conducted

Each Empire starts with 2 Envoys by default and can gain additional ones in the following ways:

Available envoys 0
Source	Effect
Fanatic Xenophile ethic	+2
Diplomatic Corps civic	+2
Public Relations Specialists civic	+2
Empath civic	+2
Diplomatic Protocols	+2
Shared Destiny ascension perk	+2
Grand Embassy Complex building	+2
Orbital Embassy Complex orbital ring building	+2
Interstellar Assembly (Stage IV)	+2
Xenophile ethic	+1
Broken Shackles origin	+1
Pompous Purists civic	+1
Delegated Functions civic	+1
Spyware Directives	+1
Galactic Sovereign / Corporate Sovereign civic	+1
Embassy Complex building	+1
Sanctum of the Whisperers building	+1
Politics tradition tree adopted	+1
Enmity tradition tree finished	+1
The Federation tradition	+1
Universal Compatibility tradition	+1
Double Agents tradition	+1
Autonomous Agents technology	+1
Embodied Dynamism technology	+1
Interstellar Assembly (Stage II)	+1
Federal Envoys Galactic Union president (Level 2) Trade League president (Level 2) Hegemony president (Level 2) Martial Alliance president (Level 3) Research Cooperative president (Level 4) president perk	+1
Diplomatic Grants edict	+1
Bureau of Espionage Bureau of Espionage Observation Instinct Covert Analysis Algorithm edict	+1
Open Society empire modifier	+1
Reconverted Leader empire modifier	+1
Society insight technology (each)	+0.5
Physics insight technology (each)	+0.25
Society insight technology (each)	+0.25
Inward Perfection civic	−1

Diplomatic status[edit | edit source]

See also: Diplomacy interface

The contact and diplomacy screens show a summary of an empire's diplomatic treaties and relations with other empires, as well as certain other relevant information such as their diplomatic stance policy

The unilateral opinion of an empire also influences whether an AI empire supports or opposes proposed resolutions in the Galactic Community as well as their attitude towards an empire.

Trust[edit | edit source]

Trust cap source
Base	50
Varies by agreement	75 or 100
Direct Diplomacy tradition	+50
Universal Compatibility tradition	+50 with
Galactic Union member (level 5) Per official assigned to federation	+5

Trust growth modifier source
Direct Diplomacy tradition	+33%
Galactic Union member (level 3) Per official assigned to federation	+5%
Management Insights application	+10%
Master's Teachings: Diplomatic Trust edict	+100%

Empires which engage in friendly diplomacy build trust over time. Each point of trust adds +1 opinion and +0.5 intel cap. The default trust cap is 50. Certain diplomatic agreements increase this cap, with only the highest amount applying. Conversely, many diplomatic agreements require a certain amount of trust or relation level to be proposed.

Trust changes monthly based on the current diplomatic relationship between two empires. Most diplomatic agreements have a small amount of trust growth, while rivalry and war quickly decay any trust at −2 per month. If there are no active sources of trust growth, trust decays by −0.25 each month.

Modifiers for trust growth and trust cap can be found in the tables to the right.

Threat[edit | edit source]

Empires that conquer or subjugate other empires generate threat. This represents other nearby empire's concerns and fears of being conquered next. Each empire has a threat rating, and as it increases, surrounding empires gain a stacking negative opinion modifier towards the aggressor empire, while becoming increasingly friendly with a stacking positive opinion modifier towards other threatened empires. This makes empires with mutual threat more willing to form an alliance against an aggressive conqueror or crisis.

Threat is generated by:

Conquest:
- 2 Conquered a system
- 4 Conquered an upgraded starbase
- 8 Conquered a colony
- ×0.75 if wargoal is Claim
- ×0.67 if wargoal is Counterattack
0.5 Vassalize war victory or status quo with new empire created
0.25 Make Tributary or Make Subsidiary war victory or status quo with new empire created
0.1 Impose Ideology war victory or status quo with new empire created
0.5 Take Galatron war victory
0.5 Bring Into Fold war victory
0.5 Establish Hegemony war victory
0.5 Impounding Assets war victory
0.5 Bring Into Fold war victory
2 Prethoryn Scourge or Contingency conquered a colony
2 Unbidden, Aberrant, Vehement or Synth Queen destroyed a colony
1000 Upgraded an Aetherophasic Engine to stage 2
10 Destroy a star system by Star-Eater
3 Use World Cracker, Global Pacifier, Neutron Sweep, Divine Enforcer, Nanobot Diffuser, Deluge Machine, Toxifier or Devolving Beam on a colony belonging to another empire
1 Use World Cracker or Toxifier on a non-colony planet belonging to another empire

Once threat is generated, all empires gain their threat rating towards the threatening empire, with the following factors:

Multiplied by Threat concern factor of AI personalities
×0 if same Federation with threatening empire
×0.5 if Non-Aggression Pact with threatening empire
×0.1 to ×2 from relative power to threatening empire
×0 to ×1, x1 - 0.01 per 1 border distance to threatening empire
×0.75 to ×1.25, x1 - 0.002 per 1 point of opinion towards threatening empire

Threat decays 0.25 per month, and there are no other ways to lower threat.

Diplomatic actions and agreements[edit | edit source]

Diplomatic actions are divided into two types: simple actions, which happen as soon as an empire selects one, and agreements, which require the recipient to agree for it to take force. Many actions have a 10-year cooldown between uses. An empire has 6 months to respond to a diplomatic request before it is automatically declined.

Diplomatic agreements are various treaties that generally require both parties to accept before the agreement becomes active. Most agreements are bilateral and mutual, with a few agreements being asymmetric. Most agreements can be cancelled by either party without approval from the other. Most agreements cannot be proposed if the recipient has the Pompous Purists civic unless the proposer is their overlord. Empires with Inward Perfection can also not receive or propose most agreements.

Most diplomatic agreements require a certain level of either trust or relations between the two empires. Additionally, there must be an established embassy or the proposer must have the Diplomatic Networking tradition. Most diplomatic agreements add a minimum intel cap and provide greater details on related types of intelligence.

General diplomacy[edit | edit source]

Agreement	Effects	Requirements
Embassy	Envoys improve relations 3 time faster +20 Intel cap from diplomatic sources +0.10 Trust growth Enables most other agreements without requiring the Diplomatic Networking tradition	No war or rivalry between proposer and recipient
Non-Aggression Pact	Neither empire can declare war upon each other 20 Minimum intel cap +0.50 Trust growth and 75 trust cap −0.25 Monthly influence upkeep	Both Neutral or better relations or 10 trust Embassy or proposer is improving relations with recipient Not at war with each other Independent Not in a federation
Commercial Pact	Each empire gains 10% of the other's trade value without losing any for itself 20 Minimum intel cap +0.25 Trust growth −0.25 Monthly influence upkeep	Both Positive or better relations or 20 trust Either: Embassy Proposer has Diplomatic Networking tradition Proposer has Universal Transactions ascension perk Not at war with each other Independent Federation allows separate treaties or in the same federation or not in a federation Neither: Gestalt Consciousness Criminal Heritage Inward Perfection
Research Agreement	+25% Research speed for technologies already researched by the other empire 30 Minimum intel cap +0.10 Trust growth −0.25 Monthly influence upkeep	Both Positive or better relations or 20 trust Embassy or proposer has Diplomatic Networking tradition Not at war with each other Independent Federation allows separate treaties or in the same federation or not in a federation Not Inward Perfection
Migration Treaty	Pops from either empire can grow or be used in colony ships in the other empire 30 Minimum intel cap +0.25 Trust growth −0.25 Monthly influence upkeep	Both Positive or better relations or 20 trust Embassy or proposer has Diplomatic Networking tradition Not at war with each other Independent Federation allows separate treaties or in the same federation or not in a federation Neither: Gestalt Consciousness Barbaric Despoilers Inward Perfection Proposer is not Pompous Purists
Guarantee Independence	Proposer joins recipient's defensive wars Recipient gains +10 opinion towards proposer 20 Minimum intel cap +0.25 Trust growth −0.25 Monthly influence upkeep for proposer	Both Neutral or better relations or 10 trust Embassy or proposer is improving relations with recipient Not at war with each other Independent Not in a federation Not Inward Perfection No defensive pact
Defensive Pact	Each empire joins defensive wars of the other Mutual +20 opinion 40 Minimum intel cap +0.75 Trust growth and 100 trust cap −1.00 Monthly influence upkeep	Both Positive relations or 20 trust Embassy or proposer has Diplomatic Networking tradition At peace Independent Not in a federation Not Inward Perfection
Rivalry	Proposer gains: +0.5 Monthly influence Automatic closed borders against recipient except during a truce Animosity casus belli against recipient −20% Claim influence cost against recipient Mutual −100 opinion and −2 trust growth	Proposer is not Inward Perfection Either: Terrible relations Proposer is harming relations Proposer is at war with recipient Either has supremacist diplomatic stance Either has antagonistic diplomatic stance Either is fallen empire unless proposer is a subject Recipient has declared proposer a rival

Diplomatic actions

Action	Effects	Requirements
Recall Embassy	Recalls embassy	Proposer has an embassy with recipient
Break Non-Aggression Pact	Ends non-aggression pact Creates 10-year truce between proposer and recipient Recipient gains decaying −25 opinion of proposer	Proposer has non-aggression pact with recipient
Break Commercial Pact	Ends commercial pact Creates 10-year truce between proposer and recipient Recipient gains decaying −25 opinion of proposer	Proposer has commercial pact with recipient
Break Research Agreement	Ends research agreement Recipient gains decaying −25 opinion of proposer	Proposer has research agreement with recipient
Break Migration Treaty	Ends migration treaty Recipient gains decaying −15 opinion of proposer	Proposer has migration treaty with recipient
Revoke Guarantee	Ends guarantee independence Creates 10-year truce from proposer toward recipient Recipient gains decaying −15 opinion of proposer	Proposer has guarantees recipient's independence
Break Defensive Pact	Ends defensive pact Creates 10-year truce between proposer and recipient Recipient gains decaying −100 opinion of proposer	Proposer is at peace and has defensive pact with recipient
End Rivalry	Ends proposer's rivalry of recipient	Proposer has had recipient as a rival for at least 10 years
Improve Relations	+0.25 Opinion monthly, up to +100 max Requires an assigned envoy If the envoy is recalled or reassigned, opinion decays by −1 monthly to 0	Proposer Not at war or harming relations with recipient Has an available envoy to assign
Harm Relations	−0.5 Opinion monthly, up to −100 max Requires an assigned envoy If the envoy is recalled or reassigned, opinion decays by +1 monthly to 0	Proposer Not at war or improving relations with recipient Has an available envoy to assign
Build Spy Network	Builds a Spy Network in recipient Requires an assigned envoy	Proposer Not already building a spy network in recipient Has an available envoy to assign
Make Claims	Switches to the Claims interface.	Proposer is allowed to make claims
Declare War	Enters the Wargoals menu to declare a war Mutual −50 opinion and −2 trust growth while at war	Proposer Is not at war with recipient Does not have a truce, pact, or federation with recipient Does not have any branch offices on recipient's planets
Open Borders	Allows recipient's ships access to owned systems Borders are opened automatically: After a peace treaty, during 10-year truce between all war participants Between overlords and their subjects By certain resolutions in the Galactic Community or Galactic Imperium	Proposer has not declared recipient a rival
Close Borders	Prevents recipient's ships access to owned systems while at peace Borders automatically closed for rivals Recipient gains −20 opinion towards proposer	Proposer does not have a truce with recipient Not available between overlords and subjects
Insult	Recipient gains decaying −200 opinion towards proposer With the Satisfying Insults technology, instead: Recipient gains −300 Opinion towards proposer Proposer gains +50 Influence (5 years cooldown)	Either: Tense or worse relations Proposer is harming relations Proposer is at war with recipient Either is fallen empire
Add to Imperial Council	Adds recipient to the Imperial Council at a cost of 100 influence	Proposer Has 100 influence Is Galactic Emperor Recipient is a member of the Galactic Imperium By Appointment Imperial Council resolution is enacted There is an empty seat on the Imperial Council
Kick from Imperial Council	Removes recipient from the Imperial Council at a cost of 100 influence	Proposer Has 100 influence Is Galactic Emperor Recipient is a member of the Imperial Council By Appointment Imperial Council resolution is enacted
Join the Galactic Imperium	Proposer joins the Galactic Imperium	Proposer is not a member of the Galactic Imperium Recipient is the Galactic Emperor

Subject empire diplomacy[edit | edit source]

See also: Subject empire

Subject empires have certain obligations to their overlord, based on their agreement terms. Subject empires can be blocked from engaging in most diplomacy by the agreement term Limited Diplomacy. Even without that agreement term, most other diplomatic actions and agreements are blocked for subjects. Subjects have +25 opinion and +0.25 trust growth with their overlord. Additionally, subjects have an additional diplomatic factor, loyalty, which determines whether they will engage in trade or other diplomacy with their overlord.

Diplomatic subjugation, whether demanded or asked for, requires both parties to be independent and at peace. Additionally, the potential subject cannot be the Custodian or Galactic Emperor, nor have been declared a crisis. Awakened Empires can always propose subjugation.

Agreement	Effects	Requirements
Propose Subjugation	Enters the terms menu to propose becoming overlord of recipient	Proposer Not guaranteeing recipient's independence Recipient Not a member of the Galactic Imperium Unless proposer also is a member Both Excellent relations or 50 trust Embassy or proposer has Diplomatic Networking tradition Independent and at peace
Ask to be their Subject	Enters the terms menu to propose becoming subject of recipient	Proposer Not asking another empire already Not Pompous Purists Both Excellent relations or 50 trust Embassy or proposer has Diplomatic Networking tradition Independent and at peace Members or not of Galactic Imperium Federation allows separate treaties or in the same federation or not in a federation
Ask to be Released	Grants independence to the subject and sets a 10-year Truce	Proposer is subject of recipient
Propose Secret Fealty	Proposer gains Allegiance War casus belli against recipient's overlord	Proposer Not a subject Not overlord of recipient Recipient Is a subject Has not lost Allegiance War war in last 5 years Both Excellent relations or 50 trust Embassy or proposer has Diplomatic Networking tradition

Diplomatic actions

Action	Effects	Requirements
Release Subject	Grants independence to the subject and sets a 10-year Truce	Proposer is overlord of recipient
Integrate Subject	Integrates the subject into the overlord empire.	Proposer Overlord of recipient for at least 10 years Has Integration Permitted agreement term with recipient Not currently integrating a subject
Cancel Integration	Stops current integration	Proposer is integrating recipient
Support independence	Proposer joins recipient if they declare an Independence War Adds proposer's power for relative power of subjects opinion modifier	Proposer Not Inward Perfection Not overlord of recipient Recipient is a subject Both Neutral or better relations or 10 trust Embassy or proposer is improving relations with recipient
Cancel support independence	Ends support independence of recipient	Proposer is supporting independence of recipient
Pledge Secret Fealty	Recipient gains Allegiance War casus belli against proposer's overlord	Proposer Is a subject Has not lost Allegiance War war in last 5 years Recipient Not a subject Not overlord of proposer Both Excellent relations or 50 trust Embassy or proposer has Diplomatic Networking tradition
End Secret Fealty	Ends secret fealty status with recipient	Proposer has pledged or received secret fealty with the recipient

Federation diplomacy[edit | edit source]

See also: Federation

Federations are multi-faceted and multi-lateral agreements between two or more empires to provide mutual defense and other benefits to the members of the federation. Agreements between federations members or between federation members and other empires depend in part on the current laws of the federation. Federation members cannot sign guarantee independence, support independence, non-aggression pacts, or defensive pacts with any empire. Members can sign research agreements, commercial pacts, and migration treaties with each other or other empires unless the federation's laws prevent them from doing so.

By default, joining a federation requires the unanimous approval of all current members of that federation, whether an empire petitions for membership or a current member invites another empire to join. With the Federations DLC, it is possible to change that requirement to be a majority vote or be decided by the federation president alone. Joining or leaving a federation requires the federation and the potential member to be at peace. Members of the Galactic Imperium cannot join or associate with federations.

Inward Perfection empires cannot join a federation diplomatically; they can be forced in with the Establish Hegemony casus belli or if their overlord joins a federation with the Yes Can Subjects Join law; they can be federation associates, however.

Federation members have +50 opinion, 100 trust cap, and +1 trust growth with each other; they must also pay −1 influence in diplomatic upkeep. Federation associates have +10 opinion, 100 trust cap, and +0.5 trust growth with members of the associated federation.

Agreement	Effect	Federation vote	Requirements
Form Federation	Creates federation with recipient	None	Proposer has The Federation tradition Both Not in a Federation Not a subject Excellent relations or 30 trust Embassy or proposer has Diplomatic Networking tradition
Invite to Federation	Invites recipient to join the Federation	By Invite Members law	Proposer is a Federation member Recipient Not in a Federation Independent or subject of proposer Both Excellent relations or 30 trust Embassy or proposer has Diplomatic Networking tradition
Ask to join Federation	Requests to join an already existing Federation	By Invite Members law	Proposer Not in a Federation Independent or subject of recipient Recipient is a Federation member Both Excellent relations or 30 trust Embassy or proposer has Diplomatic Networking tradition
Kick from Federation	Starts a vote to kick the member from the Federation Recipient gains decaying −100 opinion of proposer Gains decaying −200 opinion of federation members if kicked	By Kick Members law	Both members of same Federation Proposer is not subject of recipient At least three members in Federation
Ask to leave Federation	Requests to leave the Federation Refusing grants the Secession casus belli and a decaying −45 opinion.	President only	Proposer is Hegemony member Recipient is Hegemony president
Offer Association Status	The empire and the federation will not be able to declare war upon each other.	Unanimous	Proposer is a Federation member Recipient is not in a Federation Both Positive or better relations or 20 trust Embassy or proposer has Diplomatic Networking tradition
Request Association Status	The empire and the federation will not be able to declare war upon each other.	Unanimous	Proposer is not in a Federation Recipient is a Federation member Both Positive or better relations or 20 trust Embassy or proposer has Diplomatic Networking tradition

Diplomatic actions

Action	Effect	Federation vote	Requirements
Leave Federation	Leaves the Federation Creates a truce between the federation and former member Federation members gain decaying −200 opinion with former member	None	Proposer Not a subject Not Hegemony member
Revoke Association Status	Creates a truce between the federation and former associate Recipient gains decaying −25 opinion with federation members if association status is revoked	Majority	Proposer is a Federation member Recipient is a Federation associate
End Association Status	Creates a truce between the federation and former associate Federation members gain decaying −25 opinion with former associate	None	Proposer is a Federation associate

Acceptance[edit | edit source]

The acceptance of diplomatic agreements by computer empires is determined by multiple factors.

Agreement	Attitude			Relative power		Scaling per			Other factors
Agreement	Friendly	Receptive/Cordial/Protective	Neutral/Wary	Overwhelming	Superior	Shared Rival	10 Opinion	Distance	Other factors
Embassy	+100	+40	−25	+20	+10	+40	+5	−0.5	+60 per shared Defensive Pact
Non-Aggression Pact	+100	+50	0	+100	+50	+50	+2	−1	−30 per existing Non-Aggression Pact
Commercial Pact	+100	+50	0	0	0	0	+4	−1	+1 per given Trade Value −30 per existing Commercial Pact
Research Agreement	+100	+50	0	0	0	0	+4	−1	+0.5 per tech either empire doesn't have −30 per existing Research Agreement
Migration Treaty	+10	0	0	0	0	0	+5	−1	+10 Loyal attitude
Defensive Pact	+50	+20	−50	+20	+10	+30	+2	−1	+30 per shared Defensive Pact −50 per existing Defensive Pact
Federation	+30	0	−50	+20	+10	+10	+1	−1	+100 Federation Associate +30 Crisis −30 different War Philosophy policy
Demand Subjugation	+20	0	−20	+100	+50	0	0	−0.5	−100 below 50 Trust −0.25 per pop

Personality[edit | edit source]

The most specific factor that determines an empire's acceptance rate is its AI personality.

AI personality	Agreement					Federation						Trade Willingness
AI personality												Trade Willingness
Decadent Hierarchy	+20	−10	0	0	−100	−30	−30	−30	−30	−30	−10	90%
Democratic Crusaders	0	+20	0	0	0	+10	0	+10	0	0	−50	90%
Erudite Explorers	+5	+5	+50	+10	0	0	0	0	+10	−10	0	90%
Evangelizing Zealots	0	0	−20	−20	0	−20	−20	−10	−20	+20	−20	75%
Federation Builders	+25	+25	+15	+15	+10	+20	+10	+10	+10	+10	+10	95%
Harmonious Collective	+20	0	+10	+10	−10	0	0	0	0	0	0	90%
Hegemonic Imperialists	−10	+10	−10	−10	−50	−20	−20	−10	−20	−20	0	80%
Honorbound Warriors	−100	+20	0	−20	0	−10	−20	0	−20	−20	−10	70%
Migratory Flock	+20	0	+20	+20	+100	+20	+20	+10	+20	−20	+10	110%
Peaceful Traders	+20	0	+10	+20	+20	+10	+20	−10	+10	−10	+10	100%
Ruthless Capitalists	−10	0	+10	+20	0	−10	+10	−10	−10	−10	−10	100%
Slaving Despots	−20	0	0	0	−100	−10	−10	−10	−10	−10	0	80%
Spiritual Seekers	+20	+10	+10	+10	+20	+10	+10	+10	−10	+10	+10	90%
Xenophobic Isolationists	+20	−20	−20	−20	−100	−50	−50	−50	−50	−50	−50	50%
Fanatical Befrienders	+50	+50	+50	+50	+50	+50	+30	+30	+30	+30	+30	100%
Fanatical Purifiers	0	0	0	0	0							50%
Hive Mind	−10	−10	0			−50	−100	−30	−50	−50	−50	70%
Machine Intelligence	0	0	0			−30	−100	−20	−20	−100	−30	80%
Rogue Servitors	0	0	0			0	0	0	0	−100	+10	90%
Driven Assimilators	0	0	0			−50	−50	−50	−50	−100	−50	50%
Determined Exterminators	0	0	0									100%
Crisis Aspirant	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	25%
Indolent Overlord	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	50%
Benevolent Corporation	+20	−10	+10	+50	+10	0	0	0	0	0	0	75%

Trade deals[edit | edit source]

Trade deals are instant or monthly transfers of resources or other assets between two empires. Deals that transfer monthly resources last between 10 and 30 years; once the AI fills their stockpile, long-term contracts become only viable option. It is possible to break long-term trade contracts if not enough resources are stockpiled, but this causes an opinion penalty. Diplomatic trades often can yield better deals than the market. The AI will never accept mixed long-term/instant trades. The value the AI places on a particular resource in a deal is largely based on how much of YOUR economy is devoted to producing that resource - shifting your economy to focus on a particular resource will cause all of the AI empires to value it less in deals. Although Gestalt Consciousness empires have no use for consumer goods or Zro, they are still willing to trade for them.

Trading requires a neutral or positive attitude between the two empires. Empires holding a negative attitude will accept only gifts (giving them resources without them giving anything in return). Fallen empires only trade if they are patronizing or enigmatic towards the proposing empire and will never trade strategic resources. Resources cannot be traded between overlords and subjects if the terms of agreement include contribution or subsidies in that resource.

Trade willingness shows how much an empire is open to trading with other empires and is dependent on their AI personality. The lower their trade willingness is, the more favorable a trade deal has to be for them to see it as fair. Empires with less than 75% trade willingness will never make offers.

In addition to resources, the following things can be traded diplomatically:

Communications: Valued based on the number of new contacts. Does not include Enclaves. Fallen Empires always refuse.
Active Sensor Link: Valued based on distance, neighboring empires being more interested. Allows the empire receiving the link to see everything the granting empire can see. Only available as a timed deal. Fallen Empires always refuse.
Transfer System: Available only towards neighbors during peacetime, it is the most valued trade option and can be used to offer to cede one of your star systems, usually non-preferred planets that are too expensive to terraform or adapt pops to, or as a way to ease opinion penalty of claims or border tension. The AI will always refuse to trade away their own systems, and will not accept systems that contain colonized Holy Worlds or border the Militant Isolationists.
Specimens: Valued by selling cost x1.3, or twice more if they don't have a specimen from that category.
Transfer Leader: Only available to and from empires with the Tactical Algorithms civic or from a tier 2 specialized subject to the overlord. Valued based on the leader's abilities. Requires both empires to have the same authority if Gestalt Consciousness. Maximum one Leader per trade.

Subject trade deals[edit | edit source]

Subject empires have additional trading options with their overlord:

Borrow Fleet: Gives the subject temporary control a fleet. Valued based on how much of the total fleet power the fleets represent.
Pledge Loyalty: Only available from a subject towards the overlord as a timed trade deal; if the subject has 150 opinion or better towards the overlord, it gives +2.5 loyalty monthly, otherwise +1.5 monthly.
Share Empire Data: Adds +20 intel from the giver to the recipient; can be given by the overlord if they have 80 or less intel on the subject; can be given by the subject if they have 40 or less intel on the overlord.
Loyalty: Only available from a subject towards its overlord, each point of loyalty will increase trade acceptance by 1. Loyalty can be used even if the value would become negative, up to −100.

Specialist subjects have additional, unique trade options which extend their bonuses to the overlord, usually at the cost of their own:

Timed trade actions[edit | edit source]

Timed trade action provide modifiers for the overlord at thee expense of negative modifiers for the subject.

Subject type	Trade action	Effect		Overlord	Subject
Bulwark	Bulwark Prefabs	Defense Platform	Build cost Upkeep	−25%/−50%/−75%	+25%/+50%/+75%
Prospectorium	Prospectorium Techniques	Monthly strategic resources		+5%/+10%/+15%	−5%/−10%/−15%
Scholarium	Scholarium Processors	Research station output		+20%/+30%/+40%	−10%/−15%/−20%
Scholarium	Scholarium Hypotheses	Research alternatives		+1	−1

Technology sharing[edit | edit source]

Technology sharing trade actions are instant trade actions that give specialist technologies as research options to the overlord.

Subject type

Trade action

Effect

Bulwark

Bulwark Technology

Researched Bulwark technologies given as options to Overlord

Subject gets Bulwark Technology Sharing modifier for 1 year:
- −10% Engineering research if sharing:
- −10% Physics research if sharing:

Prospectorium

Prospectorium Technology

Researched Prospectorium technologies given as options to Overlord

Subject gets Prospectorium Technology Sharing modifier for 1 year:
- −10% Engineering research if sharing:
- −10% Physics research if sharing:
- −10% Society research if sharing:
Subject pays 100 strategic resources by technology shared

Trade acceptance[edit | edit source]

The trade acceptance number shows how much the other empire favors a deal. A trade acceptance lower than 1 means that the other empire sees the deal as disadvantageous for them and will always refuse it. A trade acceptance of 1 means that AI empire sees the deal as fair and will always accept it. A trade acceptance higher than 1 means that the other empire sees the deal as advantageous for them and will give a temporary bonus to their opinion, up to a limit of +100.

Favors[edit | edit source]

Favors can only be obtained through events and have two purposes. First, an empire can call upon Favors to add another empire's Diplomatic Weight to theirs (+10% per favor) when voting on Resolutions in the Galactic Community as long as the other empire is not already voting the same way. This does not decrease the other empire's diplomatic weight for the vote. Second, Favors increase the acceptance rate of certain diplomatic agreements or federation laws by +5 for each Favor. An empire can owe another empire up to 10 Favors.

Multiple empires can call upon Favors from the same target empire and one empire can simultaneously call upon Favors from multiple target empires.

Attitude[edit | edit source]

Each empire will have a specific attitude towards other empires dictated by their AI personality, diplomatic interactions and the relative power of both empires.

Attitude	Other Effects	Requirements	Description
Neutral	none	none below	This Empire does not consider us relevant to their interests.
Wary	none	inferior relative power and shared border	This Empire maintains a cautious attitude towards us.
Receptive	more inclined to accept diplomatic pacts	diplomatic AI personalities	This Empire is interested in closer relations with us.
Cordial	more inclined to accept diplomatic pacts	high opinion	This Empire is amenable to peaceful coexistence and trading with us.
Friendly	more inclined to accept diplomatic pacts and join a federation	high opinion and successful past diplomacy	This Empire views us as a friend and may be willing to form an alliance with us.
Protective	more inclined to accept diplomatic pacts and may propose subjugation	high opinion and superior relative power	This Empire believes that we are weak and need their protection.
Suspicious	none	low opinion	This Empire views us with suspicion and mistrust.
Rival	none	rival with low opinion	This Empire views us as their rival.
Hostile	none	very low opinion	This Empire views us as their enemy. They are likely to attack us if they think they can win.
Domineering	only uses the Subjugation Casus Belli	low opinion and Subjugator AI	This Empire believes that we would make a fine vassal.
Threatened	none	50 or higher threat rating	This Empire views us as a threatening menace.
Overlord	none	overlord	This Empire is our overlord.
Loyal	none	subject with positive loyalty	This subject is loyal to us.
Disloyal	considers the relative power of other subjects as well	subject with negative loyalty	This subject resents its subservience to us.
Dismissive	none	Fallen Empire	This Fallen Empire considers us largely beneath their notice.
Patronizing	may bestow gifts	Fallen Empire with high opinion	This Fallen Empire views us as errant children in need of their guidance. They may deign to bestow gifts of technology, resources or ships on us.
Angry	will send a demand which will grant them Casus Belli if refused	Fallen Empire with low opinion	We have angered this Fallen Empire with our actions, and they may declare war to punish us.
Arrogant	no effect	distant Awakened Empire	This Awakened Empire views us with dismissive arrogance.
Imperious	will propose subjugation	neighbor Awakened Empire	This Awakened Empire views us as a future subject. They are likely to demand we surrender our independence.
Belligerent	none	Awakened Empire with low opinion	This Awakened Empire views us as a target of conquest. They are likely to attack us.
Custodial	accepts joining a Federation	Guardian Awakened Empires	This Awakened Empire believes that it needs to protect us from the crisis currently threatening the galaxy. They are likely to attempt to ally us.
Enigmatic	opinion is hidden and has no impact	Ancient Caretakers	This Fallen Empire is an ancient artificial intelligence that behaves in a strange and unpredictable manner. We do not know what to expect from it.
Berserk	attacks any empire nearby	Malfunctioning Custodians	This Awakened Empire is an ancient artificial intelligence that has gone berserk. It is likely to attack anything and anyone around it.

Genocidal Diplomacy[edit | edit source]

Empires with the Fanatic Purifiers civic can only engage in diplomacy with empires of the same primary species. Note that these other empires still have −1000 Opinion unless they are also Fanatic Purifiers, in which case they have +200 Opinion towards each other.

Empires with the Determined Exterminator civic can only engage in diplomacy with empires with Machine or Mechanical main species.

Empires with the Devouring Swarm and Terravore civics cannot engage in any diplomacy at all, not even with identical empires. Envoys are thus only useful to them for Espionage and First Contact.