Quick Links
Age of Wonders 4is a turn-based strategy game in which players command armies and build cities in an effort toconquer procedurally-generated realms. Other players, whether AI or human, will be attempting the same, so it’s up to the player to make alliances or wage war as they see fit.
RELATED:Age Of Wonders 4: Best City Structures To Build First
Diplomacy is one of the more complex systems inAge of Wonders 4. There are numerous overlapping mechanics with many possible outcomes. There are two types to keep in mind: Diplomacy with Free Cities and Diplomacy with other factions. Diplomacy with Free Cities is covered inthe guide to Free Cities. This guide will cover Diplomacy with other factions.
How Diplomacy Works in Age of Wonders 4
The relationship factions have with one another is measured by a value calledRelations.Relationscan improve or degrade based on actions that a player takes. It can also be affected by the player’sAffinities(Materium, Nature, Astral). In essence,the more similar the two factions are, and the more actions they take that are approved of by one another, the moreRelationsbetween them will improve.
As a player increases theirRelationswith another ruler, that ruler will be more open to acceptingPactsandTreatiesoffered by the player. As theirRelationsdecrease with another ruler, that ruler will become more likely toDeclare Warwith them or to side with their opponents in wars against them.
As players interact with other rulers, they may causeGrievances. TheseGrievancesbuild up whenever a ruler takes an action that another ruler disproves of (trespassing, claiming adjacent provinces, denouncing, etc.). If a ruler has enoughGrievanceswith another ruler, they can declare aJustified War, which will beviewed positively by that ruler’s allies and will give them bonuses for declaring it.
RELATED:Age Of Wonders 4: How To Heal Units
Diplomatic Actions
When the player opens their Diplomatic Overview, they’ll seea list of the other rulersthey’ve come in contact with so far. From there, they can select a ruler to engage in Diplomacy. Then, they canNegotiate, makePronouncements,Settle Grievances, orDeclare War. These actions will affect their diplomatic standing with that faction in the following ways.
Negotiate
Negotiationsare for requesting resources, creating treaties, and negotiating other actions that require goodRelationswith the other ruler. These actions enter the rulers into Diplomatic States, which are detailed below.
Treatiescan also be negotiated from here, such asOpen BordersorShare Vision, and assets can be traded. Players should keep an eye out forMagic Materialsthe other ruler may have to offer. Trade is often the best way to get materials that aren’t present ina player’s surrounding area.
Pronouncements
Pronouncementsare long-term, conspicuous commitments that announce to other rulers the player’s attitude toward another ruler. Used effectively,Pronouncementscan help build up or completely tear downRelationswith another ruler.
RELATED:Age of Wonders 4: Complete Guide to Transformations
Settle Grievances
Grievancescan be valuable even if players don’t intend to start a war over them. They can be sold to the ruler that caused them, effectively demanding tribute to forgive them. They can also be freely forgiven, which gives a significant bonus toRelations.
Declare War/Break Pact
The red option in the Diplomacy screen is always an action that moves the player’s Diplomatic State with the other ruler towardWarand away fromPeace. If the player can declare aJustified War, that option will be presented.
RELATED:Age of Wonders 4: How to Play with Friends
How to Improve Relations with Other Factions
ForgingAlliancescan be a reliable way togain Pantheon Experience. However, factions can vary wildly in theirAffinitiesandAlignment, so some are more suited forAlliancesthan others. That said, that are many ways to bring together even the bitterest enemies. The following are a few methods for improvingRelationswith other factions.
Find Common Ground
Rulers that shareAffinitiesgain a +100 bonus toRelationsperAffinityshared. To buildRelationswith a ruler, players should take note of the ruler’sAffinitiesand try to get a couple of points in common with them. Players can gainAffinitiesbychoosing a Tomeor taking an action in a quest.
Declare Friendship
Making aDeclaration of Friendshipgenerates a powerful buff toRelationsthat builds over time. It costs gold to maintain the declaration, but that investment will be worth it when the player needs an ally.
Learn Their Personality
Every ruler has aPersonality, such as Chivalrous Diplomat or Strategist Warlord. ThesePersonalitytypes havePreferencesthat detail what they look for in an ally. A Chivalrous Diplomat likes empires that have goodRelationswithFree Cities, while a Strategist Warlord likes empires that have defeated other empires. Players seeking to improveRelationswith a Strategist Warlord might first try to take out a weaker enemy.
RELATED:Age of Wonders 4: How to Disband Units
Diplomatic States
As the player improves theirRelationswith another faction, they’ll improve their Diplomatic State. This can lead to the player gaining valuable allies, acquiring rare materials, or even gainingan ally they can share the victory with. There are four Diplomatic States to move through, each with its own set of benefits.
Age Of Wonders 4is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows.
