Diplomacy - GNN Blog #3

It's been a while since we last delved into the mechanisms of the upcoming 4X game Master of Orion: Ad Astra. With the crowdfunding campaign just around the corner, now is the perfect opportunity to revisit the subject. This time, we'll explore the intricate dynamics of diplomacy, shedding light on both its bright and dark sides.

Influence

Build a formidable fleet, unlock the most advanced military technologies, and conquer the galaxy with an iron fist. Sounds like a solid strategy, right? Maybe—but what if I told you that the pen is mightier than plasma cannons? In Master of Orion: Ad Astra, there are many paths to victory. Diplomacy is a powerful tool, allowing players to extend their empire's influence across the galaxy. The more systems players have under their influence, the more dice they’ll roll during diplomatic actions, giving you greater flexibility and impact. Use diplomacy to expand your influence even further, reduce unrest within your empire, or hire skilled diplomats to tip the scales in your favor.

Diplomats

At the start of the game, each player receives a diplomat card, and as the game progresses, they can hire more through diplomacy actions. But what’s the purpose of these diplomats? While diplomats themselves don’t hold any inherent value, they can be gifted to other players, offering them a range of positive effects—extra resources, free buildings, or even access to the technology of the diplomat’s previous owner. The possibilities are vast. Players can exchange diplomats, creating opportunities for mutual benefit. Sounds like a win-win situation, right? But there’s a twist…

When gifting a diplomat, you can tell the receiving player which diplomat you’re offering, but you can’t reveal the card. And yes, you’re allowed to lie. Why lie? Well, that brings us to spies…

Spies

Not all diplomats are benevolent—some work in the shadows to harm their targets or provide covert advantages to their initiators. They might steal resources, sabotage critical defenses, or temporarily disable key technologies. However, the targeted player isn’t entirely powerless. They can try to counteract these sneaky operatives by performing a diplomacy action to expose and expel the spy. But beware, the fewer systems a player has under their influence, the more vulnerable they are, making them an easier target for these covert attacks.

See You Soon

That's all for today! Be sure to check out our Gamefound page at: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/archon-studio/master-of-orion-ad-astra and stay tuned for more updates. In our next dev blog, we'll dive into how you can enjoy Master of Orion: Ad Astra in solo mode. Don’t miss it!