I successfully added the trade map and original population votes.
Nice! Some ideias coleted from others threads who could improve AD:
1) After a civ loses a war against you there should be something in place to deter them from attacking you anytime in the near future, unless they have a really good opportunity.
--> memory for lost the war.
2) Mutual Assured Destruction should be added somehow when 2 rival civs have nuclear weapons.
--> +1 we have nuclear weapons
3) A civ who rivals you in power fearing a long brutal war.
--> +1 we have the same power. The war could be difficult.
The current diplo system penalizes you far more than it rewards you. For example, when a civ demands you declare war on their enemy, if you do so you suffer a -3 relations for going to war and a -1 with all of their friends. All you gain is a boost in relations with you new ally, which doesn't make up for all the other civs you just ticked off. If you refuse you receive a -1 with the warmongering civ. The end result is a cumulatively negative hit to your relations no matter what you choose.
Civ demanding you cancel trade is a -1 for cancelling trade, and a -1 for losing opened boarders, so cumulatively a -2. Why do you not get a relations boost with the demanding civ for doing this?
--> A simple +1 "You agreed to stop trading with our worst enemy" would suffice. It would still cumulatively be a -1 to relations.
Close boarders is another negative hit to relations. After years of peace this negative hit to relations should slowly decrease over time if the civ is pleased toward you or better. If the civ is friendly there should be no tensions. In this situation close boarders are a good thing. Think of the EU and Canada, USA.
--> Close boarders decay
Why not give a boost to relations for denying specific AI demands? Say a +1 "You did not give into hostile demands" with the civ that you refused to cancel your trade relations with, or go to war against. Best case scenario you receive a -1 and a +1 and have to choose your friends.
--> +1 "You did not give into hostile demands
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Also just thought I had now... What if you added a +1 "We have a mutual enemy" to relations with civs who are not at war, but are furious with the civ you just declared war on? This could also be a somewhat temporary boost in relations that once the war has ended would start to expire, similar to "giving tribute."
--> +1 "We have a mutual enemy
And how about a +1 "You have wisely chosen your friends" for every civ in common that you are both friendly with. This could help create a group of allies which civ4 has always been lacking and give players a reason to want to keep good relations.
--> +1 "You have wisely chosen your friends"
I think all of this would help balance things out better and give players a few tools to improve and manage their diplomacy because right now once you hit that tipping point you can never improve your relations with a civ. Also not constantly having to choose between bad and worse when you're faced with AI demands would be nice.