Diplo penalty: "A first impression is a lasting one."

I just patched my BTS to 3.19 so I could install the BAT/BUG mod.

Early into my first game, at about 1000BC, and 4 of the 6 Civs have given me a -1 or -2 Diplo for "A first impression is a lasting one." This is new to me. It wasn't there a few turns ago and I don't recall doing anything to upset anyone, except Mansa Musa (having closed borders with him as he was unpopular with several others).

I'm also getting a -1 for "We feel threatened by your large Civilisation" from some of them, despite having only two cities. I am narrowly at the top of the score chart though, and also just top in power.

Are these new to a patch, and what is the "first impression" penalty about? I'm a bit upset about it tbh.

Oddly, Mansa Musa is about the only one who hasn't penalised me for whatever this is, although he has a couple of other gripes, which I can understand.

I've seen the first impression one at +6 between two AI civs.

I wonder: is it random, or is it fixed between certain civs?

I think it's fixed based on the XML personality parameters for the leaders. So, all the warmongery-type civs tend to like each other and gang up to dogpile the more peaceful ones.

It's always been there in the game (at least, for a long time anyway) but perhaps it is just being made visible now - either by the patch or the BUG mod.

I think that is the hidden modifier that is revealed by BAT. I have BUG installed but not BAT and have never seen that message, although I have felt its effects!

Cort Haus said:

I think it's fixed based on the XML personality parameters for the leaders. So, all the warmongery-type civs tend to like each other and gang up to dogpile the more peaceful ones.

It's always been there in the game (at least, for a long time anyway) but perhaps it is just being made visible now - either by the patch or the BUG mod.

Click to expand...

This, it's all in the LeaderheadInfos, it's either WarmongerRespect or Some other value (BaseAttitude I believe).

Somewhat of an x-post. That's what you get for getting carried away while typing...

There were hidden diplo modifier implemented in the regular game, some of which are shown if you get certain mods.

1. first impression....
Human-AI-relations only receive a maximum of -2 for the warmongerer and unitspammer, -1 for the rest. I'm only remembering Mansa and Zara right now, who aren't effected by this. AI-AI-relations on the other hand can get much higher or lower, depending on the respective peaceweight of the characters involved. For example, two like minded leaders like ragnar/genghis or lincoln/mansa might start at pleased with each other (+3/+4) while monte really hates ghandi (saw them start with -8 in one game).

2. Developing nations.../ Feel threatened....
both of them are capped at +1/-1 if i'm not mistaken. The first one applies if you and your rival are at the lower end of the score board. The other when you're at the top and your rival towards the bottom. This is independent from the power rating in my experience.

Thanks, folks.

I used to wonder why some Civs would be friendly at +9, while others still not at +12.