Bring back the Ambassador

[PsiCorps]

I Don't know about anyone else but i miss the old Ambassador from civ 1 and 2, can't remember if he was in civ 3. Some of the things he could do would be of use in civ 4. Bribing Barbarian units to join you, establishing embassies so you could conduct diplomacy properly, hosting a function (at which a diplomatic incident could occur) and probably some things i haven't thought of. Booting ambassadors as they got close to your borders was always lots of fun, this could be prevented by sending an armed escort with the ambassador.
Has anyone attempted to create a diplomat unit or is it more effort wasted that would make very little difference to the game? Your opinions would be welcomed.

 

[Agent327]

Thomas' War mod has an envoy-type unit, which can investigate cities and bribe "officials". (I think the Ambassador has been replaced by the invisible Spy, officially.)

 

[PsiCorps]

I think the Ambassador has been replaced by the invisible Spy, officially.

Now that is a real shame, whilst i can see that they did do some of the same things the ambassador would be able to do many more Diplomatic things, including the things mentioned before you can use them to improve your relationship with another civ. You would need to send an ambassador to open up negotiations each time you want to conduct any form of trade until such time as a proper ambassadors residence (after the research of a specified tech) can be built. This would be done by consuming the ambassador unit. You would also have the option of closing any civs embassy which would mean the civ wouldn't be able to initiate any diplomacy options with you unless an ambassador unit is sent again and a new diplomat sent for each diplomacy request until the embassy is reopened. Which again could be another function of the ambassador. Having an Embassy would improve espionage attempts against the city the embassy is present in, likewise not having an embassy would decrease the espionage chance.
Just some thoughts.

 

[PsiCorps]

Ha, just found this which means someone has already done something like it.

Great Diplomat