Diplomatic Visibility and Combat

[Minou]

I was wondering about the Diplomatic Visibility (access level) bonus for combat (+3 or more for "intel on opponents movements").

As usual, the Civilpedia does not explain things well. However, I had been under the impression that each level of visibility greater than your opponent provides a +3 combat bonus for the duration of a war based on the description here (https://civilization.fandom.com/wiki/Diplomacy_(Civ6).

"If you attack a civilization your levels of Diplomatic visibility will be compared, and the party which has a higher level will receive a PERMANENT bonus in every military encounter - this is known as 'Intel on enemy movements' and consists of +3 Combat Strength per level of difference."

However, in my current game this seems to have lasted only one turn. I was planning to attack Brazil, so I made sure to send a delegation (+1 access level) and a trade route (+1 additional access level). I refused their delegation, but they happened to send me a trade route leading to a net access level of +1 for me. The turn I declared war my units all had +3 combat as expected. However, by the second turn I had 0 access and so no bonus.

This suggests the bonus is not permanent (i.e. lasting until the war ends) but instead looks at current diplomatic visibility (which would be 0 because the trade delegation would be kicked out and trade route canceled). I am not sure if this was a recent change I never noticed or the website was simply inaccurate.

So, I guess the bonus is like a "sneak attack" intelligence bonus on turn one of the war, which actually makes more real world sense to me in terms of immersion. If so I guess the only way to carry the bonus forward once war is under way is having Printing Press while your target does not and using Spies.

 

[Lily_Lancer]

How do you understand "permanent"? Do you expect it to +3 every turn you have 1 level ahead of your opponent, and stack to sth. like +300 after 100 turns?

 

[Lord Lakely]

It's semantics rly. "Indefinite" is the correct term, not permanent.

Your advantage persists for as long as you retain your edge in Diplomatic Visibility. Delegations/Embassies have an indefinitely duration the second they are accepted.

The problem is that the tooltip is indeed lying: when war is declared, it kicks out your delegation/ambassador, so you lose that level of diplomatic visibility. Traders are immediately sent home as well.

The only way to maintain the +3 bonus is to:

- Play as Mongolia and have a trading post in one of their cities . (Expires when you capture the city)
- Research Printing Press. (Expires when they research Printing Press)
- Use the Listening Post spy mission before you attack. (Expires after 24 turns or however many it is, but it can be renewed)

These are all temporary measures as well, but persist for as long as their effects are set to last. If you want a permanent +3 though, the solution is simple.

Play as CdM.

 

[Minou]

I interpreted “permanent” to mean for the rest of the war. For example if you had one higher visibility on the turn of declaration you would get +3 until the war ended. I guess I never checked carefully enough to notice how it was working until now since I previously was dumb about just accepting all delegations for the gold without stopping to think about the full implications,

I actually think it is more balanced the real way where you can get one turn of +6 attacks at the opening of the war if you plan right.

PS I am not sure if “indefinite” is correct - that would imply the bonus remains after the trade route ends which I think is incorrect (but would need to test). I guess my main lesson is Printing Press can be thought of as one if the best military techs.