Zone border question

[flyinj]

When you talk to a faction and their border turns red, that basically stops both of you from going into each other's territory without a war declaration, right?

So for the initial land grab when you start, would the best tactic be to get all the assets you want for your zone then ask the faction near them to agree on borders?

What stratagem allows you to ask for this yourself, and what is the best path to getting one early in the game?

[PaulAllen1982]

Just reading the list of foreign affairs strategems in the manual, I'd guess either "open contact", "non aggression pact", or "propose peace (minor) ".

I'm guessing here, I'm sure someone with more experience can weigh in and provide the answer.

[PaulAllen1982]

I just tried it and can confirm you do this by playing the "Propose peace" card on a minor.
Takes you from "unknown" relation to "peace" and your borders are now red.

[Kamelpov]

grab key building ask for border then check the number for relation if it's below 30 you can expect them to do landgrab. and every score low enough you must considerate a war declaration. My favorite is to not fix border and do a tank breakthrough through the city you stay far away for a while then surprise them with fast motorized unit usually their garrison are scarce when you blitz like that it take 2 turn to knock someone like that(encircle fast and assault) but it require some metal first.
Do a rush grab for second city before another one get the idea.

[aperfecturkel]

I just saw this in a new game - I had a decision proposed from a minor faction, tired of our "uncertain" relations and requesting to know exactly where we stood - choosing the "peace" option established our relations which formally established our borders, but I didn't think to check WHERE the faction was beforehand and wound up locking my border one tile from my capital. Whoops!