cascading Mutual Defense treaties

[Gelatinous Cube]

ORIGINAL: Keston

It's not just precedent, it's about the nature of potential interactions between sentient races/species. Any non-violent engagement betwen alien star nations, whether on terms of equality or submission, would also require development of protocols and a bias against third parties who disrupt the arrangement.

The mechanics of the relationship and diplomatic systems in the game pre-suppose some interstellar diplomatic norms along these lines and concepts of an appropriate war - this happens to align with concepts from Terran history, but other species might have even more formalized protocols (or laws) of war and peace.

One could of course assume a galaxy where weakness is despised and strength contested in a relentless permanent war of one against all or all against all, but that is rather two-dimensional and less fun beyond the military dimension. The players of this game being of human origin, they'll want some opportunity to make deals and thus engage in diplomacy.

I agree. But I also think the game already accounts for that. If you have a game that is 8 Boskaran Empires, 2 Sluken Empires, and 3 Human Empires, it's going to be a very atypical place.

[Nedrear]

Sean the current diplomacy system does not include the military aspect above "shot first" or "intruded enemy space". These things will hit your reputation at such yes, but the first part "shot first" should be ignored if you defend YOUR space.
If e.g. a frighter without a trade agreement thinks he can buy your fuel or a constructor without mining rights feels nice building in your system - should be fixed now - or military ships running wild in your sphere you should be allowed to shot them WITHOUT declaring war, all the while beeing unshaken in your reputation. It is an act of territorial defense.

[Keston]

Getting in their way or a shot shot across the bow to warn them off makes a less provocative statement that is still understood in all languages.

Question - If a shot is taken, and the opposing craft flees (as many are programmed to do), does the warship during peacetime let them go or hunt them down?

Those two approaches are also fairly clear cross-culturally, though to the Klackons (I mean Boskara) taking one shot and not pursuing is an act of weakness inviting an overwhelming aggressive response to take advantage.