Neutral state joining Central power/Entente?

[Witan]

I am absolutely new to this game, but I saw a Lets Play on Youtube and someone tried to influence the swiss to join the Central powers. He invested big amounts to influence them, but still the effort got stuck at 60%.

So I asked myself if it is possible at all that the swiss or another state like Spain or Persia etc. can join one side?
If so, what is the best way to get sure the efforts to influence them will have a success?

[mdsmall]

Yes - that is what the Diplomacy function is all about. You have to invest a lot of MPPs and time to get a neutral to join your side. But if you are patient, you should be able to get one of the neutrals, especially those that start already leaning towards your side, to enter the war with you.

Michael

[Witan]

Thank you very much for the response. Still the Youtuber invested a lot of MPPs with the beginning of the war into the swiss but still after some time the effort got stuck at 60%. Is this a special mechanic for the swiss or did he something wrong? He invested with all 3 main acteurs into the swiss at full amount, but still the 60% outcome...

[Xsillione]

Well, the main mistake is investing into the swiss, but that is irrelevant.
Diplomacy is very luck based, you get 5% per chit invested, to get a boost toward your side, and each success eats a chit, so you need to reinvest or the chance reduced. The boost is 5%-8% in most case, with small chance to get 15%-20%. But, the other side can also invest, and the two side cancel out each other, so you invest 8 chits for 40% per turn, they invest 5 chits for 25%, makes it 15% for you, and huge amount of mpp and lots of chits doing nothing. The AI not entirely stupid, so they will invest into the nations that slipping away, so unless you can outbid them in mpps and chits, you are in a deadlock.