The Trinity Of Success In EU II MP... - now with poll

[Ampoliros]

The Trinity Of Success In EU II MP...

Good evening all.
Obviously, in EU II MP there are basically 3 different abilities we all are talented with in varying degrees. There are those, like me, who specialise and concentrate on Diplomacy, as they (and I) view it as the single most important aspect of this magnificent game. There are others, like Daniel A., who tend to optimize the administrative-performance, trade and bring a nation to shining grandeur this way. Finaly, there is the military faction of soc. "Warmongers" who prefer the broadsword of battle over the rapier of coldblooded plotting & scheming and the tedious boredom of Trade.

In this thread my aim is to find out, in a quantitative way, in which of these three pillars you would put yourself in, which of these arts you would deem as the most important.

I am talking of relative importance here, for clearly you will always have to engage in some military action even if you prefer diplomacy and induce some economic prosperity even if you would rather just declare war straight out.

Personaly, I view diplomacy as the most important asset by far. You can be an expert at finding free slots at trade and a complete berserker in war, if you fail diplomatically, imho, you will always lose. If "the other side" manages to successfully form a coalition while you are effectively isolated, slugging it out alone, only in rare circumstances and with such awesome juggernauts as Russia or the OE will you even have a chance to prevail...

So my vote definetly goes to Diplomacy.

Discuss....

 

[artemis667]

I think diplomacy's definitely the most important. Secondly, military prowess.
Good diplomatic players will always bully or sweet-talk an economic power into funding their efforts.

Where do I emphasise? Probably the economic-administrative side. I tend to make decisions that make my country stable and prosperous. I'm generally okay in military situations. Diplomacy is probably my weakness, as I'm not tough by nature - also I'm a little reserved. On the other hand my badboy is low - I have a 'respectable' reputation as opposed to some players who would be in the 'rather bad' category

 

[Lurken]

Diplomacy is by far the most important.

However I am like Daniel A, I play for the economy, but I also try to find diplomatical support all the time, and I suck at warfare...

 

[Seen]

Nah, Economy most important, It will make you able to bribe...eh...be generous to others who will like you for that (diplo) and because of that will fight for you (militairy) which you fund

 

[DSYoungEsq]

It depends upon the players with whom you are playing. If you are playing in a group of tightly-knit players, all of whom know and like each other, and you are the outsider, no amount of Diplomacy is going to save you; try as you might you won't induce a ganging of your powerful neighbor. In such a case, you had best decide which will let you have the most advantage: be the unheard, unseen administrative wizard or the brute-force warmonger who makes himself known as an unbeatable enemy.

On the other hand, if you are playing with a group that knows little about each other, or has long-standing animosities among its members, Diplomacy will be of considerable importance, as you exploit the weaknesses of the players.

Other scenarios can be concocted, for each the importance of the factors will differ.

Anytime you think a good game can be won with a particular approach, either you have underestimated the game, or you have overvalued the game.

 

[unmerged(18425)]

Depends on my mood where I concentrate at in game

But diplomacy is the most important, hands down.

 

[King of Men]

I think I would go for diplomacy; in a reasonably balanced game, a 1-on-1 war is rarely going to be highly decisive. And even if it is, you will likely find yourself at the receiving end of a gangbang if you didn't clear your acquisitions with your neighbours first.

 

[unmerged(6147)]

If you really suck in either department you are dead.

So if we assume all players are equally skilful in the three things then we must state as a fact that diplomacy is the most dynamic of them. You can gain lot of extra wealth/size if you really try hard in diplomacy. In economy you can also gain a lot - by emptyslotting/colonsing if you try hard - but not as much. In war finally all tend to do their best all the time, it is not much you can do to improve your results.

 

[admiral drake]

diplomacy, administrative or military you need to be good at atleast 2 of the 3 to really prosper
-even if your diplomacy is great it will only get you so far if you don't have anything to bargain with and your enemys are competent
-even if your great at military it won't save you if you get ganged by 4/5vs1 odds(edit : and no money to build troops)
- even if you get 1000gold a month your stil screwed if you can't fight and you got greedy eyes looking in your general direction

 

[Ampoliros]

Maybe we can agree that diplomacy is always very important though more important with some countries, such as Brandenburg / Prussia & Austria, in the middle of the action while the big, peripheral juggernauts like Russia and the OE do not have to engage in it so much - their very existance & independence is not really in question hence diplomacy is not a life or death matter to them..

I can well imagine the OE and Russia concentrating more on their military and / or economics and letting relations deteriorate because they are such immense giants. If you fail diplomatically with Brandenburg on the other hand you´ll soon cease to exist or at least be reduced to vasallship.

 

[unmerged(32886)]

Diplomacy first, then Administration and then Military. The two latter depend somewhat on the country, but I disagree with Ampoliros' view that "Russia and the OE don't really need it that much." All nations need it, some a bit more than others, but IMO Diplomacy must come first with each nation if they wish to prosper.
Then again it depends on the players also. There are some MP games (even active ones) where players become huge because others don't want to stop them (reason left in the middle). When this happens, Diplomacy can basically be thrown out the window.

 

[Slargos]

Fallacious question. War is the continuation of diplomacy.

Through conflict, we gain strength.

Through strength, we gain power.

Put a game together full of Daniels and Barniuses and watch the boredom unfold.

 

[Ampoliros]

Fallacious question. War is the continuation of diplomacy.

Through conflict, we gain strength.

Through strength, we gain power.

Put a game together full of Daniels and Barniuses and watch the boredom unfold.

I take this post as a distinct hint that you are, in fact, a warmonger.

 

[Tonioz]

and what do you mean as success, Wonko ?

 

[Ampoliros]

and what do you mean as success, Wonko ?

Well, simple really. With success I mean forging a mighty and prosperous nation, actualy creating THE strongest and most rich of all would be seen by me as the ultimate aim. But just in general, advancing your plans / goals, whatever they are, is viewed by me as success.

A crude example of this would be, say, you are Austria and you make it your goal to conquer all of central europe & whipe out the Ottomans. If you managed that I would state that you were successfull.

 

[unmerged(11287)]

it depends on the country. generalizing is just wrong.

in my case, I keep training my war skills.

 

[Ampoliros]

it depends on the country. generalizing is just wrong.

in my case, I keep training my war skills.

Ah yes....hihi....I remember. You are a serious warmonger!

 

[unmerged(11287)]

I use the 3 skills stated above. But I'm here to play a game and have fun. war provides me the entertainment i was looking for. and to be honest new players are concentrating a lot into diplomacy and economy, and i got it easy. it's becoming boring.

 

[Tonioz]

Well, simple really. With success I mean forging a mighty and prosperous nation, actualy creating THE strongest and most rich of all would be seen by me as the ultimate aim. But just in general, advancing your plans / goals, whatever they are, is viewed by me as success.

A crude example of this would be, say, you are Austria and you make it your goal to conquer all of central europe & whipe out the Ottomans. If you managed that I would state that you were successfull.

so, according you the goal is mighty and prosperous nation, the most important way to do it is the diplomacy.

Do i understand you properly that you need to develop this skill (diplomacy) to create situation where you are in safety despite of economic and military of yours and your enemies ? So you use diplomacy as the major key to get what you want ?

 

[unmerged(11287)]

if they're afraid of you, you're being successful somekind.