Alliance: Is it working effectively?

[Morbio]

In a number of my games I have alliances with an AI controlled region and I'm wondering if the alliance is working correctly?

In a couple of games I'm allied with Rome and I find that when Rome is attacked, or when Rome attacks, and I thus become engaged in a war I can essentially ignore it. I get all the benefits of peace with Rome and have Rome acting as a nice buffer between me and a number of troublesome neighbours, but I don't have any (or very little) downside. I don't have to send armies to attack the enemy states, I don't even have to send armies to help defend Rome, I just carry on doing my thing...

Now this is great for me, but I'm wondering is this realistic? If I was Rome I'd be expecting my allies to send some armies to help fight the enemy, or send armies to defend borders while the legions do their stuff, or even send money to help the war effort. If I had an ally that did nothing then soon they'd not be an ally, but the AI seems happy to let me continue doing nothing to help.

I'm wondering if the alliance should be reviewed periodically based on the help given. The sort of factors, that would score well would be;
* each army actively fighting a common enemy... with more score for battles won
* each army on the border of a common enemy... with more score for repelling enemy raids or attacks
* Donations of gold
* Donations of units
* etc.

If the obligations of being an ally are not fulfilled then the alliance would be dissolved. Perhaps the ally should issue some comments over time to give a hint that more is expected of an ally before dissolving the arrangement.

Anyone else seeing this? Any thoughts how alliances could be improved?

[ronehjr]

So far I've found that alliance results in my allies armies wandering around my territory aimlessly.

[TimDee58]

So far I've found that alliance results in my allies armies wandering around my territory aimlessly.

me too

[Morbio]

I get that too... although occasionally they will help in an attack and that 'help' sometimes results in them capturing a city I've been besieging for many years

[desertedfox]

I think this might answer your question, from the manual.

If you have an alliance and relations are 50 or less, it will be treated
as a defensive alliance. In this case you will defend your ally if they
are attacked but will not join in a war they started. If it is over 50, then
you will support them in an aggressive war. The same rules apply if
you are attacked or start a war.

[Morbio]

I think this might answer your question, from the manual.

If you have an alliance and relations are 50 or less, it will be treated
as a defensive alliance. In this case you will defend your ally if they
are attacked but will not join in a war they started. If it is over 50, then
you will support them in an aggressive war. The same rules apply if
you are attacked or start a war.

My thanks for that clarification, but this only seems to be a change of status, or more specifically, when I become at war with the another nation. It doesn't seem to matter what my behaviour is when I'm at war too. My ally could be attacked, I join the war as a good ally should, but then I can do nothing without any (seemingly) negative consequences.

[Hister_MatrixForum]

This should indeed be improved upon by the devs. I can report tbe same thing - sure my allies dragged me in their wars which accrued war wearriness on my republic giving me 10% trade malus but this is nit enough. The game should check if my allies have been helped by any means either by my direct military intervention or by me helping them sending menpower, gold, units, etc. If help is non existent or deemed too small then my allies relation should correspondingly lower.

That was already implemented in the Paradox games if I'm not mistaken and really should also be implemented here.

[Pocus]

That's something in my mind, but might be a bit long to pull out correctly. Paradox has a lot of features but their games had time to mature a lot now... while Empires is still young, give us time!

[Hister_MatrixForum]

That's something in my mind, but might be a bit long to pull out correctly. Paradox has a lot of features but their games had time to mature a lot now... while Empires is still young, give us time!

Glad to hear that you have it in the pipe Pocus. Take the time you need. I will gladly play your next patches, dlcs and new games.