From Vanguard Wiki
Read My Lips
Diplomacy takes the concept of factions and player interaction to a whole new level. The diplomacy system in Vanguard allows players to learn the history and legends of the world of Telon, while influencing the game world itself. Political and social changes can be made by groups of determined diplomats, causing benefits for all. An example of this is the ability to make a city a haven for crafters by working to create a number of city buffs that benefit all crafters who work there. Adventurers will gain the advantages of greater hit points, harder hitting spells, and boosts to their run speed through the efforts of players using diplomacy.
As a sphere, diplomacy uses a unique skill system that emphasizes the player's skill. Through an innovative card game, players will experience the push and pull of a conversation by playing cards such as "Aggressive Statement", "Truth Be Told", and even "Cult of Personality". As your character gains skill in diplomacy, larger rewards await in the form of unique diplomacy gear, upgrades to adventuring gear, and access to some of the places of power on Telon.
[edit] Overview
The diplomacy encounter is known as a parley. At the beginning of a parley, both you and your opponent will start with a pool of Dialogue Points (the number depending on the encounter difficulty and your relative diplomatic skill). Your goal is to use Statements to Influence the diplomacy marker, controlling it so that your Dialogue Point total is reduced to zero before your opponent. As you progress toward this goal, you will be rewarded with lines of dialogue as you fight to wring the details of plot and intrigue from reluctant NPCs.
[edit] The Fields of Diplomacy
You will use this parley mechanism in all the fields of diplomacy, which include:
[edit] Ranks and Rewards
[edit] Titles
While you advance through diplomacy you will earn titles which you may display on the front of your character name. For example; Messenger John Smith.
Some of the ranks are as follows;
Titles may grant certain bonuses with certain groups.
[edit] Diplomat's Gear
Diplomacy is as item-centric as other spheres, and the equipment worn by diplomats will definitely have an effect on their chances of success. Diplomacy Gear can affect both your diplomatic endeavours and your success in other spheres. Diplomats can also custom-construct a Diplomat's Mask, with many different results.
"Gear will play a huge part in the gameplay of the Diplomat. "Clothes make the man" is our guiding motto." - Steve Williams (Aruspex)
Are you listening?
[edit] Information Brokering
Information Brokering is a reward system tied in with Civic Diplomacy. You are able to trade Information for items and other advantages.
[edit] Haggling
The ability to lower the purchase price of items or services.
Effects of Haggling will be permanent for the continent that you achieved the effect in.
[edit] Civic Benefits
Civic Benefits are usually in the form of city-wide buffs triggered by city diplomats for the benefit of the crafting, adventuring or harvesting spheres.
[edit] Getting Started
You must start diplomacy by visiting the diplomacy instructor of your race. You will be provided with a starter set of Statements by your trainer, and can follow a series of quests which not only teach you the mechanics of diplomacy, but provide a great deal of lore on your race and starting city.
For now, the article Parley has a good introduction to the game. We are just beginning to transcribe the in-game tutorials which are available from the:
[edit] Diplomacy Focus Points
A Diplomacy Focus Point is a gathering place for diplomats, and is particularly relevant to Civic Diplomacy, as it is a place where information about the city's diplomacy needs can be gathered.
Focus Points are represented by a set of bulletin boards surrounding a pillar or tree.
- Cities that have active Civic Diplomacy have a whole bulletin board and complete pillar or tree.
- Cities that will have Civic Diplomacy soon, but not immediately, have a burned down board and broken pillar.
[edit] Diplomacy Classes
Unlike other spheres of Vanguard, Diplomacy Classes are not a mandatory part of the sphere. You will have a number of opportunities to specialise during the course of your career as a diplomat, but there is no requirement to do so.
"Everyone is basically a generic diplomat at the beginning of their careers. There are a lot of reasons for this, most of them obvious when you guys get a chance to play the system (some day!).
Approximately a quarter or a third of the way through the overall Diplomacy progression (this is a bit in flux), you will have the opportunity to seek out the trainer for a diplomacy class. These classes augment your ability to do Diplomacy, but are not essential to continuing play (you can continue as a generic diplomat).
About 2/3 of the way through the progression, if you have a diplomacy class, you will get the opportunity to sub-class within your class (Firebrand sub-class of Demagogue, for instance) and specialize further. You can pass on this as well.
A large part of diplomacy class and sub-class is to provide an opportunity to specialize and to customize your character, since the nature of the system does not require class to be playable." - Aruspex
[edit] Further Reading
A sign from the Picture of the Day archives revealing diplomacy in action at Sigil Games Online
wiki
Navigation
