Diplomacy/Events Again

[Bern]

It seems that once we are into 1915 and beyond, diplomacy becomes just as crucial as military action in terms of bringing other nations into the conflict. I have to say that I'm still not certain that this aspect of the game works as it should. To add to the instances I've mentioned previously, here is another example.

The Entente (me) has been making a play for Italy which is exactly neutral in early 1915. In May 1915 Italy is apparently pleased with France's political stance recognizing its war aims etc and additionally there is a French amb. mission success which the game tells me drives Italy seven points towards the Entente. I am, therefore, a bit surprised as the game moves to its next phase to find that Italy is now just one point away from joining the CP . Is there anything in game terms which could have caused this to happen without any announcement, or is it just a glitch?

Quite a lot has been written about events - the instance which I get constantly is that on every turn, the AI CP seems to make yet another tech. breakthrough. If this carries on I fully expect that by 1916, the Hun will appear from the trenches with handheld tactical nuclear weapons. It's particularly galling because, despite heavy investment in tech, the Entente appears to have pretty rubbish scientists failing to make progress in anything at all.

Bern

[dougbush93]

That kind of swing is unusual, but possible for Italy in 1915. The reason is the D'Annunzio factor, which is checked every time a nation does a diplomatic test on Italy in 1915. If the D'Annunzio check "succeeds", I believe for that turn one side's ambassadors don't count for the diplo check.

Here is what the draft manual says (Under Rule 19.9 "Special Cases")

D'Annunzio : this is an Italian special rule.
Starting with 1915, any Diplomatic Action check involving Italy implies a prior “D'Annunzio” check (famous Italian poet and orator). The detailed procedure for the “D'Annunzio” check is in the Appendices.

If the check succeeds, D'Annunzio delivers a powerful diplomatic blow, and the subsequent Diplomatic Action is checked, disregarding the opposite side's AMBassadors and the modifiers favorable to the opposite side. The D'Annunzio bonus is in addition to these effects. This may bring Italy into one side in a single turn.

The success probabilities rise in 1915, and mostly toward the Entente (because Italy dislikes Austria-Hungary).

If Austria-Hungary promises Trentin to Italy, the Central Powers’ -2 penalty is cancelled and is reduced to -1.

If France surrenders, the D'Annunzio rule is cancelled.

[Bern]

Yes I read that. Funnily enough my understanding of the rules is that this eventuality would more likely bring Italy into the fold of the Entente. Maybe this needs a closer study. However, I would have thought that if there was a valid 'in-game' reason for the swing, it would be announced by telegram with an appropriate explanation.

Bern

[Bern]

Just a follow up. On the next game turn, the Entente Ambassadors mucked in and did their thing again. Once more this seemed to pleasure the Italians - this time the announcement was a five point move towards the Entente. No other notices re Italy were published. However, a next telegram announced a change in the position of the Balkan States due to the fact that Italy had declared war on the Entente .

Bern

[vonRocko]

It's not only Italy, I get these results frequently. I'll send diplomats to a country, the message tells me the country swings 2pts. in my favor,then you look and see that it is just the opposite.Even when the other side has NO diplomats in the country.
There is so much to fix in this game!

[Bern]

Yep you're right. These things do add a bit of spice though. To make up for things, I also had the situation where the AI got screwed with mutinies for A-H without any apparent cause. Just idly wondering - there must be a mind-boggling number of calculations carried out by the prog in this game - is it possible that, in some cases, equations are resolved 'back to front' as it were.

Bern