How Diplomacy Works

[Azzy]

Sounds like a very interesting concept. I hope they do it like other spheres where advancement is possible. Higher levels being able to obtain higher things and such. Would be really nice to see that.

[Pirotess]

Originally Posted by Azzy

Sounds like a very interesting concept. I hope they do it like other spheres where advancement is possible. Higher levels being able to obtain higher things and such. Would be really nice to see that.

Definitely expect that. They've even gone so far as to say your diplomacy level can and will affect how you relate to NPCs in other spheres. Think of it as an advanced faction system. Instead of just killing mobs of the opposing faction to gain favor with the one you want, now you can actually parlay with them until they trust you. A welcome refreshment in my opinion!

[Judas]

Diplomacy definately sounds interesting and will give me something to do while hanging around in town. The actual process sounds very similar to EQ2's crafting system, which might scare me away hehe.

[Greymain]

OK let me explain my confusion in diplomacy.

How do you know if you are winning an encounter? is there an on screen indicator of the opponents state?

Will there be special attributes for diplomats and will they have any impact when not in the diplomatic sphere .. Like Charisma.

Will Diplomats have buffs, spells and counter spells?.. Like charm or confuse

What defines a diplomat? can u have a naked diplomat? one in full armor with a diplomats hat on?

What happens when you win an encounter? is that NPC permanently changed? can you impact on a race or class faction using Diplomacy.

how can you evaluate your opponents prior to parlay.

What resources do you use in diplomacy? .. Mana? hot air, Stamina.

How do you know when you have won/lost an encounter and will you have to defend yourself against physical attack on losing, Is there diplomatic weapons and armor to handle this?

[Judas]

Just want to put my vote in for a Hot Air bar. /sign

[Doddy Curumehtar]

Originally Posted by Greymain

OK let me explain my confusion in diplomacy.

As a staff member of VGtact.com, I should be able to at least tell you the current speculation on these questions, if not the current info.

Originally Posted by Greymain

How do you know if you are winning an encounter? is there an on screen indicator of the opponents state?

There is an E3 shot or two of diplomacy, have a look at them. You can see a face indicator of your opponent's mood. This could have changed since, and I think some time after release this facial expression will be visible on the NPC too.

Originally Posted by Greymain

Will there be special attributes for diplomats and will they have any impact when not in the diplomatic sphere .. Like Charisma.

No attributes I believe Aruspex said (in the OP of this thread: http://www.vgtact.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=201).

Originally Posted by Greymain

Will Diplomats have buffs, spells and counter spells?.. Like charm or confuse

I doubt that they will make use of magic spells. However, there may very well be potions or scrolls that buff diplomacy, and of course magical effects on items.

Counter-expressions will be in the game, but they are not spells.

Originally Posted by Greymain

What defines a diplomat? can u have a naked diplomat? one in full armor with a diplomats hat on?

To be a diplomat, you hit the change sphere button to diplomat. Then, your skills and clothing determine your profiency in parley. Certain clothes benefit certain ablities more (i.e. buff that skill)...I think...so perhaps intimidate is less focussed on nice clothes than charming compliments. Also, clothes are situational like in adventuring; you need to dress appropriately (so you are not always wearing your Sunday best to the tavern).

Originally Posted by Greymain

What happens when you win an encounter? is that NPC permanently changed? can you impact on a race or class faction using Diplomacy.

Faction yes. When you win, you gain the quest progress, reward or next part of dialogue, as well as the faction status change. Some quests will award titles too.

Originally Posted by Greymain

how can you evaluate your opponents prior to parlay.

Hmm. First you would look at them and notice their clothes, stature and even title (noble, king or bum). That might give some idea as to what they might be like. But the only way to be sure is to feel them out via parley I think. You don't truly know them until you argue with them!

Originally Posted by Greymain

What resources do you use in diplomacy? .. Mana? hot air, Stamina.

We don't know all of them, but from those screenshots we can see a few (like Persuasion). But those may well have changed.

Originally Posted by Greymain

How do you know when you have won/lost an encounter and will you have to defend yourself against physical attack on losing, Is there diplomatic weapons and armor to handle this?

It should be fairly obvious when you win or lose, but I can't tell you exactly what the signs are.

You will have to defend yourself at times (see this post). You won't have weapons as a diplomat, but will have to either hide behind a guard, your bodyguard or pull your own sword/wand and switch to adventuring to fight.

[Raolinx Aeromancer]

Thanks Doddy, That was the best overview I'v yet seen.

Wonder if Bards will get additional benefits in the Diplomacy fields as words, tones,rhythms, acting, ect is also part of there field.

Its gonna be really interesting. And I agree with one of the earlyer posters stating it will give them something else to do in town besides kill'n for fun and profit.

I think a good branch if they decide to do a skill tree would be bully or intimidator. Not that I'd take that fork but would still be cool for some of the evil classes. (Im not evil tho Im on the good team. Go, go, good team.)

[Greymain]

Thanks for the feedback Doddy very interesting.

On evaluating your opponent do you think all sentient NPC's are subject to Diplomacy or just a subset? If a subset will there be a way to tell those subject to diplomacy and those not. Guess an alternative CON system.

I seem to have missed the "button to switch Spheres" Post I must admit it make as lot of sense

I thought I read that expressions where not going to be in Vanguard may be thats outside of Diplomacy. I was hoping for a more sophisticated version of Oblivions System but of course in Vanguard you are not safe from attack by mobs while parlaying with an NPC.

On swiching spheres if attacked due to failed Parly, Are you sure you can change spheres when attacked? I know you cannot change gear.

[Doddy Curumehtar]

Originally Posted by Greymain

On evaluating your opponent do you think all sentient NPC's are subject to Diplomacy or just a subset? If a subset will there be a way to tell those subject to diplomacy and those not. Guess an alternative CON system.

That's an area of debate atm. I don't think that anything has come up on that, so we still don't know whether all NPCs can be parleyed or not as of yet. Personally I think all NPCs will be be able to be conversed with.

Originally Posted by Greymain

I thought I read that expressions where not going to be in Vanguard may be thats outside of Diplomacy. I was hoping for a more sophisticated version of Oblivions System but of course in Vanguard you are not safe from attack by mobs while parlaying with an NPC.

Expressions are in at last check I think. Can't see why they'd be removed. Did you read this post by Aruspex at Silkys (I think you did, as you responded in that thread. But I'll link it for others to see)?http://www.silkyvenom.com/forums/sho...2&postcount=37

Originally Posted by Greymain

On swiching spheres if attacked due to failed Parly, Are you sure you can change spheres when attacked? I know you cannot change gear.

I don't know. The quote on that button is here: http://www.vanguardsoh.com/forums/sh...36#post1090436

Originally Posted by Aradune Mithara

We need to update the FAQ here. It's not up to date in this area and in others. switching between spheres is basically seamless now.

You just hit a button to switch to that sphere and have your abilities for that sphere relative to your level and experience show up, and need to have the proper items worn and wielded for that sphere to be the most effective.

So, bottom line, if you are a level 30 adventurer, you stay that even if you are harvesting. You might need to switch back to adventuring mode and re-configure your gear, but that's it I'm prety sure.

I'd imagine there is a cooldown so you can't just switch spheres every 2 seconds, but I don't know about any limits on that in combat.

[Greymain]

Originally Posted by Doddy Curumehtar

Expressions are in at last check I think. Can't see why they'd be removed.

I.

Aruspex Quote

"But there's things that simply will not happen. One of them is facial animation. Bethesda used a third party system to be able to play their face-morphing game (which was a fun mini-game for a while). Our system is more abstract than that, and based around personal skill and strategy.

The cues I refer to up above are things like clothing, names, titles, location in the city, rumors you hear in other Diplomacy, etc. etc. etc."

o