TRADE AND TRIBUTE (CONT.)

Breaking a trade treaty not only reduces the trade amount to zero, but also drops the percentage return back to –30%. Restarting trade relations requires rebuilding the trade routes from scratch. Think twice before breaking a profitable trade treaty with another player.

Tribute: When faced with imminent threat of war, you may attempt to appease a rival with an offer of tribute. While trade may be more cost-effective for improving relations with allies, antagonized opponents are unlikely to trade with you. Tribute may be one of the only ways to improve relations and end a war. You can donate up to the total in your planetary reserve. The amount of improvement depends on what percentage of the rival’s resources you donate. Generally, a donation of 10% of your rival’s production will shift the diplomacy scale half a level. Alternatively, you can offer needed technology as tribute. This will more dramatically effect relations, particularly if it was useful technology. If you are faced with several opponents all attacking at once, you should most certainly try buying peace from at least one.