Malcolm Rivera
Stainless Steel is a mod for the game Medieval 2: Total War. Some players have criticised the game for its unrealistic diplomacy, where nations behave like they are trying to win a game rather than act as leaders. However, Stainless Steel improves the game's diplomacy, with more factions, units, and better balance. The mod also includes a launcher with various AI settings, which can be adjusted to change the level of aggression and playstyle. While Stainless Steel offers improvements, some players still find that the AI does not always respect diplomatic relations, and that it can be challenging to form alliances.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| AI settings | 3 modes: one that declares more war, one that hardly declares war, and a mixed one |
| AI behaviour | More interested in self-preservation than in Vanilla |
| Alliances | Easier to achieve than in Vanilla |
| Diplomacy | Improved over Vanilla |
| Bug fix | A semicolon in the game code needs to be removed |
| Bug fix | Occupying settlements should improve relations with AI, not decrease them |
| Bug fix | AI should not declare war for no reason |
| Bug fix | AI should not lose relations with the player when they occupy a settlement |
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What You'll Learn
Stainless Steel's AI settings
The Stainless Steel mod for Medieval 2: Total War (m2tw) offers three AI settings, written by Gracul, Lusted, and Savage, each with a distinct playstyle and level of aggression. These settings can be selected through the Stainless Steel launcher.
The first setting, written by Gracul, is the most aggressive, with the AI declaring more wars. The second setting, written by Lusted, is the least aggressive, with the AI rarely declaring war. The third setting, written by Savage, is a mix of the first two, with a balanced approach to diplomacy and warfare.
Players can influence their relationships with other factions through diplomatic actions such as gifting gold and releasing prisoners. However, some players have reported that the AI still occasionally declares war without apparent reason, even with good relations. This may be due to the game's design, which encourages AI factions to target players once they reach a certain number of regions.
In addition to the improved AI settings, the Stainless Steel mod also includes more factions, units, and better balance. The mod is well-polished and offers an enhanced gameplay experience compared to the base game.
Outside of gaming, AI has been used to design and enhance the properties of stainless steel alloys used in power plants and vehicle technologies. Machine learning models can predict the performance of alloys in extreme environments, helping to identify materials that offer high temperature and pressure resistance while resisting rupture and corrosion.
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Alliances and war
The motivations for forming alliances vary, especially in different threat environments. Scholars have identified several approaches to understanding alliance identities: the realist, the rationalist and formalist, the liberal or institutionalist, and the constructivist arguments. A common thread in the literature is the understanding that alliances provide a wide range of services to their members and are motivated by more than just a desire for war. Alliances can increase a country's capacity to defend itself and advance its interests at a lower cost. They also allow countries to set the rules of international trade and finance, and reap the advantages of that system.
Alliances can create pressure for war, even when it is inconvenient, and can shape public opinion about going to war. Alliances can increase public fears about the reputational costs of non-intervention and heighten the perceived moral obligation to intervene out of fairness and loyalty. Leaders of democracies rarely go to war without public backing and expect to be penalized for fighting wars the public opposes. Thus, alliances can be pivotal in the choice to intervene on behalf of an ally.
However, some skeptics argue that military alliances are merely "scraps of paper" that can be disregarded by countries when convenient. Successive US administrations have grumbled about the equitable sharing of the security burden and approached alliances with ambivalence. Leaders like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington warned against "entangling" and "permanent" alliances, which could embroil a country in conflicts that are not in its interest.
In the context of the video game Stainless Steel, the diplomacy has been described as unrealistic and infuriating. Players have reported that it is difficult to secure alliances with other factions, and that the AI will often declare war without reason. However, some players have noted improvements in the Stainless Steel mod, including more factions, units, better balance, and improved diplomacy. The AI in Stainless Steel has three settings with different levels of aggression and playstyle, and other factions will generally try to keep themselves alive and maintain alliances.
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Treaties and deals
However, others have noted that the Stainless Steel mod offers improved diplomacy over the base game. The mod includes different AI settings, such as those written by Gracul, Lusted, and Savage, each presenting a unique level of aggression and playstyle. These settings can influence the ease or difficulty of achieving treaties and deals. For example, with the Savage AI setting, players have reported having very good deals with other nations when peace is desired. This suggests that the choice of AI setting can impact the likelihood and nature of treaties and deals in the game.
Additionally, players have shared strategies for maintaining positive relationships and securing advantageous deals. One strategy involves consistently maintaining a high power ranking, which is largely based on military power and the number of armies. By keeping a full army inside garrisons and quickly recruiting new armies after battles, players can preserve their military power ranking. This strategy may increase the chances of favourable treaties and deals.
Another aspect of treaties and deals in Stainless Steel is the trading of settlements with the AI. Some players have observed that in Stainless Steel, it is possible to trade settlements with the AI more easily than in the base game, where such deals require significant diplomatic effort. This suggests that Stainless Steel may offer more opportunities for negotiating settlements and forming treaties related to territorial concessions.
Overall, while Stainless Steel may offer improved diplomacy and provide players with more options for treaties and deals, it is important to recognize that the AI's behaviour can still be unpredictable, and forming alliances may not always be straightforward. Players must adapt their strategies accordingly and consider the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the mod.
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Reputation and relations
Public diplomacy is a critical aspect of international relations, encompassing government-sponsored efforts to communicate and engage with foreign publics. It is a powerful tool for countries to establish dialogue, inform, and influence global audiences, ultimately building support for their strategic objectives. The evolution of public diplomacy over the 20th century has been influenced by changing international dynamics, with practitioners employing diverse instruments and methods, including personal contact, media interviews, the internet, and educational exchanges.
The United States, for instance, has long recognized the importance of public diplomacy in its foreign policy. The United States Information Agency (USIA), the former main government agency for public diplomacy, described its role as promoting national interests and security through understanding, informing, and influencing foreign publics. This involved broadening the dialogue between American citizens, institutions, and their international counterparts. Public diplomacy has been a key weapon in America's outreach, persuasion, and policy efforts, as noted by former senior director for public affairs, Jill A. Schuker.
One notable example of successful public diplomacy is the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community in the 1950s, which later evolved into the European Union. This initiative aimed to integrate European economies to a degree that war would become unthinkable, fostering greater international understanding and cooperation. Public diplomacy, therefore, has the potential to shape global relations and promote peace.
However, it is important to acknowledge that public diplomacy can be a double-edged sword. While it can enhance understanding and cooperation, it can also be misused as a tool for propaganda and persuasion, potentially leading to misunderstandings and conflicts. As Hans N. Tuch, author of "Communicating With the World," suggests, public diplomacy efforts can shape the communications environment in which foreign policy is executed, for better or worse.
In conclusion, public diplomacy plays a pivotal role in shaping a country's reputation and relations with the world. It is a powerful tool for countries to promote their interests, values, and policies, but it must be wielded responsibly and ethically to avoid potential pitfalls and negative consequences.
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The role of gold
Gold has played a significant role in diplomacy for thousands of years. Its lustre, scarcity, and malleability have made it a highly valued commodity and a standard for global currencies.
Historically, international trade was conducted based on the classical gold standard, where trade between nations was settled using physical gold. Nations with trade surpluses accumulated gold as payment for their exports, while nations with trade deficits saw their gold reserves deplete as they paid for their imports. This system was in place for nearly 50 years, from 1871 to 1914, with a lesser form continuing until 1971.
The value of a country's currency was directly linked to gold under the gold standard. Countries agreed to convert paper money into a fixed amount of gold, setting a price for gold to determine the value of their currency. For example, if a country set the price of gold at $500 an ounce, the value of its currency would be 1/500th of an ounce of gold.
Gold's role in diplomacy and economics was significant during the Great Depression, the longest and most severe economic recession in modern history. While multiple factors contributed to this catastrophe, the gold standard was identified as one of them. The gold standard limited the ability of monetary policy to stabilize the economy, and its influence on the supply and demand of currencies was unprecedented.
In the context of the game "Diplomacy is Not an Option", gold is a valuable resource that can be obtained by upgrading to Town Hall II and then building a market to sell excess goods. Gold coins are necessary for acquiring powerful units and upgrades within the game.
In conclusion, gold has had a long and influential history in diplomacy and economics, shaping international trade and currency values. Its role in the game "Diplomacy is Not an Option" reflects its real-world value and strategic importance.
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Frequently asked questions
Stainless Steel is a mod for the video game Medieval II: Total War.
Stainless Steel improves the diplomacy of the base game, with more factions, units, better balance, and smarter AI. However, some users have complained that the AI still cheats.
You can download Stainless Steel from the internet. It is recommended to play through the base game first to get used to how it works before jumping into the mod.
