The first phase in your game turn is to set your diplomacy setting. For each nation you may
chose between a stance of "At War" with, "Neutral" with, or "Allied" to. You make your
selections clicking the appropriate radial dial for your choice, then once you have updated
all preferences, hit the "Submit" button. After hitting submit you will be returned to this
same page. Don't worry, your chosen diplomactic preferences have been saved.
At War: If you or another nation chose the "At War" status towards one another, then
your two nations will be at war. Now, this doesn't mean too much unless you or that nation
attempt to send troops into one or the other's territories. However, at sea an at war status
is more meaningful. Normally when you are neutral or allied to another nation, your ships
may share the same sea zones with that nation. However, if either you or that nation have
your diplomacy setting set to at war, then if your fleet end the turn in the same sea zone
your ships will fight.
Neutral: If you are neutral with a nation you may share sea zones with their ships,
but not land territories. While your diplomacy is set to neutral if your lands troops enter
another nation's territory, then you will attack them. Or if they enter your territory, they
will attack you. This is considered an undeclared war. So while neutral your troops on land
might actually be fighting, but your ships at sea still sharing sea zones.
Allied: If you have set your diplomacy to be "Allied" with another nation AND that same
nation has also set their diplomacy to be "Allied" with you, then a state of alliance shall
exist. As allies your forces may share the same land territories and you will fight on the same
sides. If either of your forces are in a territory belong to the other and that territory is
attacked, then both of your forces will jointly defend the territory. Though note, even if
you are allied, your ships will not automatically fight alongside each other at sea. In order
to both fight the same enemy at sea, both nations must ALSO have already declared war on the
enemy or potential enemy naval force.
Yes, this means that if a potential enemy force has their diplomacy set to neutral with you
and you are set to neutral with them that the enemy force could bring ships into a sea zone
where you have ships and your ships will not fight. Further, they could even have troops on
board those ships and beachland on your lands. If you fear potential naval assault by an
enemy force, or you are trying to hold a sea zone jointly with an ally, then you must chose
to set your diplomacy to an At War status with the nation you are worried about. Even if
your two nations have not fought or intend to fight, the mere simple fact of high tensions
means you are at a war time stance.