[Ironhawk]

Diplomacy is the single most important skill. You can be the best planner or have the best knowledge of dom3, but none of this will help you when your 4 neighbors gang up on you and tear you to pieces.

In fact, I would say that if you are a good technical player and a bad diplomat that your skill actually works *against* you, in terms ability to win games. Because your nation will grow quickly and be strong... which will make all your neighbors nervous and ready to ally against you at the slightest provaction. Without diplomacy to defend you from this, you rely only on luck.