[Jazzepi]

I really think people are overrating diplomacy. Roosevelt said "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." Bluffing only works so far, and eventually you have to be able to bolster your position with actual force. If you're the worst dominions 3 player in the world, but you're excellent at diplomacy, nothing is going to save you when push finally comes to shove.

Diplomacy is a force multiplier. It allows you win engagements with larger nations by putting you into an advantageous position, but it doesn't actually make you any stronger. If you don't have anything to multiply with it, you're mostly wasting your time.

Jazzepi