Negotiating with factions
Negotiation with other factions is allowed once you have their commlink frequency, which means you either have to encounter them physically on the map (you units need to be in adjected squares), receive it from a faction you already have contact with or discover it in a pod. Negotiating with other factions is very important, as it allows you to exchange technologies, maps and commlink frequencies, enter into formal treaties and pacts, declare war on one another, and synchronise your attacks on a third faction.
Formal Relationships
Your relationship with other factions consists of one formal value and an informal one. Your formal status with other factions is one of the following: Vendetta, Truce, Treaty and Pact. Additionally, you may have an "informal truce" with another faction.
"Vendetta" is rather self-explanatory: this faction leader has made a promise to destroy your faction, or at least bust it up pretty good. Unless you are the agressor, of course. "Truce" (or "Blood Truce") means that your two factions have agreed not to attack each other, at least for the time being. "Treaty" ("Treaty of Friendship") is just that, a treaty which represents your two factions' friendship. More importantly, a Treaty means the citizens and organizations of two faction will now trade with each other, meaning you get extra energy credits, straight into the state coffers. The final kind of formal relationship is the Pact ("Pact of Brotherhood"). This means your two factions are commited to helping each other out, which has several manifestations. First, commerce rates double between your two factions, and secondly, your units may stack theirs. This means closer military cooperation is possible, you may defend each other's bases, and your pact mate might even give you units "to defend your territory against agression".
When you first meet a faction, you have no formal relationship, or an informal truce. This means that you are not at war with this faction, but no actual agreements have been made. From this point, you may engage in war with the other faction, remain at an unease peace, or commit to a formal relationship. Whether the other faction agrees to a treaty or a pact depends on how they feel towards you, which is the next thing we're going to talk about.
Informal Relationships & Reputation
The informal relationship with another faction is simply how much the other faction leader likes you. This value ranges from "Magnanimous" (or "Submissive" if threatened) to "Seething", and it hinges on three things: how strong you faction is (the stronger the faction, the more respect other factions have for you, and the more they like you), your actions towards this faction, and your Social Engineering choices. If you have attacked this faction (or worse; are at war with it) the faction leader will like you less, whereas if you have traded or presented gifts to this faction, they will like you more.
The Planetary Council
The Planetary Council is a unique feature among Civ games; so far, no other game has an equivalent. The Planetary Council consists of every human faction in the game (not counting those who have been eliminated or committed major atrocities). When a player has the commlink factions of all the other human factions, that player may convene the Planetary Council. (When this happens, all the human factions will have each others' comm links.)
The first proposal the Council must consider is electing the Planetary Governor. Only the two factions with the most votes can be eligible. It is advantageous to be the Governor, therefore in some cases it may be best to wait before convening the Council if you haven't enough votes now but have a shot at eligibility within the next few turns.
Proposals
The primary purpose of the Council is to consider various issues which may arise, such as electing a Planetary Governor.
Elect Planetary Governor
- Prerequisite: N/A
The Planetary Governor can introduce new proposals more often and enjoys automatic infiltration of all factions. That means if the Governor isn't you, it should be somebody you trust.
Global Trade Pact
- Prerequisite: Planetary Economics
Commerce rates are doubled for all factions.
Repeal Global Trade Pact
- Prerequisite: Planetary Economics
Commerce rates are halved for all factions.
Launch Solar Shade
- Prerequisite: Advanced Spaceflight
Causes global cooling and the sea levels to drop. If a solar shade has already been launched, this proposal will be called "Increase Solar Shade".
Increase Solar Shade
Melt Polar Caps
Melts the polar ice caps of Chiron, raising sealevels all around.
Repeal U.N. Charter
Repeals the U.N. Charter, meaning atrocities are counted as normal acts of warfare. The U.N. Charter is in effect when the game starts.
Reinstate U.N. Charter
Self-explanatory: reinstates the U.N. Charter, once again making atrocities subject to harsh penalties.
Salvage Unity Fusion Core
Salvage of the Unity core affords every faction 500 energy credits.
Unite Behind Me As Supreme Leader
All factions unity behind one faction leader, this faction wins and the game is over. When playing with Progenitor in Alien Crossfire, this option is only available after both alien factions are eliminated.