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MoOving In: A Detailed Preview of Master of Orion III
PART 5: NOT ALL QUIET ON THE GALACTIC FRONT (Page 3)
By Daniel Quick | Apolyton CS Co-Owner/Administrator

When you're done saying each of the race names on the last page three times fast, you will likely notice a bar extending directly from my civilization to theirs (or vice verse if you prefer to think of it that way). The bar colour acts as a graphical representation of the paramount relations between your empire and the empire at the other end of the line. I will get to why I use the descriptor word “paramount” in a moment. White, as shown across the board in the first aforementioned screenshot, denotes the preservation of 'Diplomatic Channels'. Given again that the screen was taking during my game's first turn, it is unlikely that I could sensibly hope for much better. Light green indicates an 'Alliance', dark blue observes a 'Non-Aggression Pack' (NAP), yellow shows a 'Trade Agreement', orange illustrates an 'Enforced Peace' while finally red symbolizes an 'At War' standing. Given the scale of familiarity and co-operation or lack thereof that is exemplified by these six general status forms, the colour selections have a rational flow based on mood. As such, it is not long before you can quickly correlate the line colour to remind yourself what your race's position is as it pertains to another.

In the second 'Foreign Matrix' screenshot, you will note my improved relations in the Orion Sector on most fronts. I have an ongoing Non-Aggression Pact with both the Trilarians (leader name Senauilatrom). and the Eoladi (leader name Kaianamior). What you will not be able to ascertain from looking at this or any other 'Foreign Matrix' image is exactly when these respective NAPs were entered into effect. It is to likely to most people a frivolous detail but one that I gladly recorded on paper no less for future reference such as in the here and now. The Trilarian and the Apolytonians go way back, the said accord having been signed prior to Turn 10. The Eoladi were not as warm to the idea at first, but slowly came around in the late 20s/early 30s. The Sakkra are even less inclined to be so trustworthy, but through several exchanges of good tidings they eventually signed a Trade Agreement with me. This would turn out to be a most lucrative annual infusion of income into Apolyton's coffers. Personally, given the cold shoulder attitude inherent in the New Orions and the fact that I've just stopped shaking hands/{insert appropriate limb here} with the Tachidis, I'd say I've effectively nurtured mutually beneficial arrangements with all my neighbours… that I care to.

The cases of both the Trilarians and the Eoladi are prime examples of a following point of clarification that I promised a couple of paragraphs back. You may have several active relationships with a single empire at any given time. Indeed, to demonstrate this point Trade Agreements have also been inked between Apolyton and each of these peoples. I would to take this opportunity to greedily mention that these deals proved more profitable for Apolyton than the one with the Hithorou for likely reasons already alluded to. The reason we do not then see a blue/yellow (NAPs/TAs) or yellow/blue line (TAs/NAPs) is two-fold really. First, its hues combined would yield a green colour making the picture even more confusing. In particular, recall that green signifies the presence of an 'Alliance'. The 'Foreign Matrix' screen will display only the dominant relationship by default. If you want to filter out all but one of these other indicators, you may do so from the 'Show Empires That' pull-down menu. Of course, if there are no relationships that fit a particular criterion than the box below it will remain blank. See the first screenshot of this display I discussed to see this for yourself. The second said reason is discussed on the next page.