Federation Councils

[Alexander Seil]

One thing that concerns about Stellaris is that the diplomacy is a little thin, compared to CK2 and EU4. Specifically, I dislike that Federations are little more than beefed up alliances, despite being the centerpiece of the system.

What I'd like to see is a DLC that adds political mechanics and potential for internal conflict within Federations, rather than just within Empires. I propose that this should borrow some ideas from CK2/Conclave.

I suggest the introduction of what are, basically, CK2 Crown Laws, which we will call Constitutional Articles.

Constitutional Articles
Changes are made by supermajority (2/3 of members, rounded up). Any member may propose changes.

Elections
Rotation - default law; the presidency rotates every N years
Election - the leader is elected, similarly to CK2's elective monarchy. However, in keeping with the implicit One Empire, One Vote principle, I suggest using either ranked voting, or, to simplify things, plurality with a random tiebreak.
Dictatorship - the current President holds on to the title for 3*N years, a sort of emergency measure, immediately upon the adoption of this law. The law subsequently reverts to whatever it was before.

Centralization
None - default
Federation Treaties - the Federation President may propose that all Empires adopt a certain bilateral agreement with each of the other Empires, from some set, including things like migration treaties and sensor sharing. A Dictator can unilaterally impose these.
Federation Policies - the Federation President may propose any internal policy, to override current selection (and even Ethos restrictions, to enable even more internal strife) of Edicts. This includes things like banning slavery and prohibiting purges. Again, a Dictator may impose these unilaterally.

Policies & Treaties
Only the Federation President gets to make proposals. These are, as suggested above, a subset of possible diplomatic agreements and all the Edicts anyone in the Federation can adopt. Once Centralization is high enough and a proposal is made, decision is made by majority + 1 voting, unless imposed by a Dictator.

To facilitate conflict, Federation members should be able to secede from the Federation without dissolving it (unless it drops below a minimum of 3, or whatever it is), with a cheap Wargoal for the President to bring them back into the fold.

EDIT: To maintain visibility, and expand on my post below, let's also add

Emergency Acts
The Federation President can always propose these, the vote is by consensus even under Dictatorship, unless the Act has a member as a target. If no quorum is to be had without the victim, the Act is invalid.
Expulsion - what it says on the tin.
Accession - an invitation is sent to a potential member
Vassal Liberation - a vassal of a member is made an independent Empire and a member
Unification - all member Empires are annexed by the President. Only available for Federations that have been in existence for 50 years. The President does not get a vote.

 

[aMetzgermeister]

A Senate that incorporates all galactic civilizations? I could see a late game version of this after the Galaxy is discovered and all civs are known to eachother.

Could be used to create laws for the Galaxy.
- restrict jump drives (I assume most empires don't want tears created in space and evil creatures running amok) doesn't mean you can't disobey this and do it anyway at the loss of political support, friends, dislike.
-restrict advanced ai tech... same as above
-maybe restrict/outlaw super weapons

Just a suggestion, I'd just like to see a galactic government, or some form of late political system

 

[Alexander Seil]

The Federations are the superior vehicle for that sort of thing. I'm aware, of course, of the UN/Planetary Council mechanics in Civ and SMAC, what I'm suggesting is that these should be based around Federations, instead of some bizarre Galactic UN. Certainly, a large Federation could, over time, involve almost all Empires.

EDIT: Also, how can you possibly have The Federation without the Prime Directive?

 

[aMetzgermeister]

The Federations are the superior vehicle for that sort of thing. I'm aware, of course, of the UN/Planetary Council mechanics in Civ and SMAC, what I'm suggesting is that these should be based around Federations, instead of some bizarre Galactic UN. Certainly, a large Federation could, over time, involve almost all Empires.

EDIT: Also, how can you possibly have The Federation without the Prime Directive?

So could your Federation evolve into a Federal Republic with a Senate?

 

[Jorgen_CAB]

Rest assured... we will get major changes to both internal empire politics and federation mechanics... I'm 100% sure one that. Stellaris will be a completely different game in four years...

 

[Alexander Seil]

So could your Federation evolve into a Federal Republic with a Senate?

I can imagine that one could also add a class of special proposals that can only be adopted by consensus, such as expulsion, unification and even uplifting vassals to full member status. Obviously, in case there is a clear victim to a proposal, the victim doesn't have a say - the remaining Empires must have a quorum (the minimum number of Federation members) to even vote on them, however.

 

[aMetzgermeister]

Could my leader become a senator then start a few trade wars? Become consul, after that start a few wars between cloned armies and ai constructs? Then have emergency powers granted in the face of "overwhelming" odds, corrupt fellow senators, destroy the Galactic peacekeepers and establish the first Galactic Empire?

 

[Alexander Seil]

I think having more than two tiers (President/member) would be too cumbersome. This isn't CK2, after all. The Dictatorship thing ought to cover the emergency and "emergency" situations.

 

[vyshan]

I would like to have something like the citadel council from Mass Effect for a federation.

 

[Hertzila]

Federations really should get a proper DLC expansion, they are rife with potential for more. Maybe a DLC that focuses on internal diplomacy of alliances and federations? And maybe vassals?

A Senate that incorporates all galactic civilizations? I could see a late game version of this after the Galaxy is discovered and all civs are known to eachother.

Could be used to create laws for the Galaxy.
- restrict jump drives (I assume most empires don't want tears created in space and evil creatures running amok) doesn't mean you can't disobey this and do it anyway at the loss of political support, friends, dislike.
-restrict advanced ai tech... same as above
-maybe restrict/outlaw super weapons

Just a suggestion, I'd just like to see a galactic government, or some form of late political system

While a massive United Nations type federation might be interesting as a concept and as a challenge to form, I think it should really be a rarity and not at all given that it would form. Having something like the Citadel Council or Galactic Republic in existence and as the majority player in intergalactic politics says something about the politics of that particular galaxy. I also hope it wouldn't be necessary for other parties to follow whatever laws they enact. Sure the Citadel might get grumpy if I suddenly start researching AIs, but why should I care what they think? Well, other than the negative relations and invasion fleets, that is.

 

[Alexander Seil]

Federations really should get a proper DLC expansion, they are rife with potential for more. Maybe a DLC that focuses on internal diplomacy of alliances and federations? And maybe vassals?

The implication of my argument is exactly this. I'd love to have a DLC pack that covers this, perhaps more so than any other aspect.

While a massive United Nations type federation might be interesting as a concept and as a challenge to form, I think it should really be a rarity and not at all given that it would form. Having something like the Citadel Council or Galactic Republic in existence and as the majority player in intergalactic politics says something about the politics of that particular galaxy. I also hope it wouldn't be necessary for other parties to follow whatever laws they enact. Sure the Citadel might get grumpy if I suddenly start researching AIs, but why should I care what they think? Well, other than the negative relations and invasion fleets, that is.

The "Galactic Council" is a common trope in 4x games, but it always feels like a ridiculous, arbitrary outside imposition. Why is it that some races I barely know get to elect a President of the Universe? These mechanics should be implemented using the basic diplomatic structures already in place.

 

[Haldan]

Unification - all member Empires are annexed by the President. Only available for Federations that have been in existence for 50 years. The President does not get a vote.

I feel like the design options around federations are to avoid this exactly. Greyskin in space feels a bit lackluster.

Election - the leader is elected, similarly to CK2's elective monarchy. However, in keeping with the implicit One Empire, One Vote principle, I suggest using either ranked voting, or, to simplify things, plurality with a random tiebreak.

Again, this will just make it end up like Space HRE, where the player is most likely always the leader of the Federation.

 

[Legion141]

Honestly, I think some of the mechanics from EU4's HRE would be neat as well; the ability to install yourself as permanent president of the federation, tie each other together with greater centralisation laws and eventually either make them full vassals with the benefits of been a federation or simply annexing them without the problems of separatism would be amazing. Might change the point of federations though

 

[Murmeldjuret]

Definitely want as a DLC.

You could submit one leader as a "representative" the better he is the more influence you get, but then again you won't have him being useful for you.

 

[reaperous]

Really want major changes to federations, as it is right now it's really unappealing to me. I'm fine with the loss of foreign policy control, but we must get something in exchange as the federation consolidates. Ever centralizing laws, until a single state is achived would be great. But a thing I really dislike is the "rotating presidency". No elections for the president, no chance of reelection to the presidency? From what we've seen ( I admit it is next to nothing), Federations need changes. It is ripe DLC material

 

[Alexander Seil]

I feel like the design options around federations are to avoid this exactly. Greyskin in space feels a bit lackluster.

It's a natural option to include. There can be numerous downsides to unification to make it a rocky process - it shouldn't be an instant annexation.

Again, this will just make it end up like Space HRE, where the player is most likely always the leader of the Federation.

Depends entirely on AI's desire to vote for constitutional changes, it's up to Paradox to ensure this doesn't happen. Besides, it's unrealistic to expect the player not to win in a Paradox game, however he goes about it. But, I should point out that I want a system closer to CK2, where it's relatively difficult to put down all of your vassals, rather than the EU4 highway to German unification.

 

[Konaa]

I've, uh, never won an EU4 or Vicki 2 game...

 

[yafeshan]

The weakest aspect of game is diplomacy right now, I hope it will get the first DLC.

 

[Pandoricus]

Hmm advanced super government types that are late game things that include a variety of groups to cooperate or be dragged into galactic war. Fun for me to oppose, muahahahahahha they will feel the wrath of the Numerian Ascendant.