What makes a someone a great power in terms of the alliance malus.

[gaius valerius]

Playing as Spain, France and Portugal have been longstanding allies for 200 years. Suddenly France breaks her alliance with me and I've become their rival. When I look to have an alliance again it lists "more than 1 blabla great power blabla". Okay, must be Portugal? Dissolve alliance with Portugal and try with France again. Still reads -100 blabla great powers. Dafuq? My only other relations are colonial nations and 2 vassals Milan and Algiers - none of who exactly constitute a great power...

???? Paradox what ???? (guess I'll shelve this Ironman untill next patch).

 

[fleetothemoon]

Even without the malus, i dont think France is likely to ally you now that they set you as a rival.

Any medium sized blobs can be easily become considered as great power. You can also check to see France's allies since France may also be limited in the number of great power allies they can have.

Honestly though, sometimes the whole system just makes no sense

 

[jonman122]

When the AI sets you to Rival, you are pretty much going to have to fight them and live with the fact they will never ally with you again and broke off the alliance for absolutely no reason. It's happened since the games inception.

 

[hwoosh]

When the AI sets you to Rival, you are pretty much going to have to fight them and live with the fact they will never ally with you again and broke off the alliance for absolutely no reason. It's happened since the games inception.

Until you blob enough for them to become threatened, that is.