A Negotiation is any situation involving a diplomatic or economic conflict which is resolved via mediation or mechanical resolution. This resolution can take place between players without a facilitator present, or can involve a facilitator if necessary.
Negotiations can have many possible outcomes, and may spill over into armed conflict or evolve into arms races or contests of influence. In order to participate in a Negotiation, a character must be a Governor, acting on a Governor's [[Orders#Negotiate|orders]], or in possession of an Asset which explicitly allows them to participate without a Governor's support. Note that this is only for formal Negotiations. Characters can still make deals and trade between themselves, but agreements will only be enforced by the Imperial Bureaucracy if they are the result of a formal Negotiation.
## Negotiation Rules
### Requesting Negotiations
The Negotiation process begins when a [[Governor]] or one of their [[Officers]] contacts another character with a formal request for Negotiation. Such a request can be delivered in person or via the Imperial Bureaucracy (including a Facilitator).
If the request is accepted, the characters agree on a meeting location. If they cannot agree, the characters meet virtually (the players may still be in the same space for convenience, or video calls may be used for realism, though we strongly advise against the use of personal electronic devices during games).
If the request is refused, the requesting party may expend one Asset to force the issue. That Asset must be an item, resource, or some other kind of usable or discardable Asset, but beyond that the choice is up the requestor. If an Asset is discarded and the request to negotiate is still refused, the refusing party gains the Lien [[Imbalanced Honor]] and the negotiation does not take place.
If the parties cannot agree on a time to meet, that meeting occurs immediately. One party may expend an Asset (with the same limitations on Asset choice as above) in order to postpone the meeting up to half an hour.
### Opening Negotiations
When a Negotiation begins, the requesting party starts by setting out their desired outcome. That outcome is then scored based on the following references:
1 - An Asset gained without loss to the other party, or a minor exchange of roughly equivalent value
2 - A minor Asset taken from the other party, or a temporary relationship shift ([[Trade Agreement]])
3 - A significant Asset taken from the other party, a Lien inflicted on the other party or minor relationship shift ([[Treaty]])
4 - Multiple significant Assets taken from the other party or a significant relationship shift ([[Alliance]], [[War]] against a third party)
5 - A permanent shift in relationships between the parties ([[Fealty]])
The rating of a requested outcome is then adjusted based on each side's advantage total. If the requesting side has a larger number of advantages, the rating is shifted down by that number (to a minimum of 1). If the responding side has a larger number of advantages, the rating is shifted up by that number (to a maximum of 10).
### Responding
The responding party (the party who received the request) may then choose one of two paths.
They can select an outcome of their own and, if both parties agree, both outcomes happen. If those outcomes are roughly equal in rating, no further negotiation is needed. If there is significant disparity between the two, the side with the lower rating may select one or more concessions to bring the deal to parity.
If the responding party does not have a specific outcome they want to achieve, then they may select a number of concessions with total value equal to the value of the requested outcome.
Note that, at any point, both parties may agree to the terms and end negotiation immediately, regardless of the relative strength of their positions, so long as both *players* agree. *Character* agreement is required during the formal resolution stage (see below), but two players can agree to a deal that one or both characters would never accept (if, for example, they wanted to tell the story of someone who made a bad deal and is living with the consequences).
### Concessions
Minor Concessions are valued at one advantage, while Major Concessions are valued at two advantages.
#### Minor Concessions
- A single Resource Asset
- A single use of an Officer's Asset
- A [[Trade Agreement]] or [[Treaty]]
- A mutual [[Endeavor]]
- An end to a minor relationship with a third party
- A [[Raid]] on or [[Blockade]] of a mutual enemy
#### Major Concessions
- Three or more Resource Assets
- The long-term loan of an Officer
- An [[Alliance]]
- A large-scale [[Endeavor]] with multiple parties
- Ending an alliance or significant action against a third party
- An [[Invasion]] of a mutual enemy
### Resolution
After both sides have declared outcomes, identified concessions, and reached an equal (or roughly equal) value, the Negotiation moves into its final stage. If everyone agrees to the outcomes and concessions, the negotiation is formalized. If no agreement can be reached, both parties gain the Lien [[Deal Killer]]