ES2's alliance system forces its members to share the diplomatic status like war/cold war/peace, even alliance (when joining). This matter has been argued for a long time and there were some responses from the devs. However, this matter is really important and needs to be addressed as soon as possible because the late-game of ES2 is heavily affected by diplomacy. So I gathered and designed some viable alternatives to current alliance system.


1. Voting
Alliance Voting was the most popular alternative on this matter. (like this idea which got 2,473,700 G2G points) If someone wants to invite new member or ratify a treaty, then we need to take a vote where each empire has one vote. It looks very simple and many players supported this idea for a long time. But it was not implemented without clear reason. Maybe it could be technical reasons or design issues like 'how about when it comes to multiplayer session, not single player'.


2. Quasi-Voting
2.1. On Joining
Amity Treaty might be reasonable alternative to voting when inviting new member. Amity treaty itself does not have particular effect. But if someone wants to join the alliance then the alliance requires it to sign an amity treaty with majority of its existing members.

2.2. On Decision-making
Resolution Diplomacy (I don't know this is right naming)
In this system, every alliance member can urge the other members (mainly AI) to act in a specific way. There could be several kinds of effects like 'AI becomes less likely to declare war and more likely to propose truce or peace' or vice versa according to the type of resolution.

+this might become an option for a spy when the spy is on AI controlled empire.

Agenda Diplomacy
In this system, every empire with at least one alliance relationship can announce its diplomatic policies (which costs influence upkeeps) like 'we are not going to have war with ##' or 'we will remain peace with ##' or etc. Also, diplomatic pressure gauge becomes 'Alliance Attitude' gauge for alliance members. If someone violates an announced diplomatic policy, then the member whose policy was violated will have more negative attitude toward alliance, while ones who announced the opposite policies will be satisfied. If someone has too negative attitude toward the alliance and the AI think the alliance is not beneficial for it, it will leave alliance.
+This system might fit well with the spying system. In a way like 'spies could see or falsify a diplomatic policy of other empires' or 'spies assigned to homeland can give one free diplomatic policy'.


3. Loosened Alliance
Mutual Defense Treaty & Joint War Agreement might be good. Just dismantle the links of diplomatic status between alliance members and leave them as selectable options (of course alliance will take part in defensive war as an alliance). If you want to fight a defensive war with your friends, then ratify a mutual defense treaty other than an alliance. If you want to make a full attack with a support from alliance members, go and sign some joint war agreements with each member. If you are not interested in those, just decline the proposals.


4. Carte Blanche to One Empire
Chairmanship (or Presidency) is another well-known alternative. Make a rule about chairmanship like 'every member will take charge of chairmanship for N turns in rotation' or maybe some other criterion. This is another simple alternative. Give full power to someone and accept the consequences.

Of course there could be several more alternatives and I don't believe all these things are impossible to implement or full of defects. Diplomacy is a fundamental element of late-game of ES2 and it actually has some rooms for improvements. It's time to address this matter. Leave your thoughts or ideas on comment. I believe we need a better alliance system.

Thank you for reading this wall of texts.