War is unavoidable within the feudal world. There are often many empires out to seek power and prestiege through hostile means. It is important to understand the relations between realms so that you can choose the best strategy to help you survive. Each strategy has many strengths and weakness which you can use to your advantage

Note : You are only able to declare on another empire that is under +-25% of your current empire total land and +-25% of your current empire total valor

Empire Relations
Relation Types Effects
Pending Action
(Neutral Stance)
No bonuses
No valor exchange for defending party
 
Declaration
(Offensive Stance)
33% increased magic pool & concealment regeneration (War Only)
Military return times reduced by 20% (Instant)
Enemy experiences 15% greater combat casualties (Instant)
Valor exchange permitted for declaring party (Instant)
   
Counter-Attack (Aggressive)
(Defensive Stance)
33% increased magic pool & concealment regeneration (War Only)
Offensive rating increased by 5% (War Only)
Military return times reduced by 10% (War Only)
Enemy experiences 25% greater combat casualties (War Only)
Valor exchange permitted for defending party (War Only)
   
Counter-Attack (Defensive)
(Defensive Stance)
Defensive rating increased by 5% (War Only)
15% hostile sorcery will fail (War Only)
15% hostile espionage will fail (War Only)
Combat casualties are reduced by 15% (War Only)
Valor exchange permitted for defending party (War Only)
   
Fortify (Default)
(Defensive Stance)
Defensive rating increased by 10% (War Only)
30% hostile sorcery will fail (War Only)
30% hostile espionage will fail (War Only)
Enemy experiences 30% greater combat casualties (War Only)
No valor exchange for defending party (War Only)
Empire endures -25% approval rating penalty for the duration (War Only)

Once a relation stance has been choosen by both side, both empires are then officially in a mutual war. A new range of options then become available to end the war. However the options to end the war are unavailable until at least 40% of the total war period has lapsed (ie 2 days real life). Once the relation has been chosen to end the war, the effect is immediate and both empires are then put into a state of ceasefire which will last for approximately 12 months (0.5 real life days). Both empires are then unable to be the target of combat / spells or espionage. Furthermore, empires under a peace relation are unable to make declaration or be the target of declarations by others

All wars have a maximum period of 120 hours (ie 5 real life days) with the empire having the highest points on the "War Indicator" automatically declared the winner. In the case of a draw however, the declaring empire would receive the win. All combat, sorcery and espionage actions contribute to moving the "War Indicator" in your empire's favour.

In addition, you cannot perform any combat, sorcery or espionage on any other empire than the one you are warring. In the same way no other realm can target your realm if you are in a war or in a peace relation. Be aware that failure to substantially move the "War Indicator" during the entire course of the war may result in a 5% valor penalty

War Outcomes (Peace Relations)
Relation Types Effects
Withdraw
(Available Only For Declaring Party)
Defending empire obtains a defensive win
3% reduction valor
-5% penalty to morale rating
-5% penalty to approval rating
Recieve minor land bonus
   
Retreat
(Available Only For Declaring Party)
Defending empire obtains a defensive win
Defending empire gains 5% of declaring empires valor
-10% penalty to morale rating
-10% penalty to approval rating
Recieve minor land bonus
   
Surrender
(Available Only To Defending Party)
Declaring empire obtains an offensive win
Declaring empire gains 5% of defending empires valor
-15% penalty to morale rating
-15% penalty to approval rating
Recieve minor land bonus
   
Victory
5% valor gains (for retreat / surrender options)
+10% bonus to morale rating
+10% bonus to morale rating
Recieve major land bonus

Notes
War Only - Bonus only active once both parties have commited to a relation stance
Instant - Your empire will automatically obtain this bonus irrespective of whether your opponent has chosen a relation stance
Major Land Bonus - (10000 - current land) * 2% bonus land to each realm
Minor Land Bonus - (10000 - current land) * 1% bonus land to each realm



If there are war relations between empires which no longer has any realms within it. Relations will automatically be cancelled

Relations can only be modified by if you are a council member or an emperor

Peace is still regarded as wartime so you will still get all the bonuses associated with this. However in peace you will be unable to declare or be declared on and you cannot be attacked/opped or spelled during this time. Consider it a truce (ie war cooldown)

Cannot declare war on other empires when you are under global immunity (GIM)

Empire relations (duration) will not count down until a defensive strategy has been chosen by the other side. You are also unable to withdraw or surrender until a defensive strategy is chosen