Too many friends?

[Pickhammer]

Alright so in the same campaign as my "Woes of the French" discussed I'm 2/3rds into 1864 and the weirdest thing just happened in the last few months. My international relations went from:
S-P - 100 Alliance
England - Low 30's
US - Mid 20's
Belgium - High 70's Alliance
The rest of the great powers - slightly above or below 0

To this:
S-P - 100 Alliance
England - 100
US - 95
Belgium - 100 Alliance
The Rest - all above 60 meaning I have cordial relations with everyone.
Is this normal? It came out of nowhere

[Kensai]

Events and decisions can influence relations between nations, especially major nations. Even decisions the AI makes (if peaceful) can improve relations. Another major bonus is not keeping too many troops on the border (to avoid incidents kicking in) while keeping tariffs low.

You should be content!

[loki100]

actually there maybe a flaw here, in late 1863 as S-P I too had a brief period when the world decided to really like me. At that stage I had relatively low tariffs but not spectacularly so. So there maybe something more than just the actions of France/S-P going on (I recognise the Italian-French-Belgian alliance).

If its any help, such global love evaporated again pretty soon.

[Kensai]

This makes me think that there indeed is some event or decision by 1863. We might need to read the events files for all nations implicated.

[vaalen]

actually there maybe a flaw here, in late 1863 as S-P I too had a brief period when the world decided to really like me. At that stage I had relatively low tariffs but not spectacularly so. So there maybe something more than just the actions of France/S-P going on (I recognise the Italian-French-Belgian alliance).

If its any help, such global love evaporated again pretty soon.

I have had the same experience, as France and as England. The global love did not last long for either nation.

[Pickhammer]

So here is a possibility I am pondering to exploit this short burst of love. In around 1857 a diplomatic crisis between Spain and Prussia led to a declaration of war, the war is still on and both view the other as -100 for it. So far no land battles have happened, they just keep attacking merchant fleets in an eye for an eye fashion. Since Prussia loves me so much and the events of 70-71 aren't too far ahead I am considering giving them a passage right to attack Spain. I would help them by declaring war also but only provide limited military support. Currently my military ranking is #2 and Russia is at 105 to my 100.
Spain has also decided that Morocco is theirs despite my higher CP rating. About 3 years ago they forged a declaration and overran the place in eight months, they haven't declared a peace yet and still occupy every province.
Would it be prudent to use Prussia's love of me and hatred of Spain to both get "my" colony back and weaken Prussian armies so that I have a better chance at winning in 70-71? It requires Prussia to use my gift fully in its potential and once Spain is distracted I jump in and nab what I want. Long shot but maybe?

[enf91]

In 1863, the US gets the Emancipation Proclamation event. If I'm remembering my own USA game right, the US also gets huge opinion bonuses on that turn (fades about 5-10 years later; don't really remember). Maybe there's a flaw in the event code that gives all countries a huge opinion boost towards each other instead of just towards the US.

[Kensai]

So here is a possibility I am pondering to exploit this short burst of love. In around 1857 a diplomatic crisis between Spain and Prussia led to a declaration of war, the war is still on and both view the other as -100 for it. So far no land battles have happened, they just keep attacking merchant fleets in an eye for an eye fashion. Since Prussia loves me so much and the events of 70-71 aren't too far ahead I am considering giving them a passage right to attack Spain. I would help them by declaring war also but only provide limited military support. Currently my military ranking is #2 and Russia is at 105 to my 100.
Spain has also decided that Morocco is theirs despite my higher CP rating. About 3 years ago they forged a declaration and overran the place in eight months, they haven't declared a peace yet and still occupy every province.
Would it be prudent to use Prussia's love of me and hatred of Spain to both get "my" colony back and weaken Prussian armies so that I have a better chance at winning in 70-71? It requires Prussia to use my gift fully in its potential and once Spain is distracted I jump in and nab what I want. Long shot but maybe?

It is a Machiavellian strategy, I like it! Go for it. Hopefully the AI will indeed use the "French bridge" to bring in units to Spain from the land.

[Jim-NC]

The AI may use the bridge, or it may just wander around in your lands (the AI likes it's soldiers to be tourists most of the time, which gets in the way of doing things like taking over other countries). This has been reported in several AARs, and several times by players in posts.