                              Command : DECLARE

NAME
   declare - Formally declare alliance, friendly, neutrality, hostile or war

Level: Basic

SYNTAX
   [##:##] Command : declare <POSITION> <NATS>

The declare command allows you to officially declare your diplomatic relations
with other countries.

<POSITION> may be "alliance", "friendly", "neutrality", "hostile", or "war";

<NATS> can be the name or number of a country you want  to  declare  relations
towards,  or it can be * in which case you will declare <POSITION> towards all
nations.

For a complete list of the meanings of all the different types  of  relations,
see "info relations".

GOING TO WAR

(Note:  the  following  stuff  is  only  in  effect  if the SLOW_WAR option is
selected) With the SLOW_WAR option in use, you cannot attack the land of some-
one  you  are  not at war with. When you declare war on someone, your relation
goes to "mobilizing". You still can't attack them.   After  the  next  update,
your  relation goes to "sitzkrieg", and you still can't attack them. After the
NEXT update, you're at war with them, and anything goes.

If someone is "mobilizing" or in "sitzkrieg", or at  war  with  you,  and  you
declare  war  against  them, your relation is set to be the same as theirs, so
there is no way to gain any advantage through this stuff. It just  means  that
you can't sneak-attack people.

The first person who declares war pays $1000. Return declarations are free.

There  is  an exception to the SLOW_WAR restrictions. If you are listed as the
old owner of a sector, you are still allowed to attack it. This is to  prevent
someone  from declaring war with you, taking some sectors, then declaring neu-
trality before you declare war. (Assuming you didn't notice their  declaration
of war)

Also,  if  the  SNEAK_ATTACK  option is enabled, you make make one attack upon
someone you're not at war with. You'll pay $5K  for  the  privilege,  however.
Once  the  sneak  attack  is over (win or lose), war is automatically declare.
(The normal $1K cost is waived in this case)

The newspaper is very interested in declarations of war or alliance  --  don't
expect to keep such declarations secret.

Deities  can  will  be prompted for a third parameter, the country to make the
declaration for. The default is to make it for the deity's country.

SEE ALSO
   fly, nation, spy, relations, Diplomacy

