Diplomacy: Diplomatic Interference Question

[jozzy003]

Okay, so I periodically get an idea about how I want the sandbox to work, this playthrough I wanted to shift the balance of power into an ARG/BOR/TEL conflict with ZYA/FRF after the schism. Then have ANT side with TER/PIO against encroaching XEN and HOP. Its going great, the v9.00 seems to have made the XEN more resilient - normally HOP and TEL wipe them out.

However, the problem that's taken me about 30 hours is trying to untangling factions from each other's business. Since ANT and ARG aren't talking to each other anymore (Schism), it made sense for ARG to sign a peace treaty with HOP (because they were only defending ANT's interests) and focus on ZYA. Naturally, in retaliation, ANT does the same with ZYA and seeks support from TER instead.

Now I discover I actually can't do this with diplomatic interference... Shifting the factions (and checking with an Envoy) its seems escalating conflicts leaps to -20 or -28, while focusing on cooperation goes to 0, 15, 20 and 28. I was hoping to set ARG to no trade with HOP (since they would simply rebuild their war machine and cut me out as the middle man - thus defeating the entire point of the play through).

To clarify, my question is that we cannot use the diplomatic interference to set the relations "frenemies" (-10 to -19)? We can only set it to neutral (0), friendly (15), allies (20), close allies (28), military conflict (-20), all out war (-28).

PS: Spoilers - while testing with custom starts, I noticed that supporting CUB and BUC will add them to the diplomatic interference list. In short, helping the CUBs makes them a faction you can manipulate (while losing ARG war missions) and helping BUC gets you TEM (without losing war missions). - Which means I can play middle man for CUB ... pity I blew up their Raptor already and handed Tharka's Ravine to ARG.

[PersonyPerson]

Yeah, unfortunately you can't get factions into that "trade sanctions but not at war" stance through diplomatic interference. It goes from "Neutral" straight up to "Enemies" in a state of war if you're trying to decrease 2 faction's relations with each other.