Incandenza wrote:Okay, without having looked at the game, here's my take on this...
if Player A has an alliance with Player B against Player C, and A needs to take one or two NONESSENTIAL (read: non-continent-breaking, fortified by only one army) territories from B in order to take C's territories on the other side, that should not be considered a breaking of the pact.
In fact, I would say that A shouldn't even have to ask permission, as B, if he has half a brain, would be able to see the strategic advantage than A is gaining for the alliance with his actions. Plus A shouldn't have to telegraph his moves.
A is not attacking B. If A were attacking B, those territories that A takes would be essential ones that deny B armies. A is only passing through a lightly-held land or two in order to go put the hurt on C.
As the B in this discussion, manicman, I would say that you overreacted.
However, in this situation A asked B if lands could be taken. B hadn't replied to A's request before A went ahead and took action. When you ask your ally if you can do something, you don't go ahead without their consent. Since A acted without B's consent, he violated the implied terms of the oral agreement and thus broke the alliance.
EDIT: Also, I'd like to note that while the rules state that any and all alliances must be stated in the in-game chat, nowhere does it explicitly say that any planning between the allied players has to be done in the in-game chat