Hi I'm new to the game and I do love it. I'll keep this post brief to save time for everyone.

(I have tried searching for the answers to my questions already and I apologise if they exist somewhere but I have not found them!)

I very confused about how the relationships system works.

I do understand to some degree how and why each faction likes/dislikes you (that box which tells you these things such as different race e.t.c.). I also have understood that the number of points required for this type of victory depends on the amount of players, specifically 75 x (no. of players)

But I don't understand what the numbers add up to. E.g. I might have 10 relationship with faction A, 2.5 with B, and 0 with C.

How does is this calculated to affect my rate on normal diplomacy speed? (and fastest if you know it) I've had 12 before and somehow this was worked out to 0.4 on normal.

Also the rate itself doesnt tell me much, because I don't see the points growing by 0.4 for example every second, but by a completely different amount every 30 seconds or so. What's that about?

I ask all this because I love this game and want to know it all inside out, but also because I played a 1v1 against a computer AI on normal. We never attacked each other's planets or main fleets for the entire game, because fortunately he was "blocked off" by the pirate base. The only conflict we had with each other was the destruction of each other's scout frigates. After about 1.5 hours playing, he won by achieving 150 diplomatic victory points. How did it do this if we never had any relations with each other?

I'm just so confused about the diplomacy in this aspect, and I love different ways of winning a game, I dont want to turn off diplomatic victory, I just want to learn it.

I greatly appreciate all help