It seems like at the start of the game, most vanilla faction, aside from pirates and luddic path is at peace with one another, is this normal? Hegemony is at peace with Persean League, Tri, and Diktat. Also is there a way to change starting faction relations? I know faction config only applies to randon core world but I wish to edit starting relations for the normal game. Thanks for the mod!
Yeah vanilla Starsector (which Nex largely reuses) has no major factions set to hostile with each other at start. (I seem to recall it generating some initial faction hostility events between a few of the factions, but now I can't seem to find it in code?)
For editing start relations in non-random sector, you'll have to use a Java script in a mod.
(I should probably do that config setting I had planned, where it applies random sector relations from the config files to non-random sector)
What about giving Independents something interesting politics wise? Like they would once in a few cicles assemble to take a political talk about some decisions. Player with a colony, good relations with indies and no commission could also participate in it if they arrive at person. They could decide to embargo major faction they don't like (basically they turn inhospitable), attempt to pacify a minor pirate market (essentially invading it to turn it Independent) and some other things. Maybe if the player sat bombs other faction they would also no longer immediately turn hostile and have an emergency summit or something. Which player could turn to their favour by agents, story points or bribes.
Well that's already more complex diplomacy than currently exists between the major factions
The idea is interesting though, might look at it again if I ever get around to doing that advanced diplomacy system.