No Rival Option?

[knaifuwaifu]

At the moment I'm playing the free version, but am really thinking about buying it and some DLC. But I'm either bugged, missing something, or the free version has no rival option included, as there is literally no option in the "communicate" menu to rival empires.
I'm sandwiched between two and am running out of claimable systems, am running out of influence and getting frustrated. I've read to make more influence to make rivalries - but I can't!

I'm running normal/base human colony and haven't changed any ethics or policies (Fanatic Egalitarian and Xenophile). The empire I want to rival is Xenophobe and Fanatic Egalitarian, I have borders with them and have a hyperlink connection.
I can also not rival any other empires.

Is this just a bug, am I missing something, or am I stupid? Thanks in advanced for any help.

[Limejunk]

What origin did you select?
I condiser this could be the cause of the problem.

[Bloodartist]

Difference in power level of the empires cannot be too great, ie. If the other empire is "pathetic", you cannot rival them (I cannot remember the exact requirement but they cant be too much weaker than you).

It MIGHT be a bug, nothing you listed should prevent you from rivaling.

[Cryten]

In the current patch and the previous one you must be either at bad relations or actively harming relations with an envoy. On top of the normal restrictions. You can also counter declare rivalry when declared on.

[Bloodartist]

Yea I just found out about this myself in my game. You must have terrible relationship level in order to rival empires. You can send envoy to "harm relations" in order to achieve this.

This has changed recently, which is why I didnt know about it. It makes sense though, it gives a reason to the "harm relations" option.

[Cryten]

Originally posted by Bloodartist:

Yea I just found out about this myself in my game. You must have terrible relationship level in order to rival empires. You can send envoy to "harm relations" in order to achieve this.

This has changed recently, which is why I didnt know about it. It makes sense though, it gives a reason to the "harm relations" option.

you can rival as soon as you start harming.

[Garatgh Deloi]

Originally posted by Bloodartist:

Yea I just found out about this myself in my game. You must have terrible relationship level in order to rival empires. You can send envoy to "harm relations" in order to achieve this.

This has changed recently, which is why I didnt know about it. It makes sense though, it gives a reason to the "harm relations" option.

You can rival if you have terrible relationships OR have a envoy sent to harm relationship (As in, you can rival the moment the envoy is sent, you don't need to wait for terrible relationships if you have a envoy there to harm relation).

[knaifuwaifu]

thanks everyone!
I sent an envoy out to harm relations and i've got the option now lol. I was too scared to do it before because I was worried a random war would break out. Thanks!