Can someone explain Alliances to me?

I made an Alliance with the Iconians who were later in a war with the Krynn. I had both a standard alliance and a military alliance with the Iconians.

But nothing happened. I wasn't automatically dragged into the war on the Iconians' side as I should have been as an ally of theirs. After quite many turns they asked me to attack the Krynn, but it took a while and it seems I could have quite happily said no and there would have been no penalty?

So what's the point of an alliance? What does it do for the faction you are allied with and what does it do for you? And what's the difference between a basic alliance and a military alliance?

Thanks.

Sorry - for some reason my question isn't being shown in the original post.

So I have learned from Steam that alliances are at present almost worthless. Hopefully they will be overhauled in the major expansion coming next year.

Basically an alliance will usually keep the alliance from changing attitudes on you but nothing else.

Here is another thread on topic.

https://forums.galciv3.com/474430/page/1/#3645575

i think you changed the font color to black its there but you have to highlight it all to get it to show up

Alliances need quite a bit of work (or reworking) for them to have significant impact on gameplay. As you are probably aware by now, they're pretty much just a tech that enables a diplomatic victory rather than something which introduces a new dynamic to your game.

Alliances are the lies that enemies tell until one side declares truth on the other.