i openly state i'm not the best, although my skills have improved dramatically in the last few eras, so much that if i don't break power 150 i consider the era a waste.

but my verbal skills, well... i'm one of the best in that department, it gains my alliance allies, gets enemies to betray its allies and cause internal corruption, there is little i cannot do in that department, so considering what the verbal abilities give you, those who do not hone their skills in coercion, are only fighting with ships and not with brains.

I got a relic for free this era, i got several alliances to back out of war with GOO this era when they were set to invade us, i gained GOO allies even after an era of just trying to kill everyone and making a dozen enemies.

Theres far more to BD then fighting with ships.