That's the thing. There isn't some higher legal power enforcing treaties. It depends quite a bit on the attitudes of the other treaty participants and the other realms on the island. If they decide to hold you to what they see as the "spirit" of the treaty, no amount of weasel-wording is going to save you from fifty thousand CS on your border. 'Tis why I don't much care for peace treaties except in extraordinary circumstances. Kill them, colonize them, or convert them, but no treaty terms will stand longer than it takes for them to gather allies and gold.
Which is why such treaties should be made with short-term in mind. Don't sign a peace treaty that involves a tribute over 10 months, for example. Concessions should be made relatively quickly, before the defeated party has a chance of rebuilding. Non-action can be spread over longer, but don't plan on it being enforced too well past 5 months or so.
But yea, a key factor in a treaty that favors one side is having that side actually able to swoop in and claim compensation if it isn't respected. Themselves or via allies.
Which island is this on? I'm curious to how it reads and how it affects the interactions between realms.
I'd like to think I've been pretty clever in wording my treaties (actually to gain things or keep doors open much further down the road hidden inside the treaty), but I often wonder if going so far makes it less fun for other players. After all, you really shouldn't need to be a lawyer to play BM... Though, I suppose you're not forced to, either. Just declare war or find some other way to fight it.
The Treaty of the Maroccidens is public and can be found on the wiki. It binds Terran, D'Hara, and Barca, on Dwilight. It led to the creation of the Véinsørmoot guild. So far, it has survived all crises and strains that were exerted upon it, and the federation stands united. Here's another hint for a successful alliance treaty: make it extremely clear that while all parties are obligated to help each other against unprovoked attacks, in no way are they forced to help in a war initiated by one of the members.
http://wiki.battlemaster.org/wiki/V%C3%A9ins%C3%B8rmoot/Treaty_of_the_Maroccidenshttp://wiki.battlemaster.org/wiki/V%C3%A9ins%C3%B8rmoot/Charter_of_the_V%C3%A9ins%C3%B8rmoot
