Doesn't that mean that negotiating is that much more expensive and all the provinces are "Hard"? (i.e. cost a lot more)
My city is at the end of Dwarves Chapter, have not done squad size upgrade 15 in chapter V (forgotten because it wasn't mandatory) and #19 that still need 21 KP.
I have 3 Armories, level 13, 15 and 16 armories and level 16 barracks.
Almost all my scouted provinces are green (easy fight, ring 7), there are 3 yellow and 1 orange.
I'm not sure, but seemed to me that most of negotiation cost are not so high, and all fights are easy.
Negotiation cost of a yellow Silk Province, 4 provinces away, are:
1. 730 plank, 610 silk and 490 Dust - against 5 squad
2. 240 marble, 730 Silk, 610 Gems - against 8 squad
3. 490 Steel, 980 Scroll, 240 Elixir - against 4 squad
4. 490 scroll, 980 Dust - against 6 squad
My fellow is in the same chapter, the difference is that he did all the squad size upgrades up to #16 (one upgrade less compared with me) and his Silk Province is red. So I asked him today for the negotiation costs of the same province in the same distance, for 4 encounters.
And his answer:
1. 350 Steel, 1100 Silk, 800 Elixir - against 6 squad
2. 1100 plank, 880 crystal, 710 Gems - against 8 squad
3. 1400 Steel, 350 Scroll, 1100 Gems - against 7 squad
4. 710 Planks, 1300 Scroll, 350 Gems - against 8 squad
Seems that both negotiation cost and enemy size are related to the squad size upgrade.