This is just one example but i have had it many times. Two civilizations are fighting (Korea and China), i refuse to help either, thinking i can take them both out in one quick swoop when they have exhausted each other.

Then, Korea becomes a vassal state of China! Damn, this could not be worse, I now have to defend a huge frontieer against two united, technologically advanced societies, (chia gave Korea all its techs and they are great friends and share everything, like middle age women gone mad, no offence I'm mad).

So then the inevatable war comes, mass destruction, cities captured lost, razed, a century of warfare, (started with maceman ended with rifleman), eventually Korea is free, but they keep fighting! I'm marching on there last city, but still they fight to the bitter end, and for what? The chinnesse, who already falling back? And do nothing to help there former Vassal.

Has this happened to anyone else, the comps. unifiying then attacking, its just so.... evil. Well learn something, if one looks like they're on the verge of capitualtion enter into the war on the lozing side. I know it sounds weird but is it worth the risk? Is it?

Spread the word!

Actually try entering the war on the WINNING side. That way the loser has a chance to capitulate to you instead of the other guy.

Your basic assumption is off, too. "...when they have exhausted each other."

The requirements to become a vassal are known. It should be easy to tell that Korea is getting his rear end handed to him by China. A vassal relationship is pretty much inevitable. The only question is whether you're going to do something in advance of it happening, or whether you let it happen and deal with the ramifications afterward. Either way, a little foresight will do you in good stead here.

Yes, I know, easy for me to say this looking in from the outside. Anyway, hindsight is 20/20.

Wodan

to paraphrase Bismark, in a world of three it's best to be a two . . .

Attack the loser and force him to capitulate to you, then use him as cannon fodder (I mean seriously who cares about him anyway) hopefully your oponent will take the easier victum (your vassal) while you role up and take his core cities, and hopefully produce a situation for him to capitulate to you.

If you're efficient you can get two vassal's out of the situation, just be sure to watch the cultur flipping the remaining cities, thus lowering him to the freedom threshold and risking being someone else's vassal upon emancipation (as I have so so recently learned . . . sigh).

I was playing this game not too long ago, where I was Toku, and I was in the medieval groove with my samurais. I had conquered three lesser states, but peaceful Korea and Ghandi were teching their way along both pretty high up in the scoring collumn. Anyway I had just finished off Alex, and I had the large army just sitting there on Ghandi's border. I thought what the heck I'll just see if he has much of an army. Not too many turns later he only has a couple of cites left so he runs to Wang Kon as a vassal. Fine I'm at war with the other leader. I finish off Ghandi and take a small border city from the Koreans (one they culture flipped from me at one point). Next turn they capitulated! Almost entirely intact! Domination victory just like that.

I really appreciate the almost-unpredictable dynamics of vassalage in Warlords. In Civ the player normally has too much control of events, and this reduces it.