it is not about always war...although it is fun yeah
but my complaint is not that there isnt enough war...building up empires serves the purpose on devastating wars(even if there are a few every 100turns) anyway....
my concern is, the computer doesn't fight rationally..if I know the computer has 4large cities heavily defended, but let's say he has 3 oil sources, I make sure to have 3 Aircraft carriers standing by, special units, spies, etc etc, to tackle them sources...even if i loose the first battles, and forces to get into defence on land units, if i'll be able to crack his oil production, i can rebuild my armored devisions while he cannot...this kind of strategy(forcing a stronger bigger empire on the knees by setting different approaches to combat a stronger enemy) is not implemented in a good way in civ4.
also, stack attacks are dumb was written in civ4 manual..but, it's a fact, 20planes in my closest city to the enemy's, 10tanks, 5artilly, 15various troops, is a garantee to even destroy a heavily guarded city...stack attack does pay off still...not against a human player(he'll use 10artilly against my stack to eliminates the thread) but the comp? he's too stupid to do this...
especially, i think the computer holds alot of his units as backup...while when i build up, i keep my units devided over the country, in case war brakes out, i have the abilty to defend on all borders...once im at war, i know he's comming from the east, so 80% of my attack force is going to the east of my empire, 20% attack force stays west/north/south in case of someone comes in with amphibious attacks or so...of my defence forces i leave mostly 3 or 4 units in every city...my 20% attack force left should be able to weaken any enemy attack enough to disable them capturing my city...even if 1 city faces defeat, i fast transport 1unit from any other city to the city under attack..
while my main force is getting into the enemies territory...now, the computer really spreads his forces..6-10units in every city..so i beat every single army of him one after the other...if he would be human, he'd focus his main force also against mine to use the benefit of defending..i would reconsider my attack, and overthink retreating after to many losses, that's how a human would respond, taking risk, you know you'll loose anyway if you dont do nothing and wait for the enemy to conquer 1 city after the other...you'd go for it, order your units for a final defence and get the overweight back on your side..your units heal alot faster then the enemies...
the computer doesnt know this...he doesnt act like this..
that's what i would change in AI...
in case of 1big army rolling into your empire(first focus troops to eliminate this threat) that's the part missing in the AI...bomb with all the planes my troops, artillery on my units, use not 2 or 3 artillery, use 10of them, then all the units you got, even defending, brake the attack...then go in enemy terrotory with 3 or 4 units to spy on weak spots...there focus the counterattack(after your attacking enemy has been thriven out of your empire)
this is a common succesfull strategy...but the computer has no idea about this, where i always 100% have success using this strategy against the computer..
on a continentsmap..the computer doesnt understand that naval supremence is THE way to win the wars...i never win because i have more tanks, i never win because i have more soldiers ...i win because i make sure my naval force is always double the size of any of my opponents...i'll build up my main large industry on islands, and keep them protected by the most deadly naval forces..i buidl nuclear subs and keep them on all oceans(mostly covering 40-60% of the oceans) to see what is comming, i have always 2-3 main naval battle groups(2carriers full loaded, 5battleships, 10destroyers, 10aegis, 10other ships, 3-4transports) i always have 2 or 3 of such groups..and then some smaller groups at ports to intercept any incoming hostile forces on sight by my subs...by controlling the seas...i control the game on continent maps...
AI is not aware of these tactics..he doesnt build large naval combat groups, he doesnt check the sea, he doesnt use preatemtive strikes, etc etc....but this is VITAL on a continent map...if you loose the ocean...the enemy can build up at ease, while keeping your sources under permanent bombards...and then i mostly gather my 2 or 3 main combat groups, load 60units onto my transports, and attack the computer at 1 point...my start of capturing the new continent...the computer would be wise to gather ALL his units to throw me off the continent ASAP, once he allows me a bridgehead, capturing a city or whatever...he's lost since he cannot intercept my supply lines of new troops(i control the sea, remember) but the comp is too stupid to keep only 2 or 3 units in each of his cities, and gather a force of 60-100units and throw me back into the ocean..he doesnt understand how important this first attempt of me is to gain foot on the continent...such logical desicions are programmable....but the makers of civ4 didnt implement such logik!! that what i would like to see someone doing...worse case scenario logik for the AI...if you know you'll loose by waiting:"DO NOT WAIT!!!"
there are alot of other complains about the AI of course...but it's all programmable ...just someone needs to do it