Isabella is breaking my heart!

I'm new to civ games. Anyway, so I try the Warlord level, and I didn't have to care what I was building and what I trained, the enemy pretty much gave their cities to me. Then I tried Prince difficulty and I was at war against everyone from turn 1 and they killed me within 5 turns. So I change to Noble difficulty, now I get to make a city or two before everyones at war with me. Even my best buddies who doesn't have anything bad to say about me. Why is this?

So this latest map, I thought I was doing good, I'm on this continent with Isabella. It's an island and we have some 6-7-8 cities each on it. we're best of friends, same religion, same civics, we've make love regularly, and she even cooks me breakfast every morning. Everything is fine, love is in the air, and we're talking about a future with kids and stuff on new continents. My best buddy Pacal II just loves me too. We make decent deals and have the same civics and religion. Pacal lives on the next island, where I also have a few cities. We have our poker nights and go out to have a beer or so occationally. I even fixed his washing machine a few days ago.

Then from nowhere Isabella starts a war against me, and totally refuses to talk to me. I call her, leave messages and everything, but nothing, she just hates me. All of a sudden I turned from a lover to an azzh0le, and the only good thing she has to say about me is my religion as she is buddhist too. All I do is defend, because I have nothing to attack with, so she takes a town from me and quits attacking, but she still won't listen to what I have to say. Only insults, she's breaking my heart!!!

Then some 10-15 turns later this other guy pops in, from nowhere, I think he said his name was Hannibal or something and he starts to rape my lands with huge armies. His blood thirsty elephants stomps my workers to death and whatever rock I throw at his army they eat whole. At least he could chew them a tad, but no. Now some American president introduced himself to me and I'm pretty sure I'm at war with him within 5-6 turns. My only friend Pacal is just sitting and doing nothing, I ask him to help me out, but I'm not sure he wants to be my friend anymore, eventhough he says he's my friend. Will he backstab me too like Isabella did? I'm afraid of going out and meet new people now, I'm sure they will hate me too from day 1 and I don't want that.

This Hannibal guy and Isabella have nothing in common, but did she get in bed with him and now they're plotting to get rid of me or what? Why does she have to be so harsh? I wish we could solve this like adults. I mean if they're having an affair, fine, I can take it, but why do they have to kill me?

What am I doing wrong?

You forgot Chef's advice, didn't you? "Stan, you've got to find the [CENSORED]."

Funny recap and a good read.

My guess is that you had basically no army, feeling safe by your friendship with Isabella and Pacal, and that you simply became an easy target for them.

Always keep an eye on the power graph, you don't want to fall too much behind. or else the other civs will start to smell blood.

Lurking Liu said:

You forgot Chef's advice, didn't you? "Stan, you've got to find the [CENSORED]."

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It seems that Friendly and Furious are identical as far as your safety are concerned. They only seem to be looking at your power graph when deciding whether to attack or not.

Sad, I know. However, I bet if you build a few defense units in each of your cities that Isabella will return your calls.

Oh, fine, since someone else gave a serious answer I guess I will, too... Anyhow, what difficulty are you playing? The other day I was looking at a post somewhere here that gave the specific breakdowns, but suffice it to say that at the top four difficulties there is a chance that even if your neighbor is Pleased or Friendly they will attack. Apparently a roll is made whenever certain conditions are met, if successful the AI will then do a second roll versus your diplomacy level. If the diplomacy check succeeds, they won't declare, if it fails, they will. Higher relationships, of course, are harder to fail.

Maybe she dumped you for Pacal II... man, that would be a tough one to get over.

EOR, welcome to CFC! I like your style! You made me laugh.

But as for your dilemma... sometimes they just gang up on you. Randomly, even many Friendly leaders can turn on you in a "backstab"

This is less likely to occur if you've got a large enough "standing army." Make sure your cities are well defended. If they are, and if they still attack you... chances are high you'll repel them and then recover. Often times I find a short war with an enemy invigourates my game, and "wakes up" my defensive efforts. It's kinda like forming scar tissue after a wound. Once you patch up what gets hurt, you'll find yourself in a stronger position for next time.

Hey, post more, ok? We like it when lurkers speak up.

GrandWazoo said:

Funny recap and a good read.

My guess is that you had basically no army, feeling safe by your friendship with Isabella and Pacal, and that you simply became an easy target for them.

Always keep an eye on the power graph, you don't want to fall too much behind. or else the other civs will start to smell blood.

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I had to check this power graph thingy(for the first time), and it seems I've been everyones biatch all along. They've been playing with me. And all those spies I thought were Isabella checking if I was cheating... it was that backstabbing Pacal. Feel I can't trust anyone anymore

Frimlin said:

This is less likely to occur if you've got a large enough "standing army." Make sure your cities are well defended. If they are, and if they still attack you... chances are high you'll repel them and then recover. Often times I find a short war with an enemy invigourates my game, and "wakes up" my defensive efforts. It's kinda like forming scar tissue after a wound. Once you patch up what gets hurt, you'll find yourself in a stronger position for next time.

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Well, me and Isabella had a few fights before, nothing big, and we made up and had 10 turns of heaven, before she decide to slap my face again. I could stand against her, but when she brought Hannibal with her I just couldn't defend but my larger cities.

Silence101 said:

Maybe she dumped you for Pacal II... man, that would be a tough one to get over.

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Grrr...

Shawnosaurus said:

t seems that Friendly and Furious are identical as far as your safety are concerned. They only seem to be looking at your power graph when deciding whether to attack or not.

Sad, I know. However, I bet if you build a few defense units in each of your cities that Isabella will return your calls.

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Now that I know about this power graph I'll build the biggest and the bestest power graph ever seen, at least twice as big and beautiful as Hannibals, and she'll be begging me to take her back...

... I do miss her alot though...

oh crap, phone is ringing, maybe it's her... talk to you guys later.

Great!!

It mad me laugh,it made me cry
two thumbs way up!!

(and girls really do care about the size of your......army.)

ROFL.

Welcome to CFC, and best of luck with your girl

Loved to read it.

Guys are right, you need some solid army along with good diplo coeficients. Sounds like you are writing about multiplayer

My dear young EOR,

I am saddened to hear of the recent hostilities between yourself and that sweet young lady Isabella. Rumor has it that she can only be sastisfied with devout followers of her religion who also have large power graphs. Only a man with a well equipped with a military, that has the fortitude to invade an enemy's defences and the stamina to sustain its thrust to his enemy's core, will win her heart. Please forgive her cousin Hannibal as he tends to be a bit overprotective where Isabella is concerned.

I have a friend with a very nice daughter. She has a better temperament than Isabella. Her name is Hatsetsphut but her friends just call her Hatty. Can't pronounce or spell her name, I recon. Spends a lot of time reading and admiring the cultural beauty of her surroundings. Let me know if you would like to call on her and I can arrange it.

Gods speed in your future endeavours,

3 EMS

I think most of us have been swarmed by the spanish minions once we were new to the business of leading Civilizations. The lesson is sad but simple, I know those spanish ladies are very beatiful but they just keep calling for Inquisitions to murder friends enemies and relatives in the name of religion. They all do it sooner or later. Show strength and watch your back!

I'm so tempted to answer though I'm no expert in writing or playing.

Good read and laugh. Really good!

Isabella really is a religious zealous-cum-killer. She'll backstab you always. She'll also declare war out of nowhere especially if you're weak or heathen.

However, I always find it so hard to declare war on her every time. I just don't know why. Beauty???

Trust no one

EOR said:

I wish we could solve this like adults.

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Dude, this IS solving it like adults!

This is why I miss the Alpha Centauri diplomacy AI... or maybe I'm just seeing it through rose colored glasses.

That treacherous cow.

She told ME I was the only man for her!

This means thermonuclear war.

very funny!

two things to keep in mind in order to be competitive:
1- never trust women
2- never trust women