A loan of Gold - Who uses this and how.

[OldieMagee]

Hi guys and gals.
Just started playing the GOTM with the new GOTY.
I was going to make my first post more glamorous, but I can't get this thought out of my head.
Who the hell uses the "loan me gold" option, and how has it ever benefitted you?
I've never found a reason to do it.
-Chris

 

[AngryGerbil]

Never once used it.

 

[OldieMagee]

I mean seriously, I can see taking out a huge loan and attacking the civ the next turn, but I've never even gotten anyone to bite on taking out the loan. Never tried it with a Gracious civ though.
-Chris

 

[xxaaaxx]

I've only used it once, but not very honorably. I was locked in a close space race w/Persia, and when the tech came up for one of the parts, I was (surprise surprise ) the only Civ to not have my own source of uranium, this after conveniently (i swear the map generator hates me sometimes) having ZERO coal, aluminum, rubber, saltpeter, or iron...To add to the misery, the only civ who had extra aluminum , rubber or uranium was Persia. So, to get the spare gold to buy uranium from Persia, I took out a hefty loan from India, bought the uranium from Persia......then nuked India and took all her cities

 

[IglooDame]

Haven't used gpt loans. In any situation where I'd be tempted to take out a loan, I have been able to deal a luxury to another civ for all their gold and then roll over them.

 

[Zardnaar]

I use it once to upgrade my entire army. Borrow Money of Zulus to attack Ottomans. Gutted them and when my gpt deal ran out I unleashed said army on the Zulu.

 

[DaleSwanson]

I actully use it in reverse alot. I offer a lot of gold lump sume then see what they will trade me in gpt for it. I'm not sure if this really helps me or them more, but I really only do it in games I've pretty much won, just for the hell of it. I can usally get about 8%.

 

[wilbill]

Here's a link in the Strategy Articles to a strategy built around financially crippling the AI's through loans...

The Most Effective World Dominating Strategy: The Banker... learn how

While it may not be quite the most effective world dominating strategy ever devised it can work well at times.

 

[WimpyTheWarrior]

I often ask for loans just to see if any AI will respond. Once one actualy did, but I didn't like the deal.

Since I like to play with 15 AI's I can usually sell stuff to enough of them to get 200 or so GP when I need it.

 

[Ribannah]

I am using it in my present game, to keep my science rate at 100%. However, instead of clicking the loan option, I simply look for the best loan deal in the general trade window. My present neighbours agree to give 17 gold for 1gpt, which suits me just fine.

 

[Bluemofia]

the ai never gives me a loan of gold. how did you get them to give you loans of gold? does it have to do with conquests?

 

[apparition]

I've never asked but I've given gold to a buffer civ

 

[Michael York]

If heard of people instigating wars between ai with it. If two civs have been fighting on off for a while, give 'em a loan and they'll go after each other. Who knows, they might sign large alliances and drag the entire ai into a war while you build your lead.

 

[CIVPhilzilla]

I don't get loans from AI I loan money to them. The exchange rate is usally 19 gold for 1 gpt or 18 gold for 1 gpt with a gracious civ. If you have money laying around loan it. Its 5% intrest to it.

 

[h4ppy]

I've never actually used it.
-Chris

 

[Mano3]

Interesting ploys...

I've tried to use it, but the AI has never gone through with the deal.

 

[kb2tvl]

I have gotten 1gpt for 18gold given. It got pretty lame after a while. I could see borrowing 400 gold to cash rush a market and get 50% benefit from it now while paying 10 or 20% interest over 20 turns. Or if you had 25 gpt in a city and 50% from a market would make that city 37 gpt or you could pay 12 gpt(240gold) for that cash upgrade and then spend time building mil units.