AI brilliance

[smallstepforman]

The mighty Persian armies (me) have finalised their campaign of crippling the Greek civilization, and left them with 6 tundra based cities (and 10% of the continents landmass). From the beginning of time, the Zulus have lived in peace with Persia on 30% of the continent. Persia has 60% of the continent, and troops surrounding the Greek border just waiting for Alexander to slip up. The continent is at peace.

Persia has always traded with Zulu, and have just signed a 56 gold per turn deal by teaching the Zulus the mysteries of Metallurgy. Shaka is Polite. The Persian armies are on the Greek borders. And guess what Shaka does? With 19 turns remaining of a 56 gold/turn deal, Shaka invades along the entire Northern border of Persia. The nearest Persian offensive unit is over 20 squares to the south, with a majority of the armies at over 30 squares away (the border with Greece).

This was the perfect time to attack. Shaka gets a free technology and escapes a 56 gold/turn deal. The opposing forces are on the other side of the continent. Shaka will inevitably take 3 cities, and probably gain a 4th with a peace deal. I must sue for piece because it will take me 10 turns to reach Zululand, and by then Shaka might be on the verge of taking 6 or 7 cities.

What a backstabbing bastard!!!!!!!

Nevertheless, I will ride through this storm and accept the loss of 4 cities. I've already ordered my scientist to research Military Tradition, and in 11 turns will be able to send Cavalry to my Northern border. And Shaka will pay. Oh yes, he will pay.

Never trust Shaka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Maleficence]

Shaka definitely deserves what he has coming!

So what's the next part in this story? Did you nail him good? Post the details!

I must say that's a fairly human thing to do, something I probably would have done to the AI during one of my mean streaks ;P

 

[praestare]

I think AIs are programmed to broke trade paying large amount of gold per turn. Don't sell the AI under these terms, unless you keep a big military advantage over it.

I learn the lesson from Cleo. I invaded Egypt to take their 3 cities which had the resources I want, an I reached my target in two turns. Then Cleo came to me offer me all her gold, which is not much, and a significant amount of gold per turn. I took the peace treaty. It turned out that Cleo only wanted some time to move her offensive units to my border, and Cleo attack me three turns later with 30 something units. It took me really some time to kill them all.

 

[Allemand]

So, what do we have here? The human can be treacherous and the AI cannot? That's the pattern I see in your posts. Hurray for the AI!

 

[eyrei]

I beleive several of the AI's are programmed to care very little for their reputation. All of the militaristic civs are backstabbers, as well as the Persians and English in my experience. Most civs, however, if given a perfect oppurtunity to raize a couple of your cities, will take it in a heartbeat, and reputation be damned.

 

[Shaitan]

The AI will always declare war on you to break a large g/t deal if they go bankrupt. They won't make a deal that they can't pay at the time but if they get into financial woes a few turns later they will declare war so their budget won't run a defecit.

 

[smallstepforman]

The saga continues...

The Zulus take 3 cities, and Persia (me) sign a deal with the Greeks to destroy Zululand. The Zulus split their forces (half progress towards Greece, while the other half are fighting for control of the 3 cities). Control of the 3 cities switches several times as I dont have enough time to bring in defensive units.

Here comes the cunning part:

SteamEngines are discovered, and coal appears on the map. Zulus have already taken 3 Greek cities, with 3 remaining. One of the Greek cities has Coal and Iron in its city radius - Ironworks city!!!!!!!!! And Zulu troops are within striking distance!!!!

Persia quickly sign a peace treaty with Shaka, and since Shaka is at war with the Greeks he agrees to a Mutual Defense Pact with the Persians (me), with who he was at war with at the beginning of the turn. A Right of Passage deal is also signed, and all of the sudden Shaka has gone from Furious to Gracious in the same turn. I've been dragged into a war with Greece, and in 2 turns take the 3 remaining Greek cities. I rush build a temple, and start work on my very first IronWorks!!!!!

Thats diplomacy for you. At the beginning of the turn, I'm at war with the backstabbing bastard Shaka and allied with Alexandar, and by the end of the turn Shaka is my best friend and my troops are crushing Alexander.

I'm an even bigger backstabbing bastard. Muhahahaha.

Meanwhile, 2 of the the newly conquered Zulu cites flip to Persia. Net effect - Zulu has 2 extra cities ( 1 Persian and one Greek). Persia (me) has gained 5 Greek cities, one producing the IronWorks. Shaka is Gracious. And the Greeks are no more.

My cities are building Rifleman in preperation of an onslaught from my new Gracious ally Shaka. I love this game.

 

[MummyMan]

That sounds like a great game!