AI civs make joint attacks in Beyond the Sword?

[Lare]

I've played Beyond the Sword for a few games now. In the last 3 or 4 games multiple AI civs have declared war against me at once. One or two civs declare war first and after a few turns a couple of other civs join the slaughter against me. I don't remember this happening in the original Civ4.

Has the AI become more aggressive or strategical in this sense in Beyond the Sword or is this just a coincidence? I play monarch difficulty and I've been the top civ (in terms of the total rating, not in military strength) or the second best one when this happens. I've also had many wonders built in recent games so are they after them?

Has choosing sides in diplomacy become more important in Beyond the Sword? I've always neglected the requests for me to stop trading or to declare war against some civ. The result is that rarely anyone is 'pleased' towards me, but in the original Civ4 this didn't really matter. Is choosing some civs as friends and having the same religion as other civs become more important in Beyond the Sword?

I think this sucks because the game quickly becomes unplayable when 4 civs attack against you with huge armies. I like to play with pagnea map, but if there's nothing I can do about the mass attacks, I'll have to go for continent maps, because then I'll have less civs to defend against in my continent.

 

[CLST]

If you're a weakling who angers the AI's, it's pretty easy to get attacked from many different civs.

Many of the wardog leaders will attack you if you're weak even if they're pleased or friendly with you, and if you play with a few war lovers, it is reasonable that they can all attack you if you're a juicy target.

 

[IronCrown]

Has choosing sides in diplomacy become more important in Beyond the Sword? I've always neglected the requests for me to stop trading or to declare war against some civ. The result is that rarely anyone is 'pleased' towards me, but in the original Civ4 this didn't really matter.

Well, now it does matter Pay attention to diplomacy, then the things you describe won't happen anymore.

If one or two AIs attack you and weaken you, all the others will join in to get a piece of the meat. But if you'd made some friends before the war, you could make them join the war on your side!

 

[jackdog]

Yes this is newish to BtS. Your attention to diplomacy must be greater as must your attention to your power rating, the AI's frequently bribe each other into joint wars and it can be a night mare. I think diplomacy was the thing I had to change most about my game when playing Monarch and BtS, It never used to matter if everyone hated me, now it does. Like CLST said even the diplomacy isn't enough as an aggresive AI (not necessarily the trait, but the personality) will basically attack you everytime if your power gets too low, and other will smell blood.

In my last 2 games I sent my stack or two and DoW on an AI and the next turn when I was commited the AI on the other side of me DoW, expect it, let them fall against your defended cities, cope with the looting, and sit back and watch the WW build up and their tech rate slow down, if you can survive it don't make peace for ages until the WW is crippling them and you end up better off.

 

[GIO888]

Oh yes, big time. But ain't it fun?

I popped Theology from a goodie hut, adopted Christianity, about 100 years after that every AI and his running dog lackey declared war on me because they were all Hindu.

I got struck and thrown to the ground, roughly.

 

[djvandrake]

Oh yes, big time. But ain't it fun?

I popped Theology from a goodie hut, adopted Christianity, about 100 years after that every AI and his running dog lackey declared war on me because they were all Hindu.

I got struck and thrown to the ground, roughly.

I feel your pain, same happened to me. Being the only Civ with your religion is not a good way to make friends and influence people.

Speaking to the original query: Choose your friends wisely and work hard at keeping them as friends (even if it's inconvenient at times) The other civs? Make em work hard for your favor, if you give them any at all.

 

[zenspiderz]

It happened to me too recently, fortunately I was playing Saladin at the time (spiritual/protective) who is one of the toughest defenders in the game inho. Toku and ragnar lost vast hordes as they heriocally painted my castle walls red with their numberless dead. I have never had so many GG in so short a time.

 

[Genv [FP]]

Oh yes, big time. But ain't it fun?

I popped Theology from a goodie hut, adopted Christianity, about 100 years after that every AI and his running dog lackey declared war on me because they were all Hindu.

I got struck and thrown to the ground, roughly.

How in the world do tribal villages know jesus?

 

[JujuLautre]

did you also consider the possibility of the apostolic palace ?

 

[thadian]

Has the AI become more aggressive or strategical in this sense in Beyond the Sword or is this just a coincidence? I play monarch difficulty and I've been the top civ (in terms of the total rating, not in military strength) or the second best one when this happens. I've also had many wonders built in recent games so are they after them?

The AI is a little more aggressive overall, and when you are in a war the AI is out working hard to find allies. Maybe the AI has better diplo relations than you do, or has better trades or something since you DID say your not on the bottom.

Did you use military advisor to check the power level of your army? There is a general census you want to stay in the top 30% when possible. I have seen in my own games (i play monarch) the AI is more likely to go to war IF:

A: They have an AI they can use against you
B: They have better diplomacy relations than you with other nations as high as you in the power level.

i have had games where Monty wont war with me because of my power level and others where Ghandi joined Hannibals war against me when he was my best buddy just because he was one spot below me and hannibal was 4 spots below me. I think he liked Hannibal better.


EDIT: When your pulled into war, gift EVERY AI 1 gpt. then, when the treaty expires, cancel deal and gift 1 gpt again. this will not help you diplo-wise but it will keep you in peace treaties.

 

[EweezE]

I think this sucks because the game quickly becomes unplayable when 4 civs attack against you with huge armies. I like to play with pagnea map, but if there's nothing I can do about the mass attacks, I'll have to go for continent maps, because then I'll have less civs to defend against in my continent.

Religion and Diplomacy cause a lot of wars. If multiple civs DoW on you at the exact same time, then check to make sure they aren't Master ~ Vassal. When the master DoW on you it drags the vassal in as well (all vassals). Either found a religion and spread it like wild fire so everyone will like you, or make them like you (Feudalism/Vassals). And don't just choose the peaceful answer when forced into a diplo decision. Choose who you would rather have as a friend. The AI is much better in BtS than Vanilla. Watch your back!

 

[Rawri]

How to delete ;x

 

[Rawri]

There was one time where 7 AIs(out of 17) declared war on me on the same turn. And the following 8 or 9 turns, they all brought the other AIs against me. 17 v 1. In a Pangea map. It was fun

 

[Kark]

How in the world do tribal villages know jesus?

Maybe it was a small tribal village in Galilee?

 

[Stoney the I]

In the last 3 or 4 games multiple AI civs have declared war against me at once.

yeah, aint that fun lol

i had this too many times when i went up in difficulty every single time.
once i figured out how to maintain the unhealthiness and unhappiness at a new difficulty level, and also how to conquer or please my nearest neighbour...
somewhere down the line they are gonna gang up on you.

and its always something.

either its religion. you have the judaism thing going and the others like the yin-yang thingy. sound the horn and here they come!

or its geography. you have your landmass, isabella ownes 6 civs as vassals on the other. together isa and friends have a higher power rating and they all come see what your continent looks like. here they come again!

if its not either of the two, its a creative third.

unwanted advice: pick your friends early on, but be aware no friend stay for life.
eventualy it is you against the world.

kinda realistic if you ask me. i might be a bit jaded though.

 

[Comraddict]

^
it is often if you have fancy trade resource (gems for example) in city on border... it is almost guaranteed they will come after it.

Best you can do is guess after which city they will come after.

 

[Supr49er]

The AIs love to dogpile you. Keep your power ratings up. (to see them : F9; Demographics; Soldiers row).

Welcome to the Forums Lare.

 

[MarkM]

Has the AI become more aggressive or strategical in this sense in Beyond the Sword ... I've always neglected the requests for me to stop trading or to declare war against some civ. The result is that rarely anyone is 'pleased' towards me, but in the original Civ4 this didn't really matter.... I think this sucks because the game quickly becomes unplayable when 4 civs attack against you with huge armies.

And I think it sucks less that the game is more challenging, and you actually have to pay attention to the choices you make re: diplomacy. If you want to just do whatever you're gonna do & not have to worry how the other players regard you, you might as well go play slot machines

I like to play with pagnea map, but if there's nothing I can do about the mass attacks, I'll have to go for continent maps, because then I'll have less civs to defend against in my continent.

You've already determined that you can do something about them -- you can pay attention to what the AI civs are saying/doing and respond/initiate actiosn strategically to alter their relations with you. You only perceive there is "nothing you can do" because you seem to insist on the right to "do nothing" in the diplomacy arena. Seriously, the game can have more dimensions & be funner, if you relish the greater challenge instead of run from it.

 

[Da_V_Man]

In my current game, Peter (and Gilgamesh, his vassal) declared war on me, along with Sulieman. I am in a PA with Cyrus, so I already had an Ally, but then I brought Churchill into the war along with his vassal, Tokugawa. It was an all out world war. I thought it was cool that the AI took some intiative. Besides, I was about to declare war on Sulieman anyways.