Backstabbing Leaders...

[Pinstar]

So I was giving a try with the Germans when my next door neighbor Alexander declares war on me. This came as a great surprise because:

1. We had open borders
2. We shared the same religion
3. I had a pretty decent military to guard my cities
4. Our "Close borders" penalty was only -1 (I had no other penalties with him)
5. I never refused to give him aid. (He asked for Math which I gave him)

Despite all that he declared war.

Who else, in your experiance, is willing to declare war on you despite sky high relations?

 

[DevilJin]

I think that Genghis Khan is also a backstabbing leader, maybe like Alexander

 

[Underdawg]

So I was giving a try with the Germans when my next door neighbor Alexander declares war on me. This came as a great surprise because:

1. We had open borders
2. We shared the same religion
3. I had a pretty decent military to guard my cities
4. Our "Close borders" penalty was only -1 (I had no other penalties with him)
5. I never refused to give him aid. (He asked for Math which I gave him)

Despite all that he declared war.

Who else, in your experiance, is willing to declare war on you despite sky high relations?

Since he was your neighbour. You probably left very little troops in your cities. Some leaders are more predatory than others, if they smell weakness, they will come like ravaging dogs.

 

[Pinstar]

I had at least 2 units in each city along his border, and not just warriors. Archer/Longbowmen and either a swords or axemen. Oddly his invasion force of only 3 knights charged into my military city with 6 macemen.

 

[Antilogic]

Since he was your neighbour. You probably left very little troops in your cities. Some leaders are more predatory than others, if they smell weakness, they will come like ravaging dogs.

I find that to be the German strategy, whether I see Frederick or Bismarck on the board. They always go after a weak neighbor (whether they think it's me or someone else), and are more than happy to trade on the side. They tend to be quite vicious, but aren't typically the ones that most people identify as warmongering leaders (Isabella, Alex, Monty, Shaka, etc.)

I've seen the Persians do that to me as well...twice. In the same game. It was a suprise, because I always thought Cyrus was quite peaceful until then.

 

[flamingzaroc121]

well alex is like monty or gehngis they attck when ever they fell they have something to gain

 

[Antilogic]

But I find Monty to be a little more bat-s**t insane than anyone else. He'll attack anywhere!

 

[braindrain]

I swear Alexander is THE most opportunistic leader out of the bunch....he'll be your best buddy untill you give him an opening...

at least with gengis and monty you expect it sooner or later, but alex can lull you into a sneak attack...he's the dirtiest mother in the group!

 

[Bast]

This doesn't surprise me about Alex. I've come to not trust him at all.

 

[neferator]

That's never happened to me. For some reason in NONE of the games I've played has Alexander done well - he's always been in the bottom half, usually bottom quarter of the score table by mid-game, with or without my help

In my experience it's Saladin, Napoleon and of course Monty I have to look out for... in the game I'm playing now Saladin declared war for no reason, sailed across the world and landed a whopping 6 units on my north coast... I mean, what's the point?! He managed to raze one city though which was annoying.

 

[PedalPower]

Have to agree Alex is a bipolar nut case. He'll attack even if he is guaranteed to get smacked down. I'm playing an aggressive AI game now where everybody has their own little continent, and Alex has declared ware three times from halfway across a large map. The first couple of times I just sent my navy over and pillaged all his fishing boats and he paid me for a peace. The last time he sent three galleons filled with about a half dozen level 4 grenadiers and trebuchets. Unfortunately for them, I had my entire coast screened with frigates and now those excellent troops sleep with the fishes. Ghengis is much closer and never bothered me. Catherine was almost as treacherous as Alex, but much closer. Consequently, she is now my obedient little vassal. Even sweet little Hatsheput declared war on me once for nothing. Nobody would trade with me for a long time and when they did it would just be long enough for me to depend on that health or luxury resource and then declare war leaving my cities unhealthy and unhappy. I had to conquer Catherine just to have somebody to trade with.

 

[Meatbuster]

That really surprises me about Bismarck. And I thought Bis was a peaceful, honest leader. Bis never backstabbed me... yet.

I was backstabbed already by the already-mentioned Khans, Monty, Alex, Sally, Cathy, Tokugawa... recently I've also been hit by Wang Kon and Elizabeth (well Lizzy changed religions suddenly so it was kinda expected).

 

[Antilogic]

Wang Kon I thought was relatively more peaceful. Maybe because he was next to Shaka--his aggresiveness tends to overshadow just about anyone.

That list is pretty good for all the typical backstabbers...although I haven't played too many games with Arabia. I know he attacked me once, but that is far from conclusive evidence.

Hatshepsut? Seriously? I've never had that happen...she always just smiles at me with her comically oversized lips and offers food resources to trade...

 

[JohnMK]

Contrastingly, and off-topic (for which I apologize): who are the most reliable leaders? Whom best to befriend?

 

[Meatbuster]

I find Gandhi, Mansa, Cathy, Rameses and Isabella never turn on me given the right conditions. I think you just have to pamper Cathy with gifts and give in to all her demands (hmm, reminds me of certain women I know) and she will usually never backstab. Rameses, Mansa and Isabella are great if you share religions. Gandhi ... well, Gandhi is Gandhi.

Oh yeah! Shaka... that bastard attacked me in 2300 BC before. I just treated his troops like attacking barbarians; he sent an archer and warrior.

 

[Bast]

Contrastingly, and off-topic (for which I apologize): who are the most reliable leaders? Whom best to befriend?

Frederick and Cyrus always comes through for me even if I don't share the same religion as them.

 

[Tee Kay]

Backstabbing - Beware of: Ramesses II, Shaka, Peter, Catherine, Alexander, Genghis Khan, Ragnar.

Most trustworthy leaders (given right conditions) - Mansa Musa, Isabella, Roosevelt, Hannibal, Asoka, Gandhi, Kublai Khan, Saladin.

 

[neferator]

I like Asoka and Ghandi especially. In my games both leaders tend to do well as AIs and thus make good friends, too.

 

[PedalPower]

Hatshepsut? Seriously? I've never had that happen...she always just smiles at me with her comically oversized lips and offers food resources to trade...

Yes, but remember this was an aggressive AI game. She landed a half dozen knights with about three trebs and she didn't declare war until she was right at my border and I consequently could not try and stop her ships. Actually, her galleons were well defended with frigates, so I couldn't have stopped them anyway. But I had enough knights nearby to take out her landing force. Mine had one more promotion than hers, so I only lost one knight to about six of hers. She hasn't tried anything since then, and I have some desperately needed trading going on with her. Still, Ghengis has never declared nor has Louis, the best AI rival. Until the middle ages I was one of the weakest, but now I am running away, which is how my games usually go.

 

[Xanikk999]

The biggest backstabber in the game is louis XIV. Seriously nothing compares to this guy.

Even montezuma wont backstab you if hes ultra friendly with you but louis doesnt care and he will.

Its funny because hes not even an aggressive leader.