You can get outrageous results when trying to get peace.
I know that sounds funny, but let me explain.
If you are at war, and have the chance to negotiate for peace, do the following steps:
(only tried this so far on second level)
Demand all their tech and all their gold and all their cities, even if you are being slaughtered.
Make the offer. They will refuse.
Next click "Let's bury the hatchet, What will it take for peace" WITHOUT clearing the table.
A message box appears saying that only one person can make an offer for peace. (I forget the exact wording)
Click ok.
The options below then change to allow you to accept the offer that you made to the AI.
So you get everything you asked for and he first denied, as if he had offered it to you.
I know that sounds funny, but let me explain.
If you are at war, and have the chance to negotiate for peace, do the following steps:
(only tried this so far on second level)
Demand all their tech and all their gold and all their cities, even if you are being slaughtered.
Make the offer. They will refuse.
Next click "Let's bury the hatchet, What will it take for peace" WITHOUT clearing the table.
A message box appears saying that only one person can make an offer for peace. (I forget the exact wording)
Click ok.
The options below then change to allow you to accept the offer that you made to the AI.
So you get everything you asked for and he first denied, as if he had offered it to you.