"Close-Friends" proposal

[Strider]

We are close to getting into the Indust ages. A time of MPP's. I think now is a time to start making well trusted close-friend. These need to be civs we tradewith often and have not been to war yet(and do not plan on going to war against) I propose we have two. One close by and one far away.

Any suggestions?

 

[Cheetah]

Greece might be the far away one? I don't see that we ever are going to have a war against them (Don't know if we have been to war with them in the past though).

 

[Plexus]

Well, I would suggest India or Babylon... but they both screwed us. So, America, Russia, or England\ France might be good options.

 

[eyrei]

We should not trust any other civ, as they will all betray us if the numbers are right. I am also opposed to signing a MPP unless it is done specifically to get one civ to declare war on another. I do not want to end up at war with the world because our 'friend' decides to start declaring war on people.

 

[gunning1]

But what if some of our "friends" get brought in by someone we are at war with to fight against us?

 

[Cyc]

MPP's are a bad idea in my opinion.

 

[Cyc]

double-post.

 

[naervod]

I am wary about having close friends at this difficulty level. However, if we were to have close friends I would say China near and Greece far.

 

[gunning1]

I think that those would be good friends...

 

[Feodor Ardent]

Why not the Iroquois as the "near" friend?

 

[Cyc]

Friends just drag you into wars that you do not want to fight. One of my favorite motto's is "Sorry, I can't afford a new friend right now..."

 

[FortyJ]

I agree with Eyrei and Cyc on this issue. In my games, I always end up resenting the MPP, because it seems that more often than not, the AI signs them just before declaring war on someone you are trading with, and then you have to spend about five turns just trying to put your economy back together again.

The only time I look to sign an MPP with someone is when I need to get that someone into a war on my side and an alliance is not possible (ie. they are already in an MPP with my enemy...).

For example... I want to start a war with Babylon, but Babylon has an MPP with France, who I don't want to fight right now. I can't sign an allliance with France against Babylon, so I sign an MPP and declare war on Babylon. Then I just have to wait for the Babs to attack me and presto - instant ally.

and with respect to making the Iroquois our friend right now... signing an MPP with them will most certainly trigger a war with France and America. Not the best move at this point.