Diplomacy Bug?

[PinkHammurabi]

So, I'm currently Declared Friends with the Kongo, and on "Unfriendly" terms with Scythia. For both, the ONLY negative modifier among several positive ones is for differing governments; I'm using Merchant Republic, Tomyris has Oligarchy (for -14), and Mvemba is using Classical Republic (for -8). I'm also getting positive modifiers from both of their hidden agendas, as well as Mvemba's main agenda, but nothing for Tomyris'. (btw, it's SUPER dumb for them to care so much about that at all.)

Out of nowhere, they both somehow declare a Formal War on me on the same turn, despite neither having Denounced me, ever (obviously, Mvemba couldn't have because we're *currently* friends). I also find it odd that they'd somehow perform a Joint War since they've been Denouncing each other, and currently have that standing.

The Diplomacy AI has been all over the place; I love this game (as I do all iterations), but this is pretty frustrating. With so many modifiers (which is very nice to see in theory), it makes it essentially impossible to form any kind of meaningful or long-lasting friendship. That's irritating.

Regardless, this action seems impossible. Am I missing something or is it a bug of some kind?

Thanks in advance.

 

[PinkHammurabi]

In another game, we're not even 100 turns in on Marathon when some confusing **** goes down. After maybe 20 turns, Gorgo tells me I'm a coward for not yet being in Wars and whatnot. Rome is immediately impressed by my land holdings, while Japan compliments me on my "Bushido", but I get no diplomatic modifier for it; just his compliment on-screen. Scythia is in the barely-negative range for whatever reason, and since she made a Settler unprotected, I decide to Denounce and then Formally Declare War to take it and use it; this being the Ancient Era there are no penalties for war, even surprise wars, but I went the formal route so that Tomyris won't be butt-hurt about that long term. Gorgo changed her mind and was blown away by my warry-ness, giving me a +8 modifier. But then it went down, then away, and now it's at -4 for being a coward again somehow, despite being the only Civ to declare war this game at all. Nevermind the fact that the AI should NOT be making evaluations of their agendas THAT freaking early because you could reasonably do jack-all about it. In one other game, Norway kept me at -9 for not having a Navy from turns 8 to 180 (on Marathon), despite have NO Navy of his own to speak of either. Both of our capitals were landlocked... what the heck was I supposed to do, and that early!?

Anyway, now at turn 98ish, my two "best" friends thus far, Hojo and Trajan, decide to declare a "Formal War" against me, that I can now assume is a poor way to word a surprise war with joint partners. Since, as the above post also mentioned, I was not Denounced by either party, but both declarations said "Formal War". Aside from that, I'm somewhat bugged at the idea that either of these guys feels the need to ask for a Joint War (something the AI ALWAYS tells me they'll NEVER do, even in very favorable or sensible situations) when I've done NOTHING to them, and have not shown the world that I'm a jerkface or anything.

What's going on with this Diplomacy stuff?? I'd really love to know, you guys. = /