Diplomacy With Many Civs

[RulerOfDaPeople]

How do you manage to keep in good graces with as many civs as possible if in games with 17+ civs? I ask because every single time I am nagged, and nagged some more by all the diferent civs practically every turn to go to war with a civ they don't like, or stop trading with a civ they don't like. Basically in a game with that many civs there is always a handful of civs that are oddballs with who likes them and who doesn't so it's not like there is a way for triangle diplomacy where it's A vs B. There is always a C, D, E and F side to things too.

I'm lost about this. I like to trade with as many civs as possible but then I get all these other civs demanding me to cancel my deals, or I get - modifiers by 1 odd civ for trading with another civ. I'd like to be every body's friend but the way the game nags you it makes it impossible. You keep gettting nagged to go to war and you get a negative modifier if you don't (which is unrealistic), or else you get a negative for every other civ in the game who had a positive relations with the civ you declared war on at the request of your ally. It's like it's a no win situation when it comes to trying to be the worlds diplomatic leader in the game. It's also troublesome that even if civ A has only -1 modifiers against civ B, if you trade with civ B, then you get a diplomatic point docked for "you traded with my worst enemy!" Really? It's only a -1 and they're your worst enemy?? I don't get that.

So my question to every one is, how do you handle diplomacy the best way possible in a game with many civs (like 17 or more)? What are some tips you have, especially when the AI keeps nagging you in cases where either way you decide you get a negative modifier from SOMEONE (whether from them for refusing their demand, or from other civs for accepting it)?

 

[Willem]

I don't worry about it myself, if someone makes an unreasonable request I just turn them down and I don't play any favourites with the civs. I'll trade and have Open Borders with everyone. If someone doesn't like that then too bad, I usually have a strong enough military that's there's not much they can do about it.

 

[PhroX]

My general preference is to pick two or three AIs - preferably sharing religion with you and each other - and keep them as happy as possible, and then don't worry about the rest of the world. Just don't pick Cathy as one of your friends

 

[RulerOfDaPeople]

I never manage to make friends wtih Cathy anyway. She nags for free stuff too much. Typical woman.

What if one of those 2 or 3 civs keeps comming to you and asking for free techs, which you just know they'll turn around and trade to the rest of the AI Civs?

 

[DioAurion]

Start massive wars against a single civ who is disagreeable to you. Then make the war last as long as possible. One less person demanding things from you. Everyone joining the war gets + modifiers towards you. Destroy the civ, repeat, and you'll be one step closer to being head of the UN.

 

[RulerOfDaPeople]

Hmm, sounds simple enough. So much for make love not war. I guess peace for good diplomacy is a misnomer. Ashame because it's not how it works in real life. (Even the USSR and the US found themselves at odds after wiping out the Nazi's together. And it seems negotiations and peace are much more appreciated worldwide in the real world. Wish Civ was like this.)

 

[DioAurion]

You're thinking too modern era about it. Think back to the middle ages of what constituted an ally. Religion, marriage, and common enemies.