I've played about 5 games now (Noble difficulty), and in every game I have ended up being absolutely hated by every other civ - not because I declared war on them, but because I wouldn't give in to constant extortion. I would say about every 5-8 turns, a different civ would demanded conversion, a free tech, or a free resource (even though I don't have the option to make the same demands). Why is this? Am I militarily too weak and simply painting a bullseye on my back - I just don't understand the constant extortion. Do I simply have to give the AI everything it wants at every turn in order to be able to make trades for techs and resources later in the game? I'm obviously missing something, so if anyone has any pointers, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Establishing Good Relations...?
- Thread starter DsevenO
- Start date
Underseer
King
Well, if Civ3 is anything to go on...
If you're a lot weaker than them, they hate you more. If you're a lot more powerful than them, they hate you more. If you don't trade with them constantly, they hate you more. Every time you turn down a proposal, they hate you more. If you have a different religion, they hate you more.
I'm sure I missed a bunch of things, but that list is big enough on its own.
If you're a lot weaker than them, they hate you more. If you're a lot more powerful than them, they hate you more. If you don't trade with them constantly, they hate you more. Every time you turn down a proposal, they hate you more. If you have a different religion, they hate you more.
I'm sure I missed a bunch of things, but that list is big enough on its own.
suspendinlight
Prince
I suggest going for Open Borders with every civ you meet at the beginning unless there is a specific strategic reason you don't want them. For example, if you are using your cultural borders to keep the AI from settling somewhere or if you don't want their religion spreading to your cities. Accepting an open borders request will give you a +2 with the civ which is a good boost at the beginning. After that, it's all about religion.
You need to choose one or two civs who you have good relations with and who preferably have the same religion to cultivate as allies. Give into their demands (unless for a major tech, etc.) and try to trade with them. You will also truly solidify your relationship by fighting in a war against a common enemy...
You need to choose one or two civs who you have good relations with and who preferably have the same religion to cultivate as allies. Give into their demands (unless for a major tech, etc.) and try to trade with them. You will also truly solidify your relationship by fighting in a war against a common enemy...
Pinstar
Ringtailed Regent
If you can get open borders with a civ that has no religion, and you have a missionary handy, you can rush the missionary into their capital and establish your religion in their city. They'll quickly convert without you having to ask them. The longer you both keep that religion as the state religion, the better your relations. Once one of you gets the the alphabet and currency, you can look forward to FAIR resource and technology trades. If you get them under your wing sooner rather than later, you're better off for it. This is best done with Judaism and Confucianism, since they both provide a free missionary when they are founded, but they are early enough in the game to catch a civilization before another religion spreads to it (or before they found their own)
Entrinzikyl
Chieftain
I have found resource trading to be useful because it adds a constant +1 or +2 you've been a pleasure to deal with. Also, one big deal, like a technology swap early in the game can add big relation bonuses that outlast the times when you aren't willing to help a civ.
The power of religion amazes me - I remained good friends with a nation even after it had attacked me and I had attacked it several centuries later all thanks to a +5 religion bonus.
Oh, and I've also been finding it necessary to really join one of the AI blocs. I try to avoid trading with the smaller civs because I know they'll have enemies that will be pissed off if I do.
The power of religion amazes me - I remained good friends with a nation even after it had attacked me and I had attacked it several centuries later all thanks to a +5 religion bonus.
Oh, and I've also been finding it necessary to really join one of the AI blocs. I try to avoid trading with the smaller civs because I know they'll have enemies that will be pissed off if I do.
You're probably just gonna have to give in to a few tributes along they way. They will add to relations (+1: You gave us tribute!)
Also, you can consider selecting no state religion (although this will negate a lot of benefits of certain civics). Those -4's from other nations not liking your religion can really hurt.
Also, you can consider selecting no state religion (although this will negate a lot of benefits of certain civics). Those -4's from other nations not liking your religion can really hurt.
I could have been unlucky, but in 1 game i had Ceasar and Alexander close to my borders. So far every game i played with Alexander close to me, he start clubbing me. So i decided to do whatever Ceasar wanted and just wait till Alexander starts his attack.
As usual Alexander started to attack very soon without catapult, we made peace a few turns later he attacked again.
This happend lots of times and finally my army was big enough to crush him. I captured 4 of his cities and asked for peace so i could join the tech race again.
After 2 turns of peace with Alexander, suddenly Ceasar attacked me. I did find it odd. During the entire game we had a good relations, i even payed his 400 gold demand. During my wars with Alexander i gave Ceasar often free techs and sometimes gold.
I am not sure if the AI is that smart that Ceasar attacked me when i was military weak or just randomness.
As usual Alexander started to attack very soon without catapult, we made peace a few turns later he attacked again.
This happend lots of times and finally my army was big enough to crush him. I captured 4 of his cities and asked for peace so i could join the tech race again.
After 2 turns of peace with Alexander, suddenly Ceasar attacked me. I did find it odd. During the entire game we had a good relations, i even payed his 400 gold demand. During my wars with Alexander i gave Ceasar often free techs and sometimes gold.
I am not sure if the AI is that smart that Ceasar attacked me when i was military weak or just randomness.
Free Religion is nice, but remember you loose the bonuses from having the same religion as another civ as well, and without those it can be hard to get up to friendly.
Also, its not always smart to give into a civ's demands for aid/tribute, but never let them leave empty handed. If you go to renegotiate, you won't get the +1, but you won't get the -1 either and will often benefit from the trade while maintaining good relations.
Also, its not always smart to give into a civ's demands for aid/tribute, but never let them leave empty handed. If you go to renegotiate, you won't get the +1, but you won't get the -1 either and will often benefit from the trade while maintaining good relations.
snepp
King
Ephor said:
You can't always renegociate, there's a difference between a trade offer and a tribute demand (which can't be renegociated).
In a game where I am on a peninsula and end up on the border of only one other civ, I do whatever I can to make my immediate neighbor my friend. I adopt their religion. If they want a tech or money, I give it up. If they want me to stop trading with someone else, I do it. If they want me to declare war on someone they are at war with, I do it.
Having a country that will go to war for me that is actually in between me and everyone else is incredibly powerful. You never really have to fight any wars on your soil since your ally is always the first in the line of fire.
It gets much trickier when you have multiple civs on your border.
Having a country that will go to war for me that is actually in between me and everyone else is incredibly powerful. You never really have to fight any wars on your soil since your ally is always the first in the line of fire.
It gets much trickier when you have multiple civs on your border.
Pentium
Digital Matter
In my games, usually every single civ has "-4: You traded with our worst enemy". You just can't be everybody's friend like in Civ3.
MenacingVitamin
Chieftain
what about gifts?
How big a gift do you need to make to get a bonus from a civ? I tried giving an extra gold resource to a civ that was annoyed at me and it didn't make a bit of difference. C'mon, everyone likes gold, right?
My guess is you need to give techs or huge amounts of cash.
How big a gift do you need to make to get a bonus from a civ? I tried giving an extra gold resource to a civ that was annoyed at me and it didn't make a bit of difference. C'mon, everyone likes gold, right?
My guess is you need to give techs or huge amounts of cash.
Wickie said:
That seems to consitently happen when your whole army is focussed on one side of your empire the AI on the other will attack. I find that they are much more likely to declare peace with you though, since they are there for profit. Just pillage a few of they're towns (hurt the most and are the best money/pillage payout) and they're usually amenable to peace.
Has anyone else been given gifts? One game I was close friends with one AI, we even signed a defensive pact. All throughout the game he would give me a tech here and there. The game was Monarch and I was losing bad due to being rushed so maybe he was having pity on me? Whatever he was doing it worked, he won the space race.
Similar threads
