Getting AI to DoW on eachother.

[jawknee530]

I just started playing CIV again just this last week. I played Civ IV off and on and a bit of V when it launched. Now I'm playing G&K.

I'm in my fourth game at King difficulty and have yet to get an AI to DoW on another AI once. And it's not for lack of trying. An AI that I have a pact of friendship with and who has denounced/been denounced by a second AI will not DoW on that second AI seemingly no matter what I do. So how do I get this to happen?

 

[budweiser]

I don't think it quite works that way. Out of the 7 opponents, there will usually be one that acts badly and no one likes. You figure out who that is and you denounce them. Sometimes its the score leader. The others will come to you and say they don't like him either. Then you can get them to go to war. Its easier if they are neighbors.

 

[Browd]

An AI that I have a pact of friendship with and who has denounced/been denounced by a second AI will not DoW on that second AI seemingly no matter what I do. So how do I get this to happen?

Have you tried going to the second AI (the denouncer) to bribe it to DOW your friend?

Yes, that may seem like a pretty reprehensible way to behave towards a friend, but it is not a backstab (within the meaning of that term in the game). Think about it this way: if the other AI DOWs your friend, your friend will avoid the warmonger penalty when he decapitates the DOWing AI.

 

[Vintage Port]

This may be obvious but I will state it just in case. You can "Discuss" things like war with another Civ and see if they will go to war against a common opponent but I've never had success with that.

The other option, which is more common, is to go into the "Trade" screen and at the bottom you will be able to ask them to declare war on an opponent. You can ask them how much it will cost you to bribe them to war. Quite often it will take multiple checks with all the different Civs/AIs to see who is the cheapest. I usually don't care who they are fighting as long as the top AI or 2 is busy fighting someone other than me.

 

[jawknee530]

This may be obvious but I will state it just in case. You can "Discuss" things like war with another Civ and see if they will go to war against a common opponent but I've never had success with that.

The other option, which is more common, is to go into the "Trade" screen and at the bottom you will be able to ask them to declare war on an opponent. You can ask them how much it will cost you to bribe them to war. Quite often it will take multiple checks with all the different Civs/AIs to see who is the cheapest. I usually don't care who they are fighting as long as the top AI or 2 is busy fighting someone other than me.

I've tried both of these methods almost non stop with practically every civ. It's always that theres no way to make it happen. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to keep trying.

 

[dpunk]

I've had success with both methods before. It's usually easier to bribe the AI I'm not sure how much they weigh your 'discuss' war.

Next times your going to DoW someone check if one of their neighbors wants to DoW them also and sometimes they do.

 

[Optional]

I'm not sure if it matters much how much they like you if you're asking someone to declare war, but if they like the civ you want them to go to war with, that's probably a reason for them to refuse.
Most of the time they're not willing to go to war, but civs that already are following a very military strategy are usually willing. Take an Attila with an army that can wipe anyone's bottom, he would be game for it. But take a wonder-building Pacal with with a weak army and there's no chance.

Don't have too high expectations if you get a few AI's to war each other. Sometimes they'll just take your money but don't do anything, another time they take over al the towns of the other civ and they've become a monster.
Sometimes out of self protection you want a neighbouring strong civ to have a distraction, but AI vs AI wars usually lead to some AI becoming dominant. Often I'm actually more interested in the AI remaining the peace.

Think about it this way: if the other AI DOWs your friend, your friend will avoid the warmonger penalty when he decapitates the DOWing AI.

Hmm... not sure if the AI is getting warmonger penalties, but I certainly don't mind who declares on who.

Next times your going to DoW someone check if one of their neighbors wants to DoW them also and sometimes they do.

If you're willing to declare yourself, what you can also do is to ask if somebody is willing to pay you for declaring war. It's a while ago I've done that, but if I remember right there's normally something like 150 - 200 gold in that.

 

[khdou]

This may or may not be relevant but it hasnt been mentioned yet. Are you rich yourself? Do you have many luxuries and a couple hundred gold?

Oftentimes when I bribe civs to DOW others, it usually costs anywhere from 100 to 500+ gold, so they might be willing to DOW if you pay them a higher price

 

[kirbdog]

Ask the guy with the biggest military first. Player A might hate Player B, but if B has an army "that could wipe A off the planet," they won't declare war. It matters much less whether they like each other or like you... though that does affect the mercenary price.

 

[The Pilgrim]

Those who share borders are willing to kill each other more often than not. Ask the stronger guy first, he may be cheaper. AI's willingness to DoW is influenced by relationship with you and with potential rival and your wealth. The more you can pay, the more likely you'll find a buyer. Check global politics screen and keep track of wars to know who hates who and demographics to evaluate military strength.

 

[Maxym]

I have noticed that once you do that few times and take advantage by attacking the AI warring, they wise up to it (or just pay attention to your warmonger modifier) and won't take any amount to DOW anyone.

 

[notam]

personally i think any war between AI vs AI = good.

more they war each other, the more time you have catch up in tech, better yet pass them or sneak attack your own target.

I usually do a sneaky thing and ask for a AI to pay ME for declering. usually its not big amount, but sometimes you have crazy deals also there...

 

[Xiao Xiong]

Put a city in a really obnoxious place on one AI's sovereign territory and immediately sell it to the other AI.

 

[The Pilgrim]

I have noticed that once you do that few times and take advantage by attacking the AI warring, they wise up to it (or just pay attention to your warmonger modifier) and won't take any amount to DOW anyone.

AI tends to stop loving you when you're pulling ahead.

Put a city in a really obnoxious place on one AI's sovereign territory and immediately sell it to the other AI.

Have you actually tried this? Don't you get negative modifier for settling next to AI's borders if you sell the city right away? It's dirty trick, but if there is no diplo hit and you're not stressed on SP costs, it might work quite well. Less extreme possibility is selling a puppet or three in obnoxious locations.

 

[budweiser]

I usually do a sneaky thing and ask for a AI to pay ME for declering. usually its not big amount, but sometimes you have crazy deals also there...

Brilliant. I'll have to remember this one.

 

[Qoma]

I usually do a sneaky thing and ask for a AI to pay ME for declering. usually its not big amount, but sometimes you have crazy deals also there...

This is actually an absolutely fantastic idea. If you were about to DOW an opponent anyway, why not see if anyone will pay you to do it first?

 

[The Pilgrim]

I've never got more than 200 for DoWing and it's less or even nothing if AI hates you, but when you can get some cash, money is money. Too bad I forget to ask for it most of the time.

 

[Browd]

The only downside of getting paid to DOW someone you were already planning on DOWing is that you can't sue for peace for 10 turns.

That can be mildly irksome if you strike hard and fast, take their capital quickly and want to make peace so you can move on to your next target.

 

[Maxym]

Yes I used to take a lot of bribes, but screwed myself a number of times, and now will evaluate to make sure the war will definitely be longer than ten turns ie only if there are cities between me and a cap and AI has an army I need to destroy first anyway.

 

[digrosz]

If Dido is in the game, always ask her first. She's a total slut when it comes to war.