How do you get other civs to like you?

[JohnYoga]

Hello Folks,

My family and I wants to know how to get other civs to like you.

1. a) One way is to "bomb" them with your missionaries, if they are of a different religion. b) But does this have a strong effect if the other civ had founded another religion? c) Or, even if the town your sending a missionary to, already has a differing religion in it?

2. Paying tribute to other religions when they a) demand it, and, b) just because you want to butter them up? c) But what is good tribute, what is worthless? d) Is there, say, a minumum gold amount that you can give them, turn after turn, which will flip them to liking you over time?

3. I would think you do not want to give them a) your sole resource of anything, or b) your leading tech, but I would think a c) tech which was already done (a prerequisite) to your current tech should be fine, unless you wanted to d) BLOCK them from having a tech to advance?

4. One reason for all of this is that we want one civ to go to war with another...No idea how to do that. I would guess that the first stage is for the civ to really like you, but other than that, no clue!

Thank you very much. We stink at working with other civs, really because we don't know the right way to do so!

Regards to all ,

John

 

[potatokiosk]

First of all, don't give them reasons to hate you by adopting a state religion. After that, you need only to give them whatever they ask for and not trade with their enemies.

 

[Shawnosaurus]

Well, you can get up to...

+4 if you have the same state religion. Might consider that if it's possible.

+4 if you work some good trades. Sell them a tech for gold even.

+ 1 or 2 (I forget) for some open borders. Near as I can tell it depends on whether they actually use the deal. But open borders is free and might get you a point or 2.

+ 5 for civics. Do you have some or all civics in common? Could you?

+ various for helping them in a war or trade embargo when they ask. Careful here though because you are going to make an enemy of someone.

+2 resource trade. They appreciate the years you have supplied them with pigs for $.

I have found that instead of giving them X tech for free when they beg, I sell it to them for some gold. They think it's a good trade and don't get the idea that I am their patsy.

Sometimes a world map gift can help. I don't gift units really, but the option is there, maybe test it out.

Generally, if you aren't in cahoots with their worst enemies then it shouldn't be too hard. It's when you're trading with their enemies that you've got an uphill struggle.

That's it for off the top of my head.

 

[Sisiutil]

Trying to get everyone to like you is a sure-fire way to get a lot of them to hate you.

I recommend having a look at this thread on triangle diplomacy. You can't please everyone, so pick those you will please carefully.

 

[JohnYoga]

Folks,

Thank you all for your help.

Sisiutil: The Triangle Diplomacy thread is great, and I need to dive into YOUR strategy articles. Wow!

Regards,

John

 

[Nikis-Knight]

Also, even if they love you (though I'm not familiar with vassals) they still may not join a war if they are weak compared to the target.
I'm pretty sure you get NO diplo benefit from gifting units or cities taken after conquest (i.e., use the "return this city to so-and-so" option when you conquer it.). Perhaps you could get them to a place where they could afford a war by doing so... but I'd view that as a risky strategy!

 

[economiser]

Axemen, lots and lots of axemen.

If that doesn't work, then turn to plan B, something like triangle diplomacy.

Seriously though, when you are weak, it is difficult to get anybody to like you. And even if you do, some nutcase like Monty or Ragnar will sail halfway around the world to wage war on you.