How do you get the AI to give you a city?

[Cristoval]

I'm in this game where I got a whole bunch of modern armors infront one of Mansa Musa's cities. My goal was to take the city then make peace. But instead of taking the city by force, why not demand it from him? The city was defended by 2 SAM infantry, 3 obsolete tanks, and 5 artilleries. While I have over 20 Modern Armors ready to take the city, and yet Mansa refused to surrender the city. Doesnt he know he's going to lose this city anyway? Why not surrender it, and save his units?

Does the AI EVER give you a city when you demand it from them?

 

[svv]

I've never seen them give it in response to a pre-war demand. After you're kicking their rears in a war for awhile, in the peace negotiations they might offer up some backwater as part of the deal.

 

[slowrider]

If at the trading table or during peace negotiations the city is "greyed" out it isn't an option. If it's highlighted it could be an possible but not likely.

You're being way too nice ... give you guys some experience and something to write home about.

 

[Ray Patterson]

Doesnt he know he's going to lose this city anyway?

No.
"AI" is a misleading term, the computer hasn't got a clue what's really going on.

 

[LucyDuke]

You have to do some serious, serious butt-kicking beforehand. Literal butt-kicking, and even then, it might not work. If you've been at war for a while, you may be able to convince them to give you a city or two for peace, but sometimes they'll never, ever, ever give up on their favorites. You've got the forces to take it from him - just go for it. If the pattern stands, you may be able to take a few more than that with just the troops you mentioned.

 

[Ecofarm]

AIs rarely give a decent city, but they sure will ask for one.

In a recent MP game, India was abandonded very early in the game (not because the player was about to lose, no war had been declared - probably just an 'exit game = regenerate map' thinking, inconsiderate noob. Well, later, a player was hiding in Indian territory to heal after hitting me and India would not give me open borders! I had done nothing to them! I had to declare on India twice to go after healing troops during this long conflict. Well, as I finished mopping up the player's field army and taking his cities, another player hit me. Things were not going well. Then, India declared on me! and sent knights (Ghandi was tech leader). Just when all was nearly lost, another abandoned/now AI civ (Fredrick) finally agreed to declare on Japan (the player about to beat me) - for all the gold I had been saving for 30 turns at 0% research to get him to do it. To boost my last chance - psychological warfare -, I needed peace with India. I got it, but it cost me the better of my 2 remaining cities (I was left with only my tundra city). The Japan player saw Germany declare on him and India make peace with me in the same turn (just minutes before his final wave would have finished me for sure). He despaired and agreed to call it a draw! A draw?! Hah, in my mind, I won that one.

 

[Galileo44]

Wow, a draw when you had one city. Nice.

 

[Ecofarm]

Well, Japan only had 2 cities left, I had burnt 2 before Samuris ended the quid-pro-quo assults (small map). He had burnt my cap and 2nd best city. He still had his capital and India had just got my city with iron for peace I was Qin and using Cho/treb until India pillaged my iron. I was building catapults and about out of Chos when Fredrick finally helped.

 

[NeoHitler]

I played Washington once. I took all his cities except his capital and one. We had been at war for 5+ centuries. I was starving his citizens in his capital and had it surrounded. I demanded the other city in exchange for 10 turns of peace. So, almost a century later, America was destroyed.

 

[Idlenessss]

AI will offer you cities sometimes if he happened to be stupid and settle nearby you, and its about to be lost culturally anyway. Its rather silly however, as it wont be many turns before the city is yours anyway.