How much different religion influence AI DoW?

[Fine_Distinction]

I have read several threads on it -including Dan's spectacular code diving- but other than that military power is not influencing the decision typically, it seems that the answer is "it's complicated"

I am playing on Monarch, Monty is currently strongest military and he is running confu, which he found, and hating people of different religion. His worst enemy currently is my buddhist neighbor whom I am about to kill. I already got a buddhist holy city and have buddhism in many of my cities, so was considering switching to buddhism at least for a golden age that comes in a couple turns ... How risky it is that he would declare on me? So far, he did not declare on my much weaker neighbor of the same religion. On the other hand, I have read that once Monty declares, he acts like a sociopath, never taking peace

Monty just settled on my continent, near to a city I was planning. I was reading also in Dan's thread that there is a limit of 7 neighboring land tiles when AI considers war, does anybody has an experience with it? I do not have a city on the continent on which his capitol is, not sure if somebody else has. I also have not met last 2 AIs yet, so it is even possible he is at war already.

So my question is: how risky is switching to a religion different than Monte? (I currently have no religion). Currently, he is cautious with me and annoyed with 2 other civ, and furious with one weak civ that seems very far away from him. Everybody but me is running a religion different than Monty (either buddhism or judaism).

 

[dankok8]

Monty is a straight up psycho but doesn't value religion much. Same religion is only +2 modifier and different -2. However, close cultural borders can earn you as much as -4 with him. AI's generally seem to attack close by targets rather than those far away all things being equal. However, I've seen idiots like Monty declare on someone halfway across a Huge Pangaea and show up with a giant usually outdated stack of units!

 

[Fine_Distinction]

Monty is a straight up psycho but doesn't value religion much. Same religion is only +2 modifier and different -2. However, close cultural borders can earn you as much as -4 with him. AI's generally seem to attack close by targets rather than those far away all things being equal. However, I've seen idiots like Monty declare on someone halfway across a Huge Pangaea and show up with a giant usually outdated stack of units!

Thanks, but in my game he gives everybody -4 for "heathen religion". Maybe because he is founder of his own?

 

[AcaMetis]

An AI being the founder of a religion (that is, owning the holy city, whether they took that by force from someone else or not) does increase the bonus/penalty for sharing/running a different religion. Though with Monty specifically there's actually not that much risk. Monty is Monty, whether it's because you swapped to a heathen religion or because he thinks a parrot on the other side of the world sneezed he'll plot war and DoW you sooner or later, even if he's already in an active war. Dude is that crazy. Trying to keep him at Friendly isn't worth the effort, anyway. He's not the easiest of people to stay friends with and tends to complicate your wanting to be friends with anyone else, needless to say.

 

[Fine_Distinction]

An AI being the founder of a religion (that is, owning the holy city, whether they took that by force from someone else or not) does increase the bonus/penalty for sharing/running a different religion. Though with Monty specifically there's actually not that much risk. Monty is Monty, whether it's because you swapped to a heathen religion or because he thinks a parrot on the other side of the world sneezed he'll plot war and DoW you sooner or later, even if he's already in an active war. Dude is that crazy. Trying to keep him at Friendly isn't worth the effort, anyway. He's not the easiest of people to stay friends with and tends to complicate your wanting to be friends with anyone else, needless to say.

LOL, thanks! Is it a good AI to bribe to DoW somebody else, then?

 

[AcaMetis]

Insofar that Monty tends to be technologically backwards and open to bribes, yes, he is an AI that can be used to spark a fire or two. The issue with Monty specifically is that he will plot war and DoW you even when he's already in an active war, so you can never be sure that he's not plotting on you. If you've got Monty on your border, prepare for a war.

 

[Lennier]

If you wish peace, be prepared to kill Monty.

 

[Fine_Distinction]

Insofar that Monty tends to be technologically backwards and open to bribes, yes, he is an AI that can be used to spark a fire or two. The issue with Monty specifically is that he will plot war and DoW you even when he's already in an active war, so you can never be sure that he's not plotting on you. If you've got Monty on your border, prepare for a war.

Yeah, I know. I just need to buy some time. good to know that he can plot on somebody else during active war

 

[Fine_Distinction]

If you wish peace, be prepared to kill Monty.

lol, as above

 

[Gumbolt]

It's all about pleased and friendly. Monty will attack at pleased. If you get him to pleased he can be bribed to attack other AI.

That being said naval invasions on Civ 4 are unlikely. Even then by that stage of game you

Work on diplomacy. Gift resources to keep key neighbours happy. Open border asap. Gift techs or a city. This can often give +4 diplomacy points. Making an AI pleased. At pleased you can generally beg gold from an AI.

Don't switch to a religion if all your neighbours are not in it. This will immediately get you cautious or below with 2-3 AI. Winning on higher levels will require some forward thinking.