how to pre-alarm the AI declare war on you?

[euro]

I mean, they should make some rendezvous of their force closed to my border before they are ready to declare war, or something else.

& if your territory is quite large, how to set up my pre-alarm system, when they start war to us. I think, even my holly cities could provide some manoeuvre infomation. It's limited & what more could we do?

 

[cabert]

There is a little exploitive way of pre-alarm:
- check the trade screens of the agressive neighbours often (not the trait, the character : Isabella is agressive, quin is a backstabber !)
- look at the declare war to items.
If one is not redded, you're not a target yet.
If all are redded, mouse over them. If it reads "we got enough on our hands, or something like that, it means they are going to declare war to someone. If you're low on power, and just nearby, it's probably you.

 

[nwadams]

and then there's monty, who well having a huge stack or two on his border won't stop him from declaring war...stay away from him...

but i started with togu, monty, ceasar, and alexander on a continent
that was vanilla, and it wasn't fun...

 

[Wlauzon]

There is a little exploitive way of pre-alarm:
- check the trade screens of the agressive neighbours often (not the trait, the character : Isabella is agressive, quin is a backstabber !)
- look at the declare war to items.
If one is not redded, you're not a target yet.
If all are redded, mouse over them. If it reads "we got enough on our hands, or something like that, it means they are going to declare war to someone. If you're low on power, and just nearby, it's probably you.

That does not always work. At least not with that treacherous witch Catherine.

Last night in a game, she was Friendly, we had a defensive pact, and had 5 trade routes going for a bunch of her food and luxury items for my gems, oil, iron, etc.

In the next turn, with no warning at all she attacked. (which was really kind of stupid of her - I had been trading her the oil and iron she needed...).

 

[euro]

I felt catherine & isabella is quite warlike than anyone else.
& it seems the only way is just to found a holy city & spread your religion throught your neighberhood's border cities.

 

[cabert]

That does not always work. At least not with that treacherous witch Catherine.

Last night in a game, she was Friendly, we had a defensive pact, and had 5 trade routes going for a bunch of her food and luxury items for my gems, oil, iron, etc.

In the next turn, with no warning at all she attacked. (which was really kind of stupid of her - I had been trading her the oil and iron she needed...).

Why do you say it doesn't work ?
did you look at the trade screen ?
Catherine is really a backstabber. Don't trust her! Same for FdR or Washington

 

[NKVD]

Why do you say it doesn't work ?
did you look at the trade screen ?
Catherine is really a backstabber. Don't trust her! Same for FdR or Washington

who are backstabber vs. aggressive? I mean is there a trait in the world builder modable as : friendly - neutral - agressive - backstabber ?

 

[cabert]

who are backstabber vs. aggressive? I mean is there a trait in the world builder modable as : friendly - neutral - agressive - backstabber ?

there are a lot of variables to define each character, it's moddable, sure

 

[MartinhoMukanga]

i think the most tricky of all is monty. Even if I am big friends with iimm he atttacks me. And he is more dangerous in early game, when you start having gunpowder units he's easier to conquer.

 

[carl corey]

Monty is actually the most predictable of the aggressive bunch. He will ALWAYS attack you if he gets the chance. If you're too weak, or if you're in a war with someone else and haven't left your territory properly defended. He's basically an indicator of how well you've planned your military strategy.

You have two choices: take him out first, or make him your pet. The first is obvious. The second one requires you to be very powerful too - check the Power Graph for info - and provide him with better targets. Bribe him to get in wars with his neighbours. That won't spare you though, so be careful.

Of course, you can become the backstabber too...

Other well-known maniacs:
- Alexander, crazy backstabber, can't wait for you to get in a war with someone else
- Isabella: either you're with her (same religion) or you're in for a war
- Cathy: I had her twice as neighbour and she attacked me both times, once while we were in a common war against another AI.

Napoleon, the Khans, and I think the Caesars too are bound to attack you from time to time. Julius can be pleased though if you share the same religion even if you're low on power. I've done it in the "Lust for Gold" challenge and managed to stop any war before it happened. I've also been attacked in another game by Praetorians so don't get him mad.

There are probably others that I've missed. You'll find out eventually.

 

[East St Trader]

There are a number of things which provoke the A1.

One of which is to have a border city contiguous with that opponent's territory.

In fact if you want to go to war with a neighbour but have reason not just to declare yourself, if you found a new city immediately adjacent to their territory before long they are almost certain to attack.