I'm getting steamed or the AI is :D

[darski]

I have noticed something interesting in my games and I wonder if others (builders at least) see the same thing in their games.

Just about the time I get Steam Power and I am trying to build my rail network, some Civ who has been hanging around most of the game decides to declare war. In my current game, Cleo tried her extortion tricks a couple of times but no declaration until I am laying tracks. it is not strictly when steam comes but more about when I have to get those rails laid down.

I now start watching carefully for the tell tale signs of approaching war when I get steam... how about the rest of you? Is there something about steam that gets the AI steamed or what?

Any thoughts.

 

[ecuwins]

Correlation does not imply causation. I'm sure there are other factors involved.

 

[darski]

I agree with you. My point in raising this was to find out what those factors might be. any thoughts on why that time gets the nod?

 

[ecuwins]

It could be many things. The only time I have had this problem is when I would leave too few troops defending my homeland. I guess my "peaceful" neighbor couldn't help himself with all of those worker stacks wandering around, laying rails.

 

[Turner]

It's probably a matter of timing....could be related to Steam Power but may not be. Having a larger military around will discourage them from declaring.

 

[capnvonbaron]

I've noticed that too, to some degree, on warlord and regent levels. Usually thats about the time all the land has been settled, the AI has maxed out production, built itself a bunch of cav/rifles (regent) or knights/muskets (warlord) and wants to go on the offensive. Its about that time frame when they've been pissed off at you for long enough because of your antics to start something too. So yeah, mostly correlation, not causation.

Its also annoying because when it happens I'm usually short on effective fast units and the AI has not railed anything yet. I can't do my combat-worker tactic as effectively, since it takes captured workers forever to do anything under whatever form of gov I'm running at that stage (usually republic or monarchy).

 

[vmxa]

I would expect that it just happens that the world is near to being full at the same period as when you start to lay rails.

 

[Spoonwood]

Nope, not in my games. You also play at Regent/Warlord Darski, so you almost surely have a power lead and also almost surely have mounted your power lead for several centuries by the time you get Steam Power.

 

[darski]

Nope, not in my games. You also play at Regent/Warlord Darski, so you almost surely have a power lead and also almost surely have mounted your power lead for several centuries by the time you get Steam Power.

Yes, this is true. And I have a strong military when they start. There is some desperation mode built into the AI it seems and this is the time for it to 'pop'.

I do tend to find a couple of settlers in each of the border towns that I take over so I guess they are just looking for land.

Thanks for the input guys. Guess there isn't much that can be done to change this... well other than clearing the planet before Steam Power...

 

[ecuwins]

Guess there isn't much that can be done to change this... well other than clearing the planet before Steam Power...

Now you are learning.

 

[darski]

I just had to include this pic from a recent game. I swear they showed up just as the popup showed on the screen.

Spoiler :

 

[ecuwins]

LOL, let him DOW. Take the happiness bonus, I am assuming he isn't breaking a peace treaty. Those Cavs will make short work of that MI stack.

 

[Exwing17]

I am currently playing this game on regent as the Ottomans, and the whole world has decended into World War I! The thing is, every game I play always has a huge war just when everyone discoverers Combustion. It usually coincides with a rush for the oil and a naval build up, mixed with mutual protection pacts and alliances! Love it!! WAR!!!

 

[Optional]

Well, usually there is indeed a huge increase of war at the start of the Industrial Age. Navigation has just been discovered, so more contact has been established. Also: the AI is fond of Nationalism, together with Mutual Protection Pacts. Those MPP's can really let war snowball.

 

[darski]

An interesting added note to that pic is that when I got steam power I did not get the build rail order for workers. No coal!!!

You'll never guess who happened to have 2 coal sources nearby.

It was nice that they got feisty just when I needed them to do so.

 

[capnvonbaron]

I love it when a plan comes together