Difficulty: Regent
Map: Marla Singer's Cylindrical Earth (GREAT MAP!)
My Civ: French
# Rival Civs: 7
Year: around 1200 AD
I had positive relations with all rivals, but the Americans had been voraciously expanding for the entire game. I'd already cut into their territory with battles about 1000 years before, but they had a couple of remaining cities around that I really wanted. So I launched a massive musketeer attack on them.
After the first turn at war, I approached all the other civs on the continent and asked for a military alliance against the Americans. With some minor bribes, they all agreed.
What I didn't expect was the increase in my reputation with those other civs. I'd basically sneak attacked the Americans (well, invaded their territory then declared war when they asked me to leave), so I was expecting a decline in international relations. But everyone jumped on board.
Here's the interesting part... when I play peaceful strats (and I am in this game), I have a strong policy of limited warfare. I go for city blitzes, in this case grabbing 4 size 12 cities from the Americans. I took the cities on 3 different fronts (the Americans had expanded so much, I had 3 borders with them -- you can see why I jumped them), smashed the counter-offensive (stupid AI should never have moved off those mountains), and signed a peace treaty.
The interesting part was, my allies got mad! They went from gracious to annoyed! I couldn't believe it! That was totally unexpected, and frankly, really great game code. They *should* get mad, since I asked them to get behind me in a war, and about the time they started mobilizing troops, I sign a treaty -- sticking them with facing the Americans on their own.
A few give aways worked wonders though. I'm particularly fond of giving away luxury resources for reputation effects. It works great, and the cost only lasts 20 turns. The extra luxury doesn't do my civ any real good anyway.
At any rate, I thought people might find that interesting. Togetherness in military action brings tribes closer, but don't turn your back, or they'll think you're waffling.
Map: Marla Singer's Cylindrical Earth (GREAT MAP!)
My Civ: French
# Rival Civs: 7
Year: around 1200 AD
I had positive relations with all rivals, but the Americans had been voraciously expanding for the entire game. I'd already cut into their territory with battles about 1000 years before, but they had a couple of remaining cities around that I really wanted. So I launched a massive musketeer attack on them.
After the first turn at war, I approached all the other civs on the continent and asked for a military alliance against the Americans. With some minor bribes, they all agreed.
What I didn't expect was the increase in my reputation with those other civs. I'd basically sneak attacked the Americans (well, invaded their territory then declared war when they asked me to leave), so I was expecting a decline in international relations. But everyone jumped on board.
Here's the interesting part... when I play peaceful strats (and I am in this game), I have a strong policy of limited warfare. I go for city blitzes, in this case grabbing 4 size 12 cities from the Americans. I took the cities on 3 different fronts (the Americans had expanded so much, I had 3 borders with them -- you can see why I jumped them), smashed the counter-offensive (stupid AI should never have moved off those mountains), and signed a peace treaty.
The interesting part was, my allies got mad! They went from gracious to annoyed! I couldn't believe it! That was totally unexpected, and frankly, really great game code. They *should* get mad, since I asked them to get behind me in a war, and about the time they started mobilizing troops, I sign a treaty -- sticking them with facing the Americans on their own.
A few give aways worked wonders though. I'm particularly fond of giving away luxury resources for reputation effects. It works great, and the cost only lasts 20 turns. The extra luxury doesn't do my civ any real good anyway.
At any rate, I thought people might find that interesting. Togetherness in military action brings tribes closer, but don't turn your back, or they'll think you're waffling.