is it possible at all to play a peaceful game at higher difficulty level (emperor)

[Bibor]

Yes, It's possible.

Build units and/or befriend militaristic city-states. I can't state how important it is to have military might.

The other big factor is "Covet your land". It's not about terrain - it's about resources. They don't have a resource and you do? Sell them some.

 

[Securion]

If you have borders with them; Nope. Impossible. The game is designed to be a wargame. Not a "Build a civilization to stand the test of time"-type of game.

But like Bibor said; Build up a huge army and it will at least take longer before they DOW you. Having a large cash reserve helps as well since the AI counts that in as military power.

 

[gozpel]

Yes, It's possible.

Build units and/or befriend militaristic city-states. I can't state how important it is to have military might.

The other big factor is "Covet your land". It's not about terrain - it's about resources. They don't have a resource and you do? Sell them some.

If they don't know my lands, WHAT are they covetting really?

If I have 3 sources of cotton, for instance and they NEVER seen it, why would they starting covetting my lands? IF they actually entered my area and SAW it, then we can start talking covet.

But at turn 7, you meet someone and they're already covetting your lands. What lands? I might be a pilgrim to Mecca, walking through dark forests where perils and unknown lies. They shouldn't even know that I have a city, until it's revealed to them by scouting.

And by then, they won't get that cotton anyways as they will stay Guarded for the majority of the game and I think it's better to sell it to someone that wants to pay the full price.

 

[The Pilgrim]

If they don't know my lands, WHAT are they covetting really?

If I have 3 sources of cotton, for instance and they NEVER seen it, why would they starting covetting my lands? IF they actually entered my area and SAW it, then we can start talking covet.

But at turn 7, you meet someone and they're already covetting your lands. What lands? I might be a pilgrim to Mecca, walking through dark forests where perils and unknown lies. They shouldn't even know that I have a city, until it's revealed to them by scouting.

And by then, they won't get that cotton anyways as they will stay Guarded for the majority of the game and I think it's better to sell it to someone that wants to pay the full price.

I think Bibor meant strategic resources. If you sell them to your foes and they DoW you, all resource based units might get combat penalty. On highest difficulties that's not always the safest thing to do, though. AI expands very quickly, ally tons of CS and usually can acquire plenty of any resources. So basically when you sell them yours you only allow to build more units earlier. That's why scouting is so important. If you know your enemy lands and see s/he has 2 horses in total and you have 10, it's one thing. When you enemy has 20 horses which s/he didn't connect yet but currently is willing to buy from you - it's another thing.

 

[Securion]

No, i think what Bibor meant was that if you have a city with horses, and the AI dont, they will much easier want that city spot for themselves, at least if they are close to it, leading to a "They covet lands..."-penalty.

If you sell them horses, they might not want that city spot anymore (?). At least for awhile?
I dont know if this have been confirmed though...

 

[The Pilgrim]

No, i think what Bibor meant was that if you have a city with horses, and the AI dont, they will much easier want that city spot for themselves, at least if they are close to it, leading to a "They covet lands..."-penalty.

If you sell them horses, they might not want that city spot anymore (?). At least for awhile?
I dont know if this have been confirmed though...

They want every city spot to themselves, even if it's crappy one, as long as it's close to their borders. Again, on higher difficulties it's rare case AI doesn't have strategics surplus. And I haven't seen a confirmation of this theory either. We'll have to wait for Bibor then.

 

[spider1]

Hell, even on Prince and King (which are where I mostly play) you will get DOW'd quite a lot. I've found peacefull games impossible, but I play very good defensively so I don't have to go wondering all over the map with my military. I've had games where there weren't very many wars, and they "mostly" left me alone, but I've yet to play a game at Prince or higher were I don't get DOW'd.

 

[gozpel]

I think Bibor meant strategic resources.

Ok, iron or horses, but I'm still talking about turn 7! Even I don't know if I have any of those resources, so why is the AI covetting my lands then?

 

[RealHuhn]

Civ would be extremely easy and dull when nobody would declare war on you while you have 2 ancient archers and rush through the tech tree.

Also extremely unrealistic when you look at human history I might add. But if you have a decent advanced military, have a good amount of gold and don't expand too aggressively, you might have to fight 1-2 defensive wars but I'd still call that very peaceful.

 

[blackcatatonic]

I've had peaceful games on King, but not Emperor. I don't play militaristically either, but neighbours will always declare on me. I've yet to start next to someone ultra peaceful like Kamehameha though, so I can't swear that it's absolute.

I don't mind it so much. Most of the time the AI is completely incapable of mounting a successful attack, so it's quite easy to hold them off if they do come at you. Plus, it gives you an opportunity to take out powerful neighbours without having to declare war. I've come to enjoy the military game more since moving up to Emperor, although I will very rarely set out with a strategy that involves military action.