Is it possible to Vassalize someone without a War?

[icantdrawanime]

If so what are the conditions?

I was playing the Earth scenario and Isabella was Friendly with me and backed into a one city corner in Europe (She really gets the shaft in that scenario as Louis completely hems her in w/ the first border pop). On top of that, Louis was at war with her for so long that I'm very surprised she didnt die off completely. I had conquered all of Asia and had a huge empire/power rating, but no matter what, she wouldn't vassalize, claiming that "we just don't like you enough".

Now I know Isabella is probably not one to kowtow, but I'm just wondering, are there any situations, where the AI will vassalize to you in times of peace?

 

[CivScientist]

Yes, but you must be friendly with them, in close proximity with them, and quite a bit more powerful than them. And, even then, it depends on the leader and his or her whims. I can attest that it does happen sometimes, though. It happens most often when that civ is in a war and in a desperate situation where they face annihilation.

 

[icantdrawanime]

Yea, I thought thats what I had with Isabella vs Louis (he had 3-4 cities and was centuries ahead in tech) but somehow she held on. It turned out to be a good thing because her culture would have really been annoying after I took over Europe

I'd just like to hear about situations where this has happened so I know when to look out for the chance to vassalize someone out of friendship.

 

[Greeneyedzombie]

In very rare instances you can demand them to become a vassal. Only had it happen twice. Still dont know what triggers it to happen this way, and if it is a volantuary vassal ship, or a capitulation.

 

[obsolete]

You don't have to worry about vassal culture. The master gets huge culture bonuses here. I like this system because firaxis decided not to allow you to GIFT back trouble culture cities.

 

[sylvanllewelyn]

It's also dependent on tech and economics I'm afraid. Mansa Musa often has an uncomfortable number of vassals. The good thing is I could raze the UN, declare nuclear warfare on him, raze his cities, and capitulate him and his vassals.

 

[Mack_Jagger]

Yeah that has happened to me. Mansa came by gravelling, Could you please protect weak Mali, or something. Sure I said and the turn afte he attacked China in the north and let me handle the fighting while he turtled in his castel. And upon that, I couldn't keep the conquered chinese citys due to culture pressure from both Mali and China, so I just had to gift them to Mansa the turtle who hadn't lifted one finger in the military struggle. Nice one Mansa.

 

[Brave Jay]

I've yet to have someone voluntarily become my vassal. I see the ai become vassals to other ai all the time though.

 

[r_rolo1]

A picture worths a thousand words:

I was doing a cav rush to the worst enemy of Ragnar ( Bismark ) that had beaten him hard ( beaten most of his army and razed one city ( that I resettled ASAP ). I was in FR so no religion bonuses. This was in Monarch, Warlords 2.08, no mods

 

[Orion071]

A picture worths a thousand words:

I was doing a cav rush to the worst enemy of Ragnar ( Bismark ) that had beaten him hard ( beaten most of his army and razed one city ( that I resettled ASAP ). I was in FR so no religion bonuses. This was in Monarch, Warlords 2.08, no mods

Yeah, I've had Gandhi and Mansa both come looking to me to protect them after someone had been pounding on them for a while. When I was brand new to Warlords, I had Gandhi offering to capitulate to me. I didn't realize that this would drag me into his war and his big, bad neighbor kicked both of our butts. Whoops, lesson learned there.

 

[Quornix]

Just for fun, I played on Settler difficulty (usually Prince, with the occasional Monarch). When I discovered Feudalism, Mansa came and asked to be my vassal, while he was at peace with everyone, and not particularly close. He left once he switched from the religion I'd founded, and been running, to another religion I'd founded.

It's sort of fun to play on Settler -- I had every wonder, and hit Liberalism in the BCs. Picked up Steel.

 

[obliterate]

In the Earth 1000AD scenario I was playing as France and Qin Shi Huang asked to be my vassal.

 

[Unconquered Sun]

The downside of peaceful vassalization is that it can be canceled at any time. However, the resource deals stay, so go and take the AI single resources it won't normally trade.

Also, tell the AI what to research and avoid military techs if you're worried about their independence. It partially depends on their military strength.

 

[Legba]

I remember Mansa Musa asking me to vassalize him once. He was Friendly to me, on another continent and was getting destroyed by the French. I think when a very weak civ gets into trouble they may ask a Friendly super power to take them under their wing.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

I tried this fortnights GMinor, (23 I think), settler difficulty going for quickest space win. Mansa wanted to be my vassal on a duel map (only opponent) handing me a conquest win in 140AD (EDIT: Obviously I turned him down). I never even attacked him. Settler is a bit easy though. He asked about 4 times more too.