Monarch play and open borders

[Jaichim]

What's the overall affect of allowing open borders with the other Civs in the game. For my current game at Monarch level, I am pretty stingy with open borders. My reasoning is that I would prefer the Civs not know exactly what I do and do not have in my cities. My thought would be that they would be more prone to attacking and aggression with open borders than without.

What are the benefits of open borders? Will they trade more with me, will it repair relationships? For almost the whole game most of the Civs are annoyed with me. Granted some of it is warrented because Rome was being a pain in my behind, but that's the only civ I ever declared war on for the whole game. I'm at 1547AD now.

Should I just open up my borders and hope it things get better?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Jai

 

[hotstuffjsn]

I'm not sure how things differ on Monarch, but on Noble I like to open as many borders as I can just for the pure benefit of trade routes plus the positive modifiers I get with that Civ. Of course, I always try to stay strong and think that I could always use diplomacy to avoid a war. Just try to stay on their good side!

 

[Cam_H]

What are the benefits of open borders?

Jaichim,

Refer: Roland's post from Benefits from open borders?

Type "Open Borders" into the Search facility and seek out 'Titles only' in the Civ4 Strategies and Tips Forum for more posts.

 

[vicawoo]

i prefer not to open borders, but there's a lot of pressure to do so to some trade routes up and to make a friend (to use against your enemy).

 

[Jaichim]

Thanks Cam H for the link to the other post. Seems it is a balance. My current method I guess is a bit lacking in compromise department!

J.

 

[InvisibleStalke]

Don't open borders to your close neighbours until you have settled all the city sites you want to. And don't open borders until you have a trade route to their cities via roads or sailing. Usually the two criteria aren't far apart - you don't get connected until you have close cities by settling the intervening terrain.

With distant civs you can consider opening borders for the +1 relationship bonus only - they are unlikely to send settlers in your direction before settling all the closer land.

 

[hotstuffjsn]

Don't open borders to your close neighbours until you have settled all the city sites you want to. And don't open borders until you have a trade route to their cities via roads or sailing. Usually the two criteria aren't far apart - you don't get connected until you have close cities by settling the intervening terrain.

With distant civs you can consider opening borders for the +1 relationship bonus only - they are unlikely to send settlers in your direction before settling all the closer land.

Thank you for that expert advice! I totally forgot you need to be connected on a trade network to receive benefits of an open borders...In your opinion, is it only worth having one open border just for the trade routes?

 

[MrCynical]

I might be wrong but I've noticed that after I open border with several civs that hve that tech t he tech bar increases slightly or goes down a turn.

Opening borders will boost your trade routes (as foreign trade routes give 2.5 times as much commerce as domestic), and hence give you more science. The AI will see a similar boost (unless running mercantilism). There's no modifier beyond that though.

 

[madscientist]

On huge maps with 11 other AIs open borders are a can of worms. I prefer to have open borders with everyone but it is nor always the best.

1) Increases foreign trade route production.
2) Allows you to trade resources with an AI on the other side of the AI you just open borders with.
3) Spread religions, for good or bad.
4) The +2 relation modified is deceptive. Yes you get the +2 with that AI but you may be getting -4 relations with several others because you traded with our worse enemiesm (YTWOWE). Also once you have open borders another AI will ask you to stop trading which if A) refuse, you get a -1 penalty and likely the -4 YTWOWE or B) the former ally is really ticked at you.
5) The war mongers are the most likely to demand you stop trading with other AIs and become irate if you don't, all the while they are scoping you out for attack.

Choices of when/who to open border with

A) Open borders with the AI most likely to be a loyal friend (advice, NOT Montezuma) for a good part of the game. At least until you declare war on them.
B) Pick a leader with your same religion or a religion different from an AI you plan to war against.
C) Open border with a leader to that you can get a bonus from favorite civic. Examples Monarchy (Catherine, Ragnar, Hyuana), orgaanized religion (Ramses, Brennus), vassalage (Cyrus, Mehmed). Watch for ones who either do not use their favorite civic (Washington almost never uses free speech) or one you do not plan to use like Police state (see Montezuma above).
D) Open borders with civc next to you. Nothing more annoying than having an army coming at you from an AI you cannot retaliate against if you cannot go into your neighbor's land because there is no open borders. I am pretty sure Shaka bribes your neighbors to close open borders before he attacks for this reason.

 

[InvisibleStalke]

Thank you for that expert advice! I totally forgot you need to be connected on a trade network to receive benefits of an open borders...In your opinion, is it only worth having one open border just for the trade routes?

No - open them with anyone you want to trade with - once you have currency you will probably need more than one trading partner to get foreign trade routes in all your cities.

My point was not to open them before you have finished settling and not to open them until you actually are going to get some foreign trade routes. Sometimes you might be helping the AI and not yourself (eg if they have sailing or Astronomy and you don't).

Once you have the trade route and you have finished settling then definitly use them.