Mutual Protection Pact Useful??

[Dearnen]

I had a MPP pay off the other day.

The French were on my southern border, and they had been furious with me for a long time. (I had started many wars with them over the centuries, taking several of their cities in the process). Despite my victories, the French were able to rebuild their strength by expanding to their south, at the expense of the Persians (who had been quite strong at one time, but eventually were at war with everyone). The other four remaining nations (India, China, Rome, and Japan) were located on another continent.

Unfortunately, I was having a heck of a time with resources. Not only did I lack a decent supply of coal, rubber and other such things, but I lacked a good supply of luxuries. For a long time, the only nations that had what I needed wouldn't trade with me.

Thus, I was in a weakened position. Suddenly one turn the Chinese, with whom I had a decent relationship (though they had no resources or luxuries I could use) offered a MPP. I was tempted to say no, since I didn't want to get dragged into any ugly wars on far off continents. But, I had noticed that they had never been at war with any of the other nations on their continent - but had waged several with Persia. In fact, they seemed to often fight alongside their neighbors. Thus, I decided to take the chance that any war China did get into would actually work in my favor.

The very next turn, the French launched a sudden and massive attack on my southern border! Without that MPP, I would have been on my own against a much stronger nation. In short order a world war broke out. The French and Persians against everyone else (in time the Japanese switched sides, joining our enemies).

Though I suffered the loss of two cities early on, the tide eventually changed and I was able to push further south into France. Victories over Persia enabled my allies to secure resources and luxuries that they were able to trade to me.

By the time the war ended Persia and Japan had been eliminated, France was greatly weakened, and I had the necessary resource and luxury support to go on and win the game via the space ship.

Without that MPP to split France's war focus, I would have been knocked further down the ladder of victory, possibly to the point of no return.

 

[Dragon Warrior]

Its fun to start big World wars with them

 

[Portuguese]

OK, good to know that, but I'll continue to be very reluctant to sign MPPs.
I prefer to make alliances at the beggining of the war.

Only one thing: how did the chinese trust you?
Didn't you fail your peace word with France several times through history?

 

[bobgote]

OK, this is my current game: Regent, playing as Aztecs. I'm easily the most powerful, I have a continent to myself, but little naval power.
The French (3rd in power) and Indians (2nd) are at war.
India has just made a military alliance with the pitiful iroquois (7th) who have like 2 island towns after i virtually destroyed them. The trick here is that the English (5th) have a MPP with iroquois, so the second france attacks iroquois units, the english get brought in, and france is in trouble. I have just signed an MPP with Japan (4th) who seem to be very peaceful, with no MPPs or wars happening. Lets see how this turns out

 

[Dearnen]

I was actually somewhat surprised that the Chinese wanted to MPP with me. I had attacked the French very early in the game, hoping to take them down quickly. Though I took a couple of their cities, things didn't go so well and I had to sign a peace treaty eventually. From then on, the French attacked me first every time I fought them. For a long time no one liked me much, including the Chinese. Over time, though, relations improved. By the time the Chinese made the offer, I had polite relations with them, the Romans and the Indians. Frankly, I'm not sure why relations improved, since there were no luxuries or resources to trade and they were more advanced in technology. I really had nothing to offer them. The Chinese seemed to say as much when they offered the deal, saying something like: "We have seen that your nation is weak and may not be able to defend itself from its enemies. The Chinese are strong and would like to help defend you." Rather than being insulted, I acknowledged it for the truth.

 

[Lostman]

I'm not a big fan of the MPP's only because I plan for war. I don't like being dragged into one because of the AI. I always plan on being attacked, don't get me wrong, but there's a big difference between defending my cities and wiping out a Civ.

 

[graeme]

MPPs have a couple of great uses. I use them to slow down the AI research (i.e. start a world war even though the combatants won't actually defeat each other) and cause them to waste production on a useless war.

MPPs are better then alliances because you can get peace anytime you want without a rep hit. Of course, the MPP may drag you back into the war on the next turn, but you can get good stuff each time you sue for peace.

I also use MPPs when going for a diplomatic victory. AI civs usually go polite, sometimes even gracious when I sign an MPP the turn before my UN build completes and I get their vote.

 

[Askan]

Some interesting fact. I was on Earth with the Romans dominating Europe, Asia Minor and actual Russia when the bastards (to be read russians) signed an MPP with Germany. Germany were gathered on Island so they weren't a big problem. But they activated they alliance with Egypt wich had MPP with Zulu and the giant China. Next tour i've reseted the computer.

 

[Portuguese]

Originally posted by Askan
Some interesting fact. I was on Earth with the Romans dominating Europe, Asia Minor and actual Russia when the bastards (to be read russians) signed an MPP with Germany. Germany were gathered on Island so they weren't a big problem. But they activated they alliance with Egypt wich had MPP with Zulu and the giant China. Next tour i've reseted the computer.

Chicken!

I'd never surrender.

Try to revert MPPs next time. Some times they have a complex MPPs network (not just a chain like in your case) and I give tecs and some really good stuff to make them war on each other.

Make a World War !

 

[bobgote]

yeah the AI will renege on their agreements. Pick out the most powerful one and turn him against the others.