On navigating through City States' waters

[Mr_PeaCH]

Early game, before you can send ships out over deep ocean and are forced along the coastline tiles, encountering a City-State with boundaries blocking the water are a real problem. If it were a regular Civilization I might make a borders deal. But with the City States there is no way except Suzerain and starting a war. There ought to be an exception for CS waters. Or possibly a non-military vessel which can explore waters with impunity.

 

[daliwest]

Well, play with Norway, they have early access to ocean tiles. Problem solved.

/Dali

 

[Victoria]

It is very annoying, especially as a naval country. Gunboat diplomacy and terracotta army are a long way off so your only hope is become suzerain. Which brings up another point, if I have open borders with someone I should get open borders with their ally CS.
I guess you could always declare war on them. There should be a threat option "let me past or I'll blast"

I often find it fairly easy to get an open borders with a civ thats not too angry... But a CS...