picking on the leader?

[Lordlombax]

I've got to ask why, WHY, WHY ARE YOU PICKING ON ME!?!? For my last several games, and my current one with the germans, the AI just keeps attacking me for no reason whatsoever, sneak attacking my cities and forming alliances against me. Every time i finally get to peace time, some other random nation declares war... then it gets an alliance with one of the nations that hates me for being at war EARLIER, and eventually its everybody vs me and im effed in the A.

Now, I've noticed that during all of these games I have been in the lead on the scoreboard. Is this why they attack for no reason? Whenever I get a good start on a civ and lead early, i get gangraped by everybody else.

If I could just hold out until I get panzers I can begin my world domination, but currently im in mid middle ages struggling to defend my only source of iron as nations from all side pick off my cities. I dont think i can last

Oh yeah, this is all on regent difficulty.

 

[Gosnork]

When an AI declares on you, sign an alliance with a powerful AI civ that borders them, your AI enemy will be forced to split its forces between the two of you and your AI ally will hopefully bring in other AIs on your side. The reason they are attacking you is either A.) you have a weak military, or B.) they see you as a threat to win the game very soon. Since this is a Middle Ages it is probably A. Keep at least 1 defender in every border town, the AI loves undefended border towns. I've had the weakest AI declare on me because I left one undefended.

 

[NickyH]

Gosnork is right - if you have a weak military, they will see you as an easy target. If that is the case, you should build more offensive units. The have a stronger deterring effect on the AI, compared to defensive units.

 

[MAS]

Keep at least 1 defender in every border town, the AI loves undefended border towns. I've had the weakest AI declare on me because I left one undefended.

Actually, better make that an offensive unit, like a knight.

 

[Gosnork]

That's what I meant, I should have made that more clear.

 

[Lordlombax]

aaaah yeah that makes perfect sense. I have a lot of undefended towns and just ferry units in between the cities that need them. Thanks a lot.

But, does it matter what towns are undefended? Most of the civ's that declare war on me are on the border that has a heavy garrison in each one of its cities... while a bunch of the rest of my empire has none. They come running in and i pulverise most of the attacking forces and eventually they quit.

 

[NickyH]

Booth your total military strength and your undefended cities matter. I believe your military strength as an empire is the most important (correct me if I'm wrong) but undefended cities are also a temptation for the AI. If they see an easy opportunity to grab a city, the sometimes do, even if your military as a whole is much stronger.