Planning for dealing with demands

[DaveShack]

It appears the other inhabitants of this world are a very demanding group of artifical people. In two successive play sessions we have faced demands of technology from our somewhat antisocial neighbors. In both cases our preparedness to answer the demands was limited to very general guidelines on what to do.

I'm reluctant to step on toes, but think we need to be ready for the next demand, which seems to be inevitable given this evidence of our neighbors aggressive tendencies. It would really help to have an assessment of our relative strength compared to other nations, the likeliehood they will want contributions from us, and consequently how much risk arises from refusing demands. I would also encourage our great citizens to comment on how much risk you want in this area.

 

[mad-bax]

You don't think the external consulates guidelines are specific enough?

 

[Rik Meleet]

The best way to deal with demands is to have nothing they can demand. Use techs to trade and spread around techs equally. Use gold for embassies and gpt deals. Invest in science and cashrushing (WE THE REPUBLIC) and use extra luxes and resources for trading.

That way we won't have techs to be demanded away, no spare gold to be demanded away etc.

 

[DaveShack]

You don't think the external consulates guidelines are specific enough?

Is it in that link? Typically a DP scans the TCIT and if it doesn't appear there, there is no instruction. This is especially true when playing between sleep and work.

 

[mad-bax]

OK then, I'll cut and paste it in the TCIT in future.

Just FYI
....
1. An Embassy should be established with China prior to any war with another country.
2. Once an Embassy is established with China, any demands made by civilisations further from us than China should be refused.
3. Any demands made by India or The Netherlands made before war with these respective countries should be met. We should pay them.
4. Once our nation has reached a size of 12 cities, no demands should be paid, and this paragraph suercedes paragraphs 3 and 4 in this case.

 

[classical_hero]

What about other nations, because we got threats from nations not close to us?

 

[Bertie]

It would really help to have an assessment of our relative strength compared to other nations, the likeliehood they will want contributions from us, and consequently how much risk arises from refusing demands. I would also encourage our great citizens to comment on how much risk you want in this area.

Compared to virtually every other civ, we're pathetic. But so what? My civ is usually pathetic at this stage of a game. The AI is going to make demands on us no matter what. Usually at a game of this level or above, I almost always give in to demands the AI places on me until sometime in the middle ages. Why? My initial goals usually are to develop an infrastructure and get my economy running. That's also the goal in this game, but there's a huge difference: we have no land. So we're going to have to go to war earlier than usual. Also, we want to foster unrest and slower growth among the other civs, so moving civs from infrastructure development to war is a good thing as long as we don't actually have to fight anyone until we're ready.

If a civ on the other side of the world threatens us, I'm not too worried. If they declare war, by the time we see their troops we should be able to sue for peace should we desire. The civ that I'm most worried about is China, and I'd give into them each and every time they demand something. The only other civ I'd seriously consider would be the Dutch. If they demand something of us in, say, 5 turns, do we cave or no? I'm inclined to say yes: because we're not yet ready to go to war with them.

 

[Furiey]

We need to watch our per turn trades and make sure we don't ruin our reputation by losing our trade routes. Otherwise I'm happy with the priciples mad-bax outlined. The more wars on the other side of the world the better - it'll slow the tech pace.