Preventing someone from attacking me

[DagorFunk]

I'm at a point in my game (on regent difficulty) where the mighty French keep declaring war on me. Their forces greatly outnumber mine, although I do have a tech advantage which I planned on exploiting later. I've done everything possible to keep them from attacking me, including signing a MPP, bribing them, and even giving them ROP.

Anyone have any ideas on how I can prevent them from declaring war?

FYI, there's only three civs left in the game (started with 8), playing on Pangaea. I control the west, France dominates the centre and Babylon is to the west. Oh yeah, I'm playing as Prussia.

Thanks.

 

[Martian]

You can try offering a decent amount of money (50 gold) each turn, and there opinion should rise, also offer world map for some smaller benefit

 

[American Prez]

You could also try rapidly building a large number of cheap units. The AI can't distinguish between a warrior and Rifleman for purposes of strength. It only sees total units. When you grow "stronger" the AI normally will back off.
As soon as they chill out, I would upgrade or start building stronger units.

 

[Hurricane]

Try to ally with the other civs (get MPP:s with them). The AI usually wants to have some allies when going to war, so this might give the French second thoughts. It´s a bit like the cold war - don´t make friends with your enemy but ally with the enemy´s enemy.

 

[eyrei]

Originally posted by Hurricane
Try to ally with the other civs (get MPP:s with them). The AI usually wants to have some allies when going to war, so this might give the French second thoughts. It´s a bit like the cold war - don´t make friends with your enemy but ally with the enemy´s enemy.

Or, next time they declare war on you sell your mother to get military alliances with everyone who borders them. The French will not be a power, or exist at all, much longer.

 

[DagorFunk]

Well, this post ended up moot. I was able to use my superior tech and an alliance to drive out the French. Then, when I got modern armour, I upgraded my tanks and took a half dozen French cities, including several with Great Wonders in them. The only reason I went for peace was because I had no naval power and their naval and air bombardments from the see were killing my infrastructure. And I still managed to get 50 gold/turn as part of the settlement

 

[Zouave]

Originally posted by American Prez
You could also try rapidly building a large number of cheap units. The AI can't distinguish between a warrior and Rifleman for purposes of strength. It only sees total units. When you grow "stronger" the AI normally will back off.
As soon as they chill out, I would upgrade or start building stronger units.

A variant of that is building only top quality offensive units and massing them where an attack is expected. The AI will think it has superiority (of numbers), but then as they invade en masse you attack en masse with your offensive units and wipe them out, and then invade. I've done that many times to the Germans and Russians.