Does anyone know how the AI determines the cost of a military alliance? I wonder if it's more than just your unit count and attack strength. One of the things that I'm pretty sure is missing in the equation is the distance of you to the Civ that is the target of the MA. But I was wondering how trade rep, diplomatic standing, tech and your civ's strength compared to the civ you want the MA with, level factor in.
Putting a value on Military Alliances
- Thread starter Daeron
- Start date
marceagleye
Underground Economist
There are too many factors to consider. their relations with you vs. their relations with the target civ. If they have ongoing trade with the target civ that is mutually profitable, it will be very expensive for you. Sometimes luxes and rersources aren't enough... you may need to give up a tech. On the other hand if they already hate each other it may not cost you anything. In fact if they have surplus gold, luxes and resources they may even pay you.
Yeah, I figured that. I was mostly wondering if there are key factors involved that allow you to sell your military might effectively. A mercenary state as it were. 
A few gpt is really not worth getting into a war, a nice new tech and a large amount of gpt however..
It's not uncommon for the player to buy strong allies for insane amounts of money. But I've never really had the AI make me a tempting offer, even though they can have a pretty high price themselves now and then.
A few gpt is really not worth getting into a war, a nice new tech and a large amount of gpt however.. It's not uncommon for the player to buy strong allies for insane amounts of money. But I've never really had the AI make me a tempting offer, even though they can have a pretty high price themselves now and then.
Turn it around.
When you need units, get an ally do the dirty work for you.
Best used when they are close to the enemy.
I've turned around a game that way by, while I was the #3 power, setting up #1 and #2 against each other. I picked off the torn continent after the war. Hilarious.
When you need units, get an ally do the dirty work for you.
Best used when they are close to the enemy.
I've turned around a game that way by, while I was the #3 power, setting up #1 and #2 against each other. I picked off the torn continent after the war. Hilarious.
Optional
Deity
This thread has opened my eyes, because I never thought about selling my military to the highest bidder. When I was offered an alliance, I simply clicked it away.
If two civs are at war, I should have actively been checking how much they're willing to pay for an alliance. Even if it's only a few hundred gold, I might not stand anything to lose, especially when the intended enemy isn't nearby and not advanced.
At least I've changed a bad habit around now, and in my current game I'm actually making a bit of extra money here and there by selling my 'services'.
If two civs are at war, I should have actively been checking how much they're willing to pay for an alliance. Even if it's only a few hundred gold, I might not stand anything to lose, especially when the intended enemy isn't nearby and not advanced.
At least I've changed a bad habit around now, and in my current game I'm actually making a bit of extra money here and there by selling my 'services'.
You definitely need to make sure locking yourself in for 20 turns is not going to interfere with your long term plans. In my last game I was going for a space race. In my latest regent game I was one age ahead in tech and only needed a bit more territory for science farms to do 4 turn research in the modern age.
I ended up going for French territory, allying myself with the Portugese to keep my western border protected. Guess what, I research rocketry and there is no aluminum anywhere in my territory which was by far the biggest and the French who were third, didn't have any either.
The Portugese had aluminum, two tiles across my border but I was their ally. I ended up needing to eliminate the French and build culture at the borders with the Vikings to snatch their aluminum. This delayed me building the Apollo program by about 16 turns.
I ended up going for French territory, allying myself with the Portugese to keep my western border protected. Guess what, I research rocketry and there is no aluminum anywhere in my territory which was by far the biggest and the French who were third, didn't have any either.
The Portugese had aluminum, two tiles across my border but I was their ally. I ended up needing to eliminate the French and build culture at the borders with the Vikings to snatch their aluminum. This delayed me building the Apollo program by about 16 turns.
Bartleby
Remembers laughter
Daeron, in that situation I'd just figure that my reputation didn't matter anymore and secure the nearest source of Aluminium by foul means. 
Daeron, in that situation I'd just figure that my reputation didn't matter anymore and secure the nearest source of Aluminium by foul means.
Very true, should probably have gone for it. But I wanted to finish the game with a clean rep. After all, they might not have silks on Alpha Centauri.
templar_x
usually walks his talks
you can stilll click that window away. but if you find a trading opportunity you have one more value to use for trade now. just make sure to choose your opponent yourself, at the time you are willing to do so. usually it is best to look for active wars you might be able to join and check for what you can get out of that alliance deal.
i do have a nice example for this: in a current sid game i am trying (what? sid??
) i got into quite an ok military position by 1000bc. now my only close neighbour managed to get himself into war with 4 (!) sid ai´s. now i was able to get several still missing first tier techs (you know, the old "buying up from behind" game) for free or very cheaply by allying with all 4 opponents. sweet! there does not even seem to exist a 2nd or 3rd or last civ price like with techs!
now cross your fingers i survice this...
marceagleye - i never saw an ai offering money for an alliance against a foe they are not at war with or just declaring (when they come up to you with that request).
templar_x
While I haven't had them come to me offering money to ally with one of my enemies, I have had them pay when I've asked them. In my most recent game, I asked one foe to join an alliance with another AI with which they were not at war, and they paid me 3 gpt for the privilege of going to war.
