Vassal states

[PureE]

Hey all, new here, got a question.

I've been playing Civ IV BtS for some time now, and I always get a distinct problem in the late game. I play on monarch level, and usually I'm 3rd or 4th in the list, because I build up slowly. By the time I start getting aggressive, I have some power and can overturn all the small civs and some of the big ones. So I declare war, have all my troops there, capture a city...

and then someone else vassals the guy and I get shoved aside. If I try to vassal them they won't agree until I have pounded everything and the moon into pixie dust, but after losing their smallest city they are willing to jump into the arms of virtually anybody who isn't me.

The only solution I came up with is disabling vassal states, but I feel I'm losing a very integral game detail by doing so. Anybody got another solution? Thanks!

 

[GravityWave]

They'll capitulate to the civ that's done the most damage to them usually, whilst they'll become a voluntary vassal of any civ that can protect them and is willing (each leader has their own diplomatic threshold for this).

To stop them capitulating you'll have to do more damage to the civ than your war allies and check the diplomatic screen every turn to see if they are willing to give in. To stop them becoming a voluntary vassal and bringing in a war ally against you make sure you have a good lead on the power graph.

 

[PureE]

They'll capitulate to the civ that's done the most damage to them usually, whilst they'll become a voluntary vassal of any civ that can protect them and is willing (each leader has their own diplomatic threshold for this).

Is that restrictive to the latest war? Or will they capitulate to me if I took half of them and are now at peace?

check the diplomatic screen every turn to see if they are willing to give in.

How can I see that? Do I have to open trade and ask them for it every turn?

 

[Bowsling]

I'm pretty sure you do, but it might be on the foreign adviser screen.
BTW, welcome to CivFanatics, PureE

 

[Inky]

Assuming current (3.17) patch, an AI won't capitulate except to the enemy (currently at war) who has done the most damage in the current war. Assuming that is you, that shouldn't be a problem. If you are worried that your allies are doing more for the war effort than you are, try to get them to make peace. Better yet, do without war allies, if you can and are worried about this problem.

Voluntary vassalization follows different rules. An AI can choose to do so at any point, but the new master must immediately declare war on all of the vassals enemies. Nothing much you can do about this, except keep good relations with anyone powerful enough to take you and your allies on in exchange for a new vassal.

Capitulation requires a current war. If you make peace, you can only get voluntary vassalization, not capitulation.

Capitulation ends all wars with the new vassal automatically. If the master (you if you can arrange it) is still at war, the vassal automatically declares (or remains at) war on all of your enemies.

I don't know of any other way to check for potential capitulation other than opening a dialog each turn. Certainly, you should try after any turn in which you've taken a city, if you're looking for a capitulation result.

If you are leading in power, you can get voluntary peacetime vassals. The more you get, the more power your alliance has, and the easier it is to vassalize others.

 

[Bowsling]

and the more gold you have to pay, and the more other unvassled nations hate you