[BNW] why AIs feel to be inconsistent?

[tramwajg]

so, I usually end up fighting the whole world and conquering half of cities, even though I don't want to, usually it goes like:
1. civilizations want to declare friendship, I do
2. one of them is unhappy I declared friendship
3. one of civs asks me to join their war against other civ
4. if I refuse, the one who asked stops to like me, and occasionally the one I refused against, will denounce or wardec themselves
5. if I agree, the civ I supported seem to not remember it at all, yesterday I had a case when civ I was in defense pact with, asked me to help in joint war, then they stopped friendship declaration because I am warmonger, became hostile, and wardecced me themselves
what is logic about it? I'd wanna build up peacefully, but if I try to, they will attack, and even if I try to be friends with one or two, they will randomly change their mind later on, and attack anyway? anyone has idea how to have a more peaceful and diplomatic game?

 

[Naokaukodem]

anyone has idea how to have a more peaceful and diplomatic game?

Yes : the answer for this game is build peacefully, build some units if you can for dissuasion, but most importantly : bribe civs that amass troops near your borders to attack someone else. I won a Deity game that way, and I had only 5 cities and 2 units. When I was looking at AIs nuclear bombing themselves, I was building the spaceship ! But I really had no time to build everything not essential, not even units. It was a fun game !

 

[Kriogen]

How I handle aggressive Civs:
- I give them 1 Iron or 1 Horse or 1 gold(money) per turn. Like: I give X, I want nothing in return. This generates "good points" every turn
- Civs get more aggresive, if thay can build their unique unit. Like Shaka when he can build Impis.
- So I go: Shaka I give you Wine (lux) if you attack "insert any Civ near Shaka". Aggresive Civs want to fight. They will fight. So its more a question who will be victim. You or someone else.
- So, I never just sell all of my bonus luxuries. I first check, if I can bribe some crazy Civ. Yes, money is good, but not if you get overrun by Impis
- I only join a war if I want to attack anyway. So I never "join" other peoples wars.
- I never form Friendship. OK, maybe for science projects. Maybe. AI logic is: a Friend of my Enemy is my Enemy. But a Friend of my Friend is kinda, maybe my Friend, but not for long.

In general, "bribe" almost every turn. You call AI. Dont wait for AI to contact you. Very careful with friendships. AI uses friendship as a tool/weapon to get something. It asks you for this or that, it generates "hate" for you (coz theit enemy now hates you). AI never gives you something "for free".

You should also know, that AI hates if Player is winning. Because AI wants to win. So even if you did nothing wrong, it will "find" a way to hate you.

 

[tramwajg]

I found out that no matter what I do, even if I always help one empire in everything, at some point they will become hostile from friendly.. now I think it's better to try weakening them while they are weak, or otherwise they will become stronger and attack anyway

btw. their wars are not making sense, now they are sending trebuchets and composite archers against my fortified cities with gatlings

 

[Kriogen]

Another reason why AI feels inconsistant (but its not), is that AI lies.

AI "fakes" Friendly status. They hate you, but they supress hate to get on your good side and then backstabs you.
Example:
- Byzantium doesn't like you because reasons
- Attila attacks Byzantium
- Theodora is all like: world is so crual and your are my best friend since forever.
- ... no she doesn't like you, she just wants to use you as a guard dog.
- Attila is like: wow, you friend with Theodora. Here have some battering rams and Horse Archers
- ... now you are in war. As AI doesn't sign peace easily, the best way to to get it, is to knock down AI city or two.
- Theodora: what, you monster. Huns where such a nice people and you burned down their cities. I Denounce!

Its not a bug, its a feature. From Theodoras perspective its:
- I stopped Attila with the power of friendship
- Attila is now weaker or maybe dead
- oh, and now everyone hates Player (because Theodora will sign Friendship with other AIs and by the rule of "enemy of my friend is my enemy" others will also Denounce you)
- total win for Theodora