Why can't you be an AI's vassal state?

[Heerlo]

Hello everyone.I don't come here to often;I have Civ5 and don't play Civ4 much anymore.

But I just still wonder why I never could be an AI's vassal state on Civ4 vanilla or Warlords(I never had BTS, so I don't know if you can on it or not).Is it this way with everyone, or is there just something wrong with my game?Or was it purposely made that way?

Maybe someone can tell me.Thanks.

 

[Lord_Herobrine]

I always thought that it would be interesting to be another Civ's vassal. I think they didnt add it because then you would not be able to DOW and your master could control your research and diplomacy.

 

[Smilingrogue]

I think the simplest explanation is being a vassal amounts to a loss by conquest. There is also possibility of gaming the system. Provoke Ragnar to war early, lose a crap city (players already gift cities anyway ) agree to become his vassal and now you can use him as a meat-shield and grow peacefully and break away whenever you are ready later down the line.

Defensive pacts act the same way but are not always easy to get as the AI in question needs to be at a certain level of diplomatic disposition towards the player.

 

[CocoIsKing28]

It would be hard for an AI to force you to give resources or to tech a certain tech, and, as stated before, becoming a vassal really amounts to defeat.

 

[The_J]

Or was it purposely made that way?

This. It's an artificial restriction. Some modders have even removed it.

From a gameplay/immersion point of view: If you're a vassal, then it means you're a loser. And this game is not really meant to be played as a loser. It's already bad enough that vassals can win, but playing yourself as vassal is even worse.

 

[Te_Wheki]

I imagine it would be abusable for cultural wins too, get to a point where you are ready to dump the slider to 100% culture, declare war , lose a couple of border cities, capitulate then you have a big brother to defend you/deter others while you wait for legendary culture.

 

[Absolution]

It is possible in the World Builder.

The master can demand resources in a unique way, and it appears on a special pop-up (not in the trade window).
If you refuse, he declares war on you.

 

[Heerlo]

This. It's an artificial restriction. Some modders have even removed it.

From a gameplay/immersion point of view: If you're a vassal, then it means you're a loser. And this game is not really meant to be played as a loser. It's already bad enough that vassals can win, but playing yourself as vassal is even worse.

So it's not just something wrong with my game then?Okay thanks all.

It is possible in the World Builder.

The master can demand resources in a unique way, and it appears on a special pop-up (not in the trade window).
If you refuse, he declares war on you.

I have actually done this with the world builder before.

Genghis Khan and Huyana Capac had made a permanent alliance and became a world superpower.I was in a permanent alliance with Hannibal.They invaded the continent me and Hannibal were on, and were defeating me badly.So I used the world builder to make us(me and Hannibal)capitulate to them.

Then they would demand things from me, and sometimes they would gift things to me.

 

[Mec AntiKythera]

Of all the features one could be yearning to add to the game, you want to give away control of your empire? People are odd.

 

[damerell]

It would be very satisfying, though, in the rare game where you vassalised, but came back from the brink to win anyway.

I think the other posters have hit on it, though; the AI is not able to deal with a hostile vassal. I don't mean in the sense that an AI vassal can hate you, but in the sense that a human player who was a vassal might abuse the system in all kinds of ways - for instance, you might peacevassal to an AI only in order to set up a stab.

 

[s.bernbaum]

Everyone else has addressed why the human can't be the AI's vassal. I am a bit puzzled by the first sentence in your opening post's second paragraph. There are no vassals in vanilla. They were introduced in either Warlords or BTS. Since I don't have Warlords, I don't know which one.

 

[lindsay40k]

Nothing wrong with choosing to be a protectorate. If you're playing for a builder win, a moderately buff AI who's friendly with your neighbours can be a handy big brother to hide behind. In my friendly MP games, the Feudalism Oracler often has other players approaching them to become their power bar whilst they tech up.

Being a vassal is only being a loser if your goal is to win by force.

 

[Heerlo]

Everyone else has addressed why the human can't be the AI's vassal. I am a bit puzzled by the first sentence in your opening post's second paragraph. There are no vassals in vanilla. They were introduced in either Warlords or BTS. Since I don't have Warlords, I don't know which one.

Part in bold:Yes, I don't know what I was thinking when I typed that.I knew vassals weren't in vanilla.

They were first used in Warlords.

 

[Louis the XIV]

I created a modcomp that allows humans to be vassals. Or you can install Sword of Islam which also has this or I think Advanced Civ as well.
EDIT: I just realized this thread has been dead for 8 YEARS! Nevermind this post then.

 

[ArchGhost]

One can also just use the worldbuilder and set yourself as vassal to an AI player in the diplomacy/attitudes tool

 

[Louis the XIV]

One can also just use the worldbuilder and set yourself as vassal to an AI player in the diplomacy/attitudes tool

No that sucks. It's very simple to change the code in the DLL and make it possible.

 

[yturk39]

If you'd like the joy of playing as a vassal, try Sid Meier's Colonization IV. Sure, it's not exactly the same game, but you do get the fun of having your lord demand gold from you, or raise your taxes on a regular basis!

Really, though, it is a fun change of pace!

 

[Seraiel]

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