why do they attack me?
- Thread starter dominatr
- Start date
darski
Regent in Training
They attack when they think they can win... were you weak or strong compared to them?
They also attack when they are frustrated - even if it is certain doom.
Oh yeah - when it is Cathy - she DOWs because she is Cathey.
They also attack when they are frustrated - even if it is certain doom.
Oh yeah - when it is Cathy - she DOWs because she is Cathey.
Snarkhunter
Prince
Oh yeah - when it is Cathy - she DOWs because she is Cathey.
And when it is Gandhi, he attacks when he thinks he can stab you in the back
kk
ChaosArbiter
King
Gandhi attacks because he thinks you won't retaliate when he uses nukes.
If they perceive you as weak, they are more likely to attack. If you give them open borders and have an undefended city, it's like offering a drink to an alcoholic. Can't resist.
However, an attack can come at any time. I think the RNG rolls dice and declares war for no particular reason. Never trust an AI not to declare, even if he's gracious, even if you're trading, even if you're stronger. A lot of things may affect the PROBABILITY of an attack, but I don't know of any way to stop them attacking you, besides killing them.
Remember the tip about, if you're sure the attack is coming, buy everything for gold per turn and then they attack you and it cancels your obligation? The attack might make no sense, but they still do it.
However, an attack can come at any time. I think the RNG rolls dice and declares war for no particular reason. Never trust an AI not to declare, even if he's gracious, even if you're trading, even if you're stronger. A lot of things may affect the PROBABILITY of an attack, but I don't know of any way to stop them attacking you, besides killing them.
Remember the tip about, if you're sure the attack is coming, buy everything for gold per turn and then they attack you and it cancels your obligation? The attack might make no sense, but they still do it.
dominatr
Smoke Jaguar
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2010
- Messages
- 922
well my borders were somewhat defended, a few midieval inf.s outside of every city. my military in general was pretty weak compared to the rest, but i was first in pop, land and productivity. And of course the english go out of their way to send a few galleys across the ocean to cap a spearman guarded city on my coast. Im fending off william's troops pretty well though
1st in pop, land, and productivity? You weren't 1st in Gold as well, by any chance? As others have said, AIs DOW-ing on you can often make no sense at all - but if you see your treasury filling up nicely, others are seeing it too, and get tempted to try to grab some of it. So getting rich is a cue to get a strong military as well.
I'm really surprised the English managed to capture one of your cities with an amphibious invasion; I don't think I've ever seen the AI wage war effectively across sea/ocean. More usually I see a scary-looking Naval Task Force of 2 Caravels approaching, guarded by 3 Frigates if the enemy has the tech; this armada comes to shore, and spits out.... 2 Spearmen! Then they just bugger off again, without the Frigates firing a shot.
Mind you, those 2 Spearmen can get lucky with the RNG. My way of insuring against this kind of thing is to keep mounted units (Horseman/Knight/Cavalry) sentried on the road network close to coasts, about 1 per 2-3 cities.
I just had a DOH-moment with the Dutch. I'd even investigated a few of their cities and seen the piles (4-5 per city) of these funny-looking defensive Swiss things. So I send my invasion force across; funny that, after a few battles, I'm fending off swarms of units. Willem must have been thanking me in his prayers for giving him a Golden Age.
He wasn't laughing so much when I captured one of his cities with a Barracks, disconnected his Iron, and used the Barracks to upgrade all my cannon to Artillery...
woodandearth
Chieftain
My experience tells me the AI's are likely to attack
1) when it is paying too much gold per turn to you;
2) when it has a large amount of off. units near some of your town which has few def. units;
3) when your town in border is undefended (as Ataxerxes mentioned in #6);
4) when you block its expanding route.
1) when it is paying too much gold per turn to you;
2) when it has a large amount of off. units near some of your town which has few def. units;
3) when your town in border is undefended (as Ataxerxes mentioned in #6);
4) when you block its expanding route.
woodandearth
Chieftain
And interestingly, I have also encountered an unusual case:
I put my fortified submarine at a channel (very narrow place for naval unit passing). The AI unit cannot see my submarine but still want to pass. So it automatically attack the sub. and declare war on me.
I put my fortified submarine at a channel (very narrow place for naval unit passing). The AI unit cannot see my submarine but still want to pass. So it automatically attack the sub. and declare war on me.
And that's why I don't like invisible units in Civ 3. It just doesn't work and is highly exploitable.
creamcheese
Spreading since 1990
They attack when they think they can win... were you weak or strong compared to them?
They also attack when they are frustrated - even if it is certain doom.
Oh yeah - when it is Cathy - she DOWs because she is Cathey.
I really hate it when they DOW on me when I am so far in the lead it's silly. Like when I'm rolling in tanks and infantry and they have riflemen and cavs... Hopefully in Civ5 the AI gets smarter.
Also I think they are more likely to declare if you leave any cities without a unit in them. When I am playing as a republic and use military only in my border cities they seem to think I am easy pickings, even if I am strong vs. them.
Hellfiredoom
Warlord
Slightly off topic, this brings to mind a question I've been wondering on. An AI DOWs on me, then as usual 10-20 turns later asks for a peace treaty, which I typically decline. My thinking is 1) I like the war happiness their DOW gives me, and 2) by keeping them locked in war past the 20 turns, does that produce war weariness on their side, or does it "wear off" by my declining their peace treaty?
EDIT: just wanted to add I'm almost always in Monarchy or Communism, so I don't worry about WW in my empire.
EDIT: just wanted to add I'm almost always in Monarchy or Communism, so I don't worry about WW in my empire.
I'm not sure about #2. I think war happiness wears off over time. I usually try to negotiate peace (hey, I'm greedy, what will you give me?). If the war isn't bring you much, I'd be concerned about a dogpile on me. Another tactic is, once they ask for peace, beat them up for a turn or two and see if they'll give you more. War is an opportunity.
ChaosArbiter
King
If you have a "phony war" with nothing happening, WH doesn't seem to wear off - I've been at war for dozens of turns in Republic with someone who lived across the ocean (and therefore couldn't attack me) and the happiness stayed until I made peace.
The AI does suffer from WW the same way you do. It doesn't matter if you've declined a peace deal.
The AI does suffer from WW the same way you do. It doesn't matter if you've declined a peace deal.
Check my signature for the link to the articles explaining war happiness and war weariness. It is especially useful for continent and archipelago games if you get declared on by a civ who can't even reach you.
Hellfiredoom
Warlord
Thanks for the responses.
Daeron, I read this in your post: "3) Make an agreement (Military Alliance (MA), for instance) that include “peace treaty”. When AI break Alliance they automatically declare war and WH". My concern here by making an MA is getting pulled into a war outside my control, so typically don't issue MAs until late in the game when I'm war-mongering and use allies to wear down my targeted AI, plus lower my allies forces.
I do play continent maps so I'll work at irritating those off shore AIs. Is there a tried-and-true method for getting an AI to DOW on my galley?
Daeron, I read this in your post: "3) Make an agreement (Military Alliance (MA), for instance) that include “peace treaty”. When AI break Alliance they automatically declare war and WH". My concern here by making an MA is getting pulled into a war outside my control, so typically don't issue MAs until late in the game when I'm war-mongering and use allies to wear down my targeted AI, plus lower my allies forces.
I do play continent maps so I'll work at irritating those off shore AIs. Is there a tried-and-true method for getting an AI to DOW on my galley?
The trick to which I think Daeron is referring is a way of getting the AI to DOW you. Here's an example: I'm at war with Civ A. I declare on Civ B, then I make peace with Civ A and I include an MA against Civ B in the treaty. The chances of Civ A actually fighting for the full 20 turns against Civ B is pretty slim and when Civ A makes peace with Civ B, they will be forced to DOW me. I think you get War Happiness from this, but I could be wrong on that.
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