Who's the Best Ally?

[Alexander I]

Which of all the Civ4 leaders makes for the best/easiest permanent ally?

I'd personally have to say Cyrus, as he is much more congenial than many of the other leaders.

[Ming]

A lot depends on what civics you like playing. While there are some leaders (like Cyrus) who are "reasonable" and easier to make long term relations with. But it's really sad that things can change so quickly.

I really hate when I have spent the whole game maintaining such a relationship... foresaking and pissing everybody else in the game... getting to the friendly/pleased stage... only to have the bastard declare war because somebody you are beating up decided they should become a vassal of your buddy

[Will9]

I've found Saladin to be trustworthy. You get a religon relation bonus from him and he also keeps a good sized army.

[Alexander I]

I think the only other leader I've gotten a permallliance with besides Cyrus is good ol' Imperator Caesar Augustus. Not quite sure how it happened, either.

[LordShiva]

WTF is an "ally?"

[Alexander I]

Originally posted by LordShiva
WTF is an "ally?"

That would be the singular form of "allies."

[Solver]

Saladin - I find him extremely trustworthy provided we have the same religion.
Mansa Musa - probably the fastest researcher around and willing to trade.
Ramesses - you get massive bonuses from sharing his religion, and there's usually a good amount of trading opportunity

[Brutus66]

I like to play Victoria most of the time because of the traits and the Redcoat UU, and I find that when either German leader is in a game, they invariably become my best friend.

[Wiglaf]

Originally posted by Ming
A lot depends on what civics you like playing. While there are some leaders (like Cyrus) who are "reasonable" and easier to make long term relations with. But it's really sad that things can change so quickly.

I really hate when I have spent the whole game maintaining such a relationship... foresaking and pissing everybody else in the game... getting to the friendly/pleased stage... only to have the bastard declare war because somebody you are beating up decided they should become a vassal of your buddy

I thought vassal states adopt the diplomatic status of the master, not the other way around?

[Blake]

It's really hard to argue against Alexander.

He's easy to befriend due to an accessible favorite Civic.
He enjoys fairly good relation boosts from shared religion.

He is not unbearably incompetent at teching, but nor will he ever outstrip your research. The best trade partner is a slightly backwards trade partner who can be kept as a viable trade partner by tech gifts but who will fall behind when you decide to end the trading. It also helps if they have little interest in building wonders.

The biggest reason though, is that he's completely fearless, he'll attack anyone for the right price and that price is usually very reasonable.

It's my opinion that you don't want whores for allies - you don't want Mansa Musa, Hatty or Cyrus, they'll trade with anyone. You want to have an ally which everyone else hates - that makes them trustworthy and entirely dependent on you. As such an antisocial personality is actually a good thing it means they do the hard work of making everyone else not like them, also demands are a great way to boost relationships.

[AAHZ]

For some reason... I have ALWAYS gotton along with Huayna Capac, whom I have given the wonderful and loving nickname of: Hoochie Coochie, or simply THE HOOCH.

...let he be forever known by that name here at 'Poly, and let us never forget that it 'twas AAHZ that named him...
thank you and piece™

[Alexander I]

Really? Huayna Capac is always a piece of work in my games. Always belligerent and demanding.

[Cyrus The Mike]

whenever I can, I suck up to Cyrus. but thats because I like him in real life. I never do go to war without good reson. (Like taking more people to freedom )

But i only ever got a perminant alliance with Hatchepsut.

[Six Thousand Year Old Man]

Usually some schlep who I've managed to share religions with. All the AIs are eventually disposable.

[DrSpike]

Mansa for tech, Alexander for wars.

[Pinchak]

From a sheer loyalty perspective, Ghandi never backstabs (IME).

For traits and whatnot, i tend to agree with others opinions.

Overall though, the best ally is the one who hates who you hate.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend".

[Pandemoniak]

Why, your neighbour's neighbour !

[VonSharma]

Mansa Musa is awesome. I remember an instance when we shared religions and I was gettin behind in techs, and he just came and gifted me a tech. This was on Monarch or Emperor too.

He had me at hello.

Although I don't trust Hatty enough to ally with her, she is a very good trading partner since all the other civs usually end up hating on her.

And I did have a couple of good experiences with Huayna. You have to be the same religion of course and it takes a LONG time to nurture the relationship (ie giving gifts in the beginning to get him to open up to trade), but he became really loyal. Was my only permanent alliance I was able to holla at.

[JackRudd]

Tokugawa! If you make Tokugawa your ally, the world will marvel at your awesomeness, and you will win the game easily.

[MattDoyle]

Is a permanent alliance worth it? I've had the option once (i think it was with washington) but thought that would make it harder to win rather than easier? (i.e. don't you then share the space race?)

[Alexander I]

Originally posted by MattDoyle
Is a permanent alliance worth it? I've had the option once (i think it was with washington) but thought that would make it harder to win rather than easier? (i.e. don't you then share the space race?)

I could see Washington as a good ally, potentially.

[Qwertqwert]

Mansa Musa. Though not a great warrior, he will reashearch and trade constantly.

[petermarkab]

Here's a couple for you to mull over...

"Fear of death has been the greatest ally of tyranny past and present."
- Sidney Hook

"Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship."
- this one i can't remember off hand!

[MattDoyle]

At the risk of taking the bait... Master Yoda.

[patcon]

Originally posted by MattDoyle
At the risk of taking the bait... Master Yoda.

Ah ... master bait you are at taking!

[petermarkab]

Originally posted by patcon

Ah ... master bait you are at taking!

hehe

[Crossfire]

I actually have really good luck with the Mongols. If we share a religion and I hand him a favor or two he will go to war with anyone I ask and never back stabs me.

[One_more_turn]

Monty, the most dependable and competent lackey.

[Brael]

Haha, I haven't been able to repeat it but I once had the same success with Monty as an ally as Blake is saying with Alexander. I kept an unguarded border with Monty all game just to taunt him too, unguarded workers on the border, empty cities on the border, etc... I had him as my ally all game and he never attacked me until I gifted him something like 500 units (I did this after I won). Once that happened he immeaditley attacked me. Random personalities weren't on.

[Blake]

The problem with Monty compared with Alexander, is you can't suck to Monty via Civics until you BOTH have Police State. It's not hard to get to pleased with Monty, but the "Friendly shield of immunity" is somewhat less easily obtained than with Alexander.