AI too peaceful?

[muxec]

The game provides little motivation for war. I played and AI's (at least on difficulties up to prince) do not attack me. Even more, they do not fight with each other. Also gathering forces and attacking seems not too smart as what you gain is much less than what you lose.

In Civ3 AI was more agressive and in Civ1 AI was even more agressive. It looks like there must be more motivation for war in next patche, at least reduced time to fully capture and stop resistance in city.

[hexagonian]

Are you beating the game consistently playing strictly peaceful?

[Stuie]

Maybe you should try the Aggressive AI setting...

[pauli]

the ai plays like me now - it's a bit wierd.

war is bad for business, but this is creepy.

[Arrian]

I've played 4 games, 2 on warlord and 2 on noble.

The warlord games were very peaceful.

The noble games were somewhat peaceful - in each, I was attacked at least once (1 time in the first game, and it hurt, and twice in the second game... neither of which hurt). I played pretty peacefully until late.

-Arrian

[My PitBull Tank]

I have found that if you up the number of civs, they attack each other, although not you much.

haven't tried aggressive AI yet, still trying to get used to barbs, maybe try that, as suggested already..

[dearmad]

In my mod, where making units is a bit easier so you get more of them, the AI's get downright hostile at times, though preserving an alliance or two is possible as well.

Got attacked by the mongols twice, and I'm not a small civ... I was lucky enough to bring Spain and Greece intot he war on my side too, so the mongols are doomed!

[AoA]

Maybe it depends on who you're neighbors with. I try to play ultra peaceful and on most games (though I've only been able to finish one due to bugs) some AI comes rampaging through my land and takes half my civ. Seems to be a realistic level of aggression (especially if you check what the AI thinks of you)

[The diplomat]

It is true that my games have been more peaceful than in civ3. But the AI does know how to wage war. I've played games where the AI right behind me in score will declare war on me or the AI right ahead of me will declare war on me when I start building the spaceship. The AI does know to declare war when it thinks you are weak and can be taken down a notch.


As a builder, I like it because it's more realistic. It's not like previous civ games where the AI would essentially declare war all the time. Now the AI will declare war when it makes sense.

[Volstag]

I've noticed it as well. It just seems weird, for a Civ game, that thousands of years can elapse w/o a single war. Not only isn't it very realistic (if you'll allow me to use the term), but it creates a very static geopolitical environment.

If you'll allow me to ramble...

It seems, to me, that civs are way too strict about maintaining the current status quo. Once a deal is cemented, the AI has almost no interest in breaking it -- even if you (or another AI) have the ability to offer incentives that far outstrip, by several factors, what the original deal is worth. And that doesn't even include the potential spoils of war. Even more frustrating is that they don't even give you the option of trying -- the more interesting diplomatic options are almost always red/disabled. I'm assuming that the AI to AI relationships are exactly the same.

In the rare cases there is a war, I've noticed that they're very short, territory rarely changes hands, and it's usually one-on-one. It's like the "war" is nothing more than hurling insults across the border. I keep waiting for an AI civ to steamroll its neighbors and rocket up the leaderboard.

To me this the only "flaw" in the game that I've noticed... other than that, it's superior to Civ III in almost every respect. The diplomacy options in Civ IV have the ability of yielding a much deeper, more compelling experience.... but you're rarely given the option to use them.

Yes, I will be trying the aggressive civ flag... but I've heard it really doesn't change much.

[Arnelos]

I've found the AI extremely peaceful so far. In only one game have I seen the AI actually attack another AI.

In my current game at Noble level, the other continent had 5 AI players on it and as far as I can tell they NEVER fought each other the entire game up to the point I'm at (entering the industrialization period).

Of course, all of those AI shared the same religion, which might have had a lot to do with it. It seems that the AI are dissuaded (perhaps too greatly) when another AI is of the same religion.

[Handel]

This is because the other civs units cannot enter your teritory. Most of the combats in the Civ3 started because the other civs in most idiotic ways non stop tried to send a settler or some spearmen on the other end of the map through your teritory. And when you demand to withdraw thier units, this hurts your relations. So after 2 demands at most (usualy after the first) the civs always started a war. I ended making tons of sh*tty units just to put them in non-stop line as a border guards. And guess what - no one attacked me.

[Autotropx Sox]

No hostilities? Hardly..

I remember one game on Prince where I happened to join in on the tale-end of a very, VERY early 'Crusade' inspired cheifly by the clashing religions of Hinduism and Judaism between two civs which eventually involved their neighbors. As it eventually turned out, I gained some land and assisted the virtuous Judaites victory over the heathenish Hindus.

But anyways, in my five games on Prince, I have found that hostilities are somewhat prolific and often are inspired when one nation goes to war with a human or vice-versa: one or more AIs will see an opportunity to take land from either of the participants if they find themselves significantly lower on the leader board.

Oh, what a wonderful world Civ IV is.

[Volstag]

[SIZE=1] This is because the other civs units cannot enter your teritory.

Hmmm... that's a good point. Perhaps the AI never declares war because it knows it can't even reach the destination country?

As a corollary, I was initially hesitant about rejecting demands from AI civs, for fear that it might trigger a war (ala Civ III). But, recently, I've been rejecting them out of hand since it never results in aggression. But, again, maybe war isn't declared because they can't even reach my territory.

[Volstag]

But anyways, in my five games on Prince, I have found that hostilities are somewhat prolific and often are inspired when one nation goes to war with a human or vice-versa:

That's kinda how I feel about the game: the pot isn't stirred unless you (the player) does it yourself.