Can it be done without being nice?

[mimi]

I'm going to do the next level after noble, whatever it is.

But I don't pay tribute or convert or anything like that when some rinky-dink demands that I do. At noble, this is fine 'cause I just hole up when they attack, until they've blown their lot, then take a couple cities until they beg for peace.

After noble, will I have to pay more attention to diplomacy? Or, rather, since I won't bother paying attention to diplomacy (heck, I don't even read the popups, just hit the 'bog off' reply) is there any chance of winning above noble?

[xxFlukexx]

I think you can get along on Prince difficulty(its the one after noble) without giving into any demands. As long as you have a friend or two to help you out I don't think you need to modify your strategy towards demands at all. On Monarch and Emperor+ difficulties, well that's another story...

[BigWilly1974]

I actually rarely ever give in to any demands on Monarch and tend to have my way now - finally - with Monarch. In fact, I could probably safely say I never give in.

I think you're right though, as you go up in levels, I think it does become more important to think about diplomacy more strategically.

[amicus curiae]

Even on deity I don't bother to read half the popups...

[Hauptman]

This is something i was meaning to investigate... Use the world editer and create spys for yourself to plant in the enemy civs capitals.

In civ 3 most of the tech demands, when i checked, he was only 1 or 2 turns away from anyways. so giving in really only gave him that 1 turn advance. In this game im not sure if they still or more apt when its just 1 turn remaining to demand or ask for it, this is where the spys would come in handy, keep an eye on Monties research (since he demands most often it seems) and note if he's demanding for a tech he is near completion or if he hasnt even started...


generally I help 1 or 2 civs happily. Depending on who is what where. If monty is on 1 border i make good friends with the ones around him (if i havent already smooshed him, lately i leave him alone for game flavor) when he declares war my "freinds" usually happily absorb his units for me. Also if some really scary looking civ demands something when i really am not ready for war, Yes i will give in. Almost always it inverts his thoughts of you (anoyed to pleased!) and then may end up beeing a good trading partner later (usually Cyrus is like this)

As long as you tech deep and trade away to good effect this will not put them in a better position than you.

also it is to be noted you cannot trade techs to people who dislike you, and they will ALL ask for free stuff. So if you want to trade you have to give in. However dont be afraid to reciprocate. friends DO give you free techs too, when you ask. heck i even once had Hatty open trade negotiations with me to offer me economics!

[I_pity_the_fool]

also it is to be noted you cannot trade techs to people who dislike you, and they will ALL ask for free stuff. So if you want to trade you have to give in. However dont be afraid to reciprocate. friends DO give you free techs too, when you ask. heck i even once had Hatty open trade negotiations with me to offer me economics!

Yes. If you're going deep into the tech tree and have missed one or two cheap techs, then it's good to ask one of your allies for them once you've given into their demands to teach them the secret of Bronze Working. Usually I ignore Mysticism, and pick it up some time in the Late Classical period by asking one of my co-religionists.

[ghen]

If I'm at war already on monarch I always pay the tribute if its not a war tech. The other civs seem to know when my units are far away and can't defend cities easy, so they ask for tributes and attack then.

Plus, when you pay a tribute you get diplomacy points which is really nice if you don't want a religion difference making them hate you.

[apingaut]

i find it odd to read so much about your "friends" helping you .. doesnt happen to me. last game i played (epic, small, monarch, rest default) i wanted to be peacefull with everyone so i didnt adopt any state religion and agreed on open borders with most etc.

I was down on military (and last on the "power" list), one joker asked for tribute and attacked me. That made me lose about 4 of my maybe 12 military units but I would have been able to fend him off. Next thing the most powerfull guy and "friend" (I had about +7 in relationship) declares war on me too.

My explanation is that the AI doesnt care about how friendly you are when you are too way back in military, then it will seize the opportunity. In other words, in the situations were you would need a "friend" you will not have one.

[Silver14]

You can't ignore your military, they will attack. Some AI's are more likely to do so then others and if you are leading the game score wise they will attack sooner or later. If your military is weak and a Civ makes a demand you should give in to them and start building up your military, telling them off even if they don't delcare war right away they will likely do so in a few turns. Even if you give in the war is inevitable if you keep your military weak.

Also you can't be friends with everyone without making other Civ's mad. Even if you only have an open borders agreement with a Civ another Civ may demand that you cancel it.

Even if I have good relations with a nearby Civ who I see as weak and hogging some good territory I'll wipe them out when the time is right.

[grutz]

I tend to respond to demands depending on how I am doing and what it is the AI wants. If its something trivial (like an older tech), I'll probably give it to them just to keep them happy. Then again, I play a mix of Builder / Warmonger (I think Vel described it as 'Imperial' style in his guide, have to check) so the demands generally just move them up on my list of who to attack first once I'm ready to destroy, I mean, expand