"We just don't like you enough"

[MyOlde]

Lordy, that's irritating. Are there any ways to prevent them beginning to feel that way, or turning them around when they tell you that?

[Hauldren Collider]

giving them free gold?

[Ming]

Well... even if you discover a religion, it sometimes pays to watch which religion is the dominate one, and adopt it. Then, trade any extra resource you have before somebody demands it. Agree to demans when they don't really matter to you. It all helps

[Boracks]

Also, under F4 (foreign relations), check the info tab and see what everyone's favorite civic is.You get a positive boost with a civ for being in their choice. Note this only seems to count once they have discovered the tech for that civic.

[MyOlde]

Thanks. I hate giving in to their demands. I've tried giving them things: older techs, resources I have lots of, but have always wondered if they thought I was some kind of patsy. (I know, I know: they're only AI, and not that I!)

[Norselord]

Some civs are just grumpy meanies.

Sometimes the best way to negotiate with those people is to 'not like them enough' back. The ideal way of doing this is to gently crush them under your boot heel.

[Ming]

Sometimes the best way to negotiate with those people is to 'not like them enough' back. The ideal way of doing this is to gently crush them under your boot heel.

This works for me

[rah]

The alternative is to trade any extra resources you have before they can be demanded, and spend you money before your pile gets to big and attracts attention.

But for me, I prefer the crush them under you boot heel approach.

[Ming]

One of the nice things about playing with tech trading turned off is that it's just one less thing people can demand of you

[Theben]

Or you can just tell them to slag off. Go ahead and send your armies, I like having extra Great Generals.

[Thoth]

Thanks. I hate giving in to their demands.

Look at it as an opportunity, not a burden

If you give them what they ask for you get a permanent +1 "you gave us tribute/help" diplo modifier and a +1 to +4 "our trade relations have been fair and forthright" diplo modifier in exchange for a tech. If you say no, you get a permanent -1 "you refused to give us tribute/help" diplo modifier. Giving away the tech costs you virtually nothing (other than the potential to trade it to that AI)

Good relations are built up over time through Open Borders agreements (up to +2), trading resources (up to +2, takes a long time to build up), sharing religions, running their favourite civic (note that you both have to be running the civic in order to get the bonus, giving them help when they ask for it, joining them in their wars (you don't actually have to fight, simply being at war with the same civ is enough to start accumulating + points).

Once you have accumulated enough diplo plusses to get an AI up to Pleased or Friendly (depending on the AI personality) you can bribe them into wars.

Planning out your diplomacy can be as important as planning out your city placement and specialisation.

With some practice you can become the puppet master pulling the strings of the AIs in your neighbourhood.

[Thoth]

One of the nasty things about playing with tech trading turned off is that it drastically limits your ability to manipulate the diplomatic situation in game

FTFY.

[Kirov]

One more question: Did anyone actually bother to check how many techs (in numbers or res points) or gold you have to give away in order to get those +1/+4 bonuses? I mean, in case anyone would ever consider an approach different than "crush them under your heel".

[Garth Vader]

No, but I was in good relations with Shaka, he declared war on me and now that we are at peace and he's still at war with somebody else I am trying to rebuild relations.

I gave money and resources but haven't seen any relations bump. I'll end up just finishing this game with my heel.

[Brael]

Diplomacy with Shaka is a lot like the thunderdome. Two civs enter, one civ leaves. He's just one of those guys that you have to beat into peace.