Do You Have a Code of Honor?

[Everyman]

This refers to a personal set of rules you abide by when playing against the computer. Here are a few examples from my own "code of honor."

(1) I don't draw first blood. I like to think of my civ as a peace-loving civ that resorts to warfare only when attacked.

(2) I try not to break treaties. (However, there are times when I provoke the AI into breaking them.)

(3) I don't build the Manhattan Project. For philosophical reasons. Also, I don't enjoy nukefests.

(4) I try to win before howitzers are available. IMO, howitzers are too powerful, so I try to win the old-fashioned way of bribery or destroying city walls and then killing off the defenders.

Of course, all items in my code of honor are negotiable.

Do you have your own code of honor?
[This message has been edited by Everyman (edited November 08, 2000).]

[Bohlen]

1) Only barb unit/city bribing allowed.
2) Honor an AI alliance until the AI breaks it and stabs me in the back.
3) No city poisoning.
4) Don’t drop nukes first.

Of course, any and/or all of these rules are thrown out the window mid-game depending on my mood at the time and how badly the AI is pissing me off.

[finbar]

I have to admit that I treat the AI in exactly the same way I know they will treat me - with contempt. An AI alliance, playing with MGE, isn't worth the software code it's written in. Which means, basically, I never enter into AI alliances.

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[SilverDragon]

I always keep a spotless reputation

[Mercantile]

I am with bohlen on this one

[ColdWizard]

1. I won't nuke them into submission.
2. Signing a peace treaty buys the AI at least 2 turns of peace.
3. I'll not break an alliance


edit: i forgot to mention this is less a "code of honor" and more a general tendency
[This message has been edited by ColdWizard (edited November 10, 2000).]

[Bereta_Eder]

No water poisoning
No nuclear missiles untill I get them in the head first (or untill it's evident that if I don't use them I lose
Never break an alliance first

[Dissident Aggressor]

well I almost always have spotless reputation. Unless I am real behind in size and need a sneak attack to win. Winning is most important after all!

I never use spies. I just never liked spy units. I never considered their actions very realistic. I prefer conventional warfare. Also why I never build manhattan project and never build nukes. I also never build cruise missles but that's mainly because I see them as a waste.

[East Street Trader]

I don't pay tribute.

[Ming]

Since the AI shows no honor, I don't either
(especially since your reputation has nothing to do with the scoring system)

I never poison cities, and usually don't nuke. But only because it's really not needed.

However, in MP... I don't break alliances, and any peace treaty I make is usually broken by the other player first. If I make a deal, I stand by it!

[kcbob]

Folks, the AI is trying to kill you. It is trying to beat you to AC. finbar said it best... treat the AI with contempt.

I'm also reminded of my days playing Risk. I would look at one of the other players and offer a treaty. Something along the lines of "If you don't attack me in Brazil for three moves, I won't attack you in North Africa for three moves." Then, one move later, I'd attack. Hey, all's fair in love and war, n'est-ce pas?

Now poisoning cities and building the Manhattan Project, I'd have to agree with you all on those. Bad move. Bad. Bad move.

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Frodo lives!

[Dr_Strangelove]

NO.

[N35t0r]

1- Don't use nukes, don't build mahattan proj. (i do not like nukes, and i ensure i've built a SDI defense on all my cities before it is built)

2- I don't break alliances, but this is kept only due to chance.

that's about it, i guess...

I've never poisoned water, but it's only due to better oportunities.

[SetuSinger]

I never pay tribute to the AI!

I never start a nuclear war, if the enemy does not have nuclear weapons.

I never give my allied any techs if they demand so.

I always occupy all of the citys from a enemy, if he's a agressive guy and dangers the wealth and the freedom ( :-) ) of my civ!

[DaveV]

I'm with Ming on single-player ethics: whatever it takes to win. I usually keep a spotless rep for most of the game, but as soon as it becomes inconvenient I discard it like yesterday's socks.

I remember fondly our neighborhood Risk games from my youth. Like kcbob, we would declare very specific treaties: cease-fire between Alaska and Kamchatka for 5 turns. Unlike kcbob, I always felt obligated to abide by those treaties, both from the moral standpoint of keeping my word, and from the practical view of not establishing a reputation of being untrustworthy. Most of my MP experience has been in duels, with no quarter asked nor given, but I think a true MP game should be like those old Risk games: you keep your word and expect the other guy to keep his. If he doesn't, well, an elephant never forgets .