How do I go to war with the best rep?

[ghen]

Lets face it, someone's always going to piss you off. Be it the zulu or chinese or even the indians (heaven forbid) you'll get angry and want them out. My question, whats the best way to declare a justified war without taking a reputation hit?

Of course the best way would be to get them to declare war on you but thats kinda hard to force. Next best would be to join a MPP with a country already at war which is iffy at best with the crazy AI. 3rd would then be to join or create an alliance with another country against the bad guys.. Does it matter who starts the alliance for reputation? Next is the actual declaration of war a formal request to take names etc. and lastly a sneak attack, or worse using a ROP to railroad inland to their capitol and sacking it the same turn.

My main question is about the declaration of war, do you have to wait a turn after declaring war before you put units in their country or can you declare and invade on the same turn? I'm not too fond of declaring war and then letting the AI get the first military move.

[bongo]

You will get reputation hits if you have active deals(gpt, luxuries or resources) which still have turns left or if you have troops inside the victims territory. Alliances or MPP don't affect your reputation, only their attitude.

It doesn't matter who attacks first.

[MoonWolf]

If the are playing with you, they'll most probably enter your territories. After you have told them to leave several times or declare war, they will at some point declare war on you - when their forces are within your borders...

Heia Norge!

[TheArsenal]

I have another related question:

Does switching to war time mobilization for a few turns prior to declaring war, sour the other civs attitude toward you? This is with all your units within your own territory with no ROP rape occurring.

Anecdotally, it seems it does. I have no hard evidence though

[ghen]

One last way that I remember on how to go to war is plant spies with countries you'd like to go to war with There's such a good chance of them declaring war on you, which I guess is against the original purpose of the spy missions but whatever.

[Spiffor]

Yes, it's an efficient strategy, but it costs much more than simply declaring war through the diplo screen

[statusperfect]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Yes, it's an efficient strategy, but it costs much more than simply declaring war through the diplo screen

The point is that THEY declare on YOU.

[Nor Me]

Re: How do I go to war with the best rep?

Originally posted by ghen
My main question is about the declaration of war, do you have to wait a turn after declaring war before you put units in their country or can you declare and invade on the same turn?

No. As bongo implied.

It doesn't matter who attacks first.

I was under the impression that it did.

Does switching to war time mobilization for a few turns prior to declaring war, sour the other civs attitude toward you? This is with all your units within your own territory with no ROP rape occurring.

Anecdotally, it seems it does. I have no hard evidence though

I doubt it.


If you have no deals etc. and aren't in their territory, declaring war has minimal effect on the other civs attitudes and none on your reputation. Negative war-weariness is the huge advantage in getting them to declare war.

If you demand tribute enough, they'll be permanently furious and will declare war if you ask them to leave or fail in an espionage mission.

[Naiveplayer]

Originally posted by statusperfect

The point is that THEY declare on YOU.

...And you lose an inside source of information. I like the ability to have an investigate city during wartime

[statusperfect]

Originally posted by Naiveplayer


...And you lose an inside source of information. I like the ability to have an investigate city during wartime

You've got a point there.

[MoonWolf]

Also, if you discontinue existing trades (when the 20 turns are out), they will often get more angry with you, more likely to declare war. So if you plan to go to war with some one, don't trade anymore with them and make some trade embargoes.

I wasn't aware that if you go to war with active trades, it will hit you in diplomacy. Good to hear, Russia and/or Egypt will soon fall under my Panzers!

[Demerzel]

I make sure that my forces are all massed on my side of the border, then declare war via the diplomatic screen before pulverising the enemy.

I don't get any repercussions from that strategy.