AI rulers offering their cities in peace deals

[Imhotep]

I think it's silly how readily AI rulers are prepared to give away their cities in peace deals. Typically, they declare war on you, you defeat their invasion force and, without even setting foot in their territory, they will offer up their cities in peace treaties.

I thought they might do this less on higher difficulty levels, but I'm still experiencing it on Emperor.

A house rule I have for this game is to not accept such deals and instead I have them pay reparations in gold, luxuries and so on.

[cT]

'-'

[RJJameson]

I rarely, if ever, get cities in peace deals; and generally any cities that are offered are more trouble than they're worth--being small, insignificant things that I would have razed anyway.

However, I rarely have much of a standing army. If you are much more powerful than the AI, even if you haven't entered their territory, they consider you more dangerous and will offer more than they would otherwise.

[Shishio Makato]

its a happinnes tactic if someone givft u citties they can turn ypou into ghandi mid game and late whoich can be hh with advanced units

[civ]

You don't necessarily want that city in the middle of your enemies empire bro i always decline these offers as you are right it's stupid.

[Damsteri]

Originally posted by Imhotep:

I thought they might do this less on higher difficulty levels, but I'm still experiencing it on Emperor.

There is nothing in difficulty levels that directly has an effect on it, but peace deal terms seems to be purely based on army sizes, the one with less army will pay (more if difference is bigger). It's possible to kill all or almost all of AI's army at emperor, and then they are willing to give a city, but haven't seen them giving multiple cities (at least on BNW).

There is a use for getting cities trough peace deals, that's the only way to get cities (or land if you raze them) peacefully without getting any warmonger penalty. AI attacks, you kill their army and not conquer their cities, then make peace and get their city... and the only one getting warmonger penalty is the AI. Its a way to expand peacefully.

[Imhotep]

Does the AI also benefit from cities being offered in peace deals with other AI rulers? I don't recall ever seeing it - they all appear to come from city-capturing.

[Damsteri]

Originally posted by Imhotep:

Does the AI also benefit from cities being offered in peace deals with other AI rulers? I don't recall ever seeing it - they all appear to come from city-capturing.

I have seen more city swapping than conquering between AI's. AI tend to make a peace easily to get a city, even if they would have been just turn or two away for capturing the enemy's capital.

[just.nuke.em]

Originally posted by Damsteri:

It's possible to kill all or almost all of AI's army at emperor, and then they are willing to give a city, but haven't seen them giving multiple cities (at least on BNW).

Odd, I've seen it multiple times. They are usually 1-2 pop cities from a civ that has spammed a bunch of cities.

[Matthew]

Well it kind of makes sense. If you defeat their standing army, there is technically nothing standing between you and razing every single one of their cities. At least if they give up a city, they get a grace period where they can spam out more military.

Yes, the "probably shouldn't have suicided their army" on your defenses to get into that position, but the AI isn't that smart.

As for cities in peace deals. If I don't want the city for whatever reason, I will often take it as a puppet and then immediately trade it to someone else. If you trade it to another AI far away from that city, it can lead to wars between the AI's which means keeping them off of you. Just be careful not to give it to a potential strong rival, as a gift may end up being a headache later on (for example gifting a border city to America in classical era then having that same city pumping out minutemen on your borders in Renaissance).

[Kamashii]

I think it's worse when you are at war with whatever AI, kicking their ass. Taking out city after city. They try a peace deal where you give 4-5 cities. Yep totally you have free cities when you are losing.

At least your way, you are most likely stronger than them, so they are fearful you would wipe them out if you attacked.

[ForevaNoob Wonemorturn]

I take those cities most of the time, only to sell them back to the worse enemies of the former owner.
Just to make things more interesting...

[Cerocivr]

I personally have never had this. Maybe because I just try to make wars as quick as possible, to avoid penalties, then after taking the capital never attack unless self-defense.

I never have had this even when the enemy has 2 cities left and will surely be killed in a few turns.

[Lil Drizzle || NeckRope]

I just hate when my AI team mate makes a peace treaty when I'm trying to take a city. Like thanks for that.

[BubblestationCPH]

they often offer a buttload of cities. think one deal set me at like - 120 happines all in all, emperor or immortal-lvl

Burn the cities, or sell em.. preferable to cities that dont have borders in the area allrdy. that way you can create bordertension between nation that had nothing to do with eachother alrdy, and that will lead to easy proxy wars.

[Damsteri]

Getting cities in peace deals is great especially for one civilization, Venice. Once I had city spammer next to me when I was playing as Venice. After about 100 turns and six wars (all decared by me) I had six extra cities (Venice not counted) and my neighbour had only his capital. My neighbour also provided workers for my cities. I just love early wars.