Steal all gold from AIs for free

[snei]

I think this needs to be fixed because it is broken, but it is a good strategy to use. Ask any AI player (not immediately next to you) for all his gold in exchange for money/resources over turn for 30 turns. Then after you get his 500-600 gold or however much he has, default on the loan by declaring war on him but make peace after 10 or so turns for free, rinse-repeat on all the AI's on a map over and over leaving them broke with nothing in return because you never made 1 payment on any of the huge sums of gold.

I love in civ 5 the ability to borrow a lump sum of gold in exchange for payments over time with interest, but this only works with humans as they will learn whether you are a good creditor or not. The AI never learns not to give you all their gold for nothing, and this makes multiplayer even more broken because it's whoever can rake in the money from the AI has a significant advantage. This strategy makes level 7 not even a challenge hardly if you can constantly use this, and level 8 hard but much more doable.

What do you all think, have you noticed this?

[Onandoga]

On MP people dont ever play with AI because everyone know that they are easily abused. (plus they lag:P)

[snei]

yeah i've noticed that the AI is worse in MP, but on SP I've gotten this to work too :/

[Aero412]

I only do this if im about to declare war on the AI for real. If not all this does is damage your reputation...and its a cheat. Makes the game less fun IMO

[Furball]

It depends on your perspective really but i think a simple counter to it would have some negative effect for breaking agreements by declaring war.
Not only would this actually work to give cooperation a little more meaning.i.e. i am doing a deal with you so i am pretty safe for now, it would also make people think twice about exploiting the AI in this way as you gain a real negative from doing so, while still leaving it as a tactic to be used if you choose.

It could work something like if you break an agreement the other AI's are 25% less likely to trade with you or will offer you 25% less in return, so if you do this 4 times no one will ever trade with you again.

[bronzeager]

hmm never thought to try this.... in Civ IV you couldn't declare war if you had any ongoing deals iirc

[Tapewormlondon]

hmm never thought to try this.... in Civ IV you couldn't declare war if you had any ongoing deals iirc

No you could, you just couldnt if you hade demanded it for nothing

[oblio]

I think this needs to be fixed because it is broken, but it is a good strategy to use. Ask any AI player (not immediately next to you) for all his gold in exchange for money/resources over turn for 30 turns. Then after you get his 500-600 gold or however much he has, default on the loan by declaring war on him but make peace after 10 or so turns for free, rinse-repeat on all the AI's on a map over and over leaving them broke with nothing in return because you never made 1 payment on any of the huge sums of gold.

I love in civ 5 the ability to borrow a lump sum of gold in exchange for payments over time with interest, but this only works with humans as they will learn whether you are a good creditor or not. The AI never learns not to give you all their gold for nothing, and this makes multiplayer even more broken because it's whoever can rake in the money from the AI has a significant advantage. This strategy makes level 7 not even a challenge hardly if you can constantly use this, and level 8 hard but much more doable.

What do you all think, have you noticed this?

I woudn't call this a bug but a loophole. And sure it may work sometime but what if the AI doesn't want peace or if others gang up on you or don't coooperate with you because you are being so aggressive.

I'm sure there are other back door ways to subvert the intent and sprit of the game as well so you get a win. If its just all about winning by exploiting a possible weakness in the game design ok but seems like its more fun to play the game straight up in the sprit of how its supposed to be played. I agree its not cheating but why play if this is this is the only way you can win?

[ShaftSlinger]

I think this just needs to be factored into the AI.

Presume for a second you had a great relationship with the neighbor and he was sitting on 10k in gold. you offer to borrow it on payments and then backstab him and declare war.

this is a valid strategy.

Ripping off the guy down the street that doesnt like you 50 times is poor ai. You should be able to get away with it once or maybe twice before they no longer give lump sums for payments.

Now if they declare war, thats theyre problem. But i presume there would be a factor that makes them less interested in war when you owe them a ton of cash.

[Fotheringill]

It is an exploit of a flaw in the game. Personally, I wouldn't do it. If it makes you feel better, go right ahead.