Investigation of AI reassessment upon reload

[Pode]

RB, you've put forth a fairly solid case and my opinion of the impact of this issue is being revised accordingly. However, my primary concern is that the anomalous behavior at an extrema is at an *unavoidable* extrema. Every campaign must have a beginning, and if the AI takes 20 turns or so to really get its wits about it (more if you play as I do and never form alliances with people you intend to subjugate one day), that's a crippling handicap. Even if the behavior straightens out and the AIs begin to function better as you suggest, for a lot of players it may very well be too little too late for the AI to pose a challenge. Your evidence is *beginning* to convince me that it is WAD, but even so I stand by my assertion that it's a very bad WAD and needs serious attention for the XP.

[Bhruic]

I'm was curious about roguebolo's claim, so I fired up a game I'd played that was in roughly mid-game state. I was playing the Greeks, and was at war with the Romans (all of them), Macedonians and Pontus.

I had a diplomat in one of my cities, with a diplomat from the Julii near, and a stack of Macedonians. So after loading, I first tried to get the Macedonians to become my protectorate. They refused. I asked for a ceasefire, they demanded 1940 denarii in return.

So no luck with them. I then tried the Julii diplomat. Request they become Protectorate and they agreed.

The only major difference between the two I could see if the advancement of relationships. I've had no real contact with the Julii, they declared war because of the Scipii and Brutii attacking me. In fact, I don't think I've even fought one of their ships.

The Macedonians, on the other hand, I've been fighting since turn 1. I've declared war on them twice.

So it's possible that the "Protectorate bug" only works if you don't have any diplomatic history with a faction?

Bh