Diplomacy Question:

**Domitius Ulpianus** · 03-15-2007, 15:41

Hey all, Was wondering if anybody knows why the AI never (in my experience) offers you ceasefire? Even when you have it against the wall. I remember the AI offering ceasefire in Vanilla, so I'm asking because I think the AI is hardcoded, so I don't think there is anything the EB team could have done to change this. Just wondering.

Thanks.

**Brightblade** · 03-15-2007, 15:45

What diplomacy?

The AI will offer ceasefires when it deems them necessary. If they don't accept it, kill them off. They're dumb like that. Oh well. SOmetimes you'll find the AI to be extremely dumb, other times a light will shine in the darkness of its brain and it'll offer terms that make sense.

BB

**edyzmedieval** · 03-15-2007, 16:35

We tried to do some changes to influence diplomacy, using the text files. We've done something, but not too significant.

AI editing is impossible. Diplomacy is hardcoded.

**Domitius Ulpianus** · 03-15-2007, 16:53

Ok, I will rephrase my question then: Has anybody been offered a ceasefire by the AI while playing EB? I remember in Vanilla this was pretty common when the AI factions were facing defeat, yet in EB no faction has offered me a ceasefire even while facing total destruction.

Thanks

**Batahr** · 03-15-2007, 17:01

Yes, I've had ceasefires offered to me by the AI. In all cases it was a faction that didn't share (or no longer shared) any border with me.

**The Errant** · 03-15-2007, 17:14

Yes. In my 0.80 Macedonian campaign i kicked the Epirotes out of Greece during the first 20 turns. They were left with Taras in Italy as their only settlement. About 20 years later I'm expanding along the Illyrian coast taking mining towns and trying to establish a bufferzone of some expendable provinces between me and the Romans.
I've just taken Patavium with a mostly mercenary stack and suddenly I get a call from a friendly Epirote diplomat offering to "End hostilities between are two great nations". I've been at war with them since I kicked them out of Greece.
I accept. The next turn the same diplomat comes and offers trade rights. Now I know something fishy is going on since the AI is rarely in a friendly mood, so I send a couple of spies to Italy.
It seems the Epirotes went on a rampage since I kicked them out of Greece. They control all of southern Italy, Messana in Sicily, and are besieging Ariminium.
The romans have a sizeable empire in Germany but nowhere near enough troops to stop the Epirotes from rolling all over Italy.
I bet the moment the two of us started to share a common border, they would attack me again. The AI can and will offer ceasefire and trade rights. But the treaty will never last as long as you share a border with it.
No chance in Hell.

**Fondor_Yards** · 03-15-2007, 17:20

Like The Errant, if you don't share a boarder anymore they will accept peace/offer it. But as soon as that boarder is back, so is war.

The Seleucids offer to make me a protectorate every turn, does that count? I say no and continue to steal their cities and crush their armies, but that's not the point.

**Domitius Ulpianus** · 03-15-2007, 17:25

Ok, I guess that answers my question...but even while sharing borders in vanilla the AI would offer peace...or I'm I wrong...long time since I dont play Vanilla...hehe

**soibean** · 03-15-2007, 17:29

Ive found that in EB they only offer the cease fire if, as everyone else stated, they aren't bordering your provinces. Whenever this happens, they generally are willing to pay you thousands for a peace. Now if you were to reject the ceasefire and then the next turn ask them for the same conditions they offered through your own diplomat, they will most likely reject it and continue the war.
I find it interesting that map information pretty much means nothing anymore and same with alliances. Back in vanilla you could sell both for a few thousand each, but now no one will buy your map and everyone wants simply an alliance with no kickbacks

**The Errant** · 03-15-2007, 17:31

Glad to see the AI is consistent. The Seleucids kept offering me protectorate aswell. Only problem is they had an army outside one of my cities, so the protectorate gets cancelled every turn since they always end their turn by besieging my settlement.
The next turn they once again offer protectoracy only to break it next turn. It's like an endless cycle of AI idiocy. Make up your mind. You want me to be at war with you, fine. Attack. No you want me to be your protectorate. Fine. We are at peace. You happy now. No, here comes the next siege...it goes on...and on...and on..........

**Redigo** · 03-15-2007, 20:59

Just a theory I've advanced elsewhere, but I think the AI never really feels like it's "on the ropes" because of the (very necessary) scripted cash subsidies the AI factions receive, and therefore sees no reason to accept a ceasefire. Also, at the recommended VH campaign setting ceasefires would be tough to get even in vanilla.

That said, as the Romani I was just offered an expensive ceasefire by AS when we shared a border, albeit a remote one in North Africa. They'd just gotten into it with Baktria, Makedon, and Epirus in less than two turns.