An AI can be “Enraged/Hostile/Uncooperative/Receptive” when at war. Do these degrees of war have any impact on the situation? Does the type of AI government matter? Or are we down to whether they are just civilised or aggressive? My camels await your advice.

If the boot is on the other foot – when the AI I am at war with sends a caravan into my patch, I generally let it through. If I think it is spying – another matter. It always dies if it loiters around my railway junctions trainspotting!

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Scouse Git (2)

And if we're at peace and they're uncooperative or less, it seems like there's a better than average chance that they'll attack. Particularly when I'm wandering all over their territory - as I tend to do.

And if they come into my territory when we're at war, they're toast. The Zulu people don't tolerate blackmarketeering.

In any case, I let them pass (unless they block my movement of units). The AI sends them to my high trade cities and I just can't say no to arrows!

Unlike what was said in the duos thread, the GWall/Leo combo is actually a good offensive strategy - since you don't have to concern yourself with defense, you just work on accelerating your civ until you have a great military advantage to clobber everyone else as quickly as possible. That's one way of looking at it. I will, however, be trying variations on that strategy by agressively seeking and clobbering the other civs earlier (just like you, eh?)

As far as having my own trade units killed, happens way too often. In fact, when I send my caravans abroad, the AI can extort any science from me and maybe even gold in exchange for peace. Especially if is a nearby camel representing the super science city. The AI's seem fairly whimsical in their hostility toward my trade units. They'll even kill a camel from a city that demands the commodity! Most painful.

SG(2), I've never had a negative thought concerning Trainspotters, but when reading about the newish word, anorakish, at this excellent word site, I learned that trainspotters are not highly regarded in your parts. "Those choosing to wear that eminently practical cold-weather garment the anorak have suffered much opprobrium in Britain in the past couple of decades. It began with trainspotting, a specialised hobby involving much standing at the end of draughty station platforms noting down the numbers of passing engines. Those choosing this hobby were frequently ridiculed as being obsessive about trivia and as having poor social skills.... "
http://clever.net/quinion/words/turnsofphrase/tp-ano1.htm

I hope I don't earn your opprobrium for my many tangential references, but I'll confess to using a few rifleman on those pesky freight situated on MY great railroad.

AU

Graag

I also love that word site! "Investigating International English through a British Viewpoint" The webmaster also answers many questions from this side of the 'pond'. I don't think our English is terribly different, but I did see that civili[z]ed reference and if it is any consolation, I simply put the z's in your misspelling--american humo[u]r

SG[1] and SG(2), It's a bit contextually removed, but I was wondering why you can't get MPG over there. I ordered it through microprose and can't see why you wouldn't be able to do the same?! If you do get MPG, make sure you get the patch available at Apolyton or your democratic units will be subject to bribery! I found this out the hard way.

AU

Yes i like to put pressure on all ai as soon as possible....... while furthering my postion..... contain then clobber is my motto.... and like you stated before... hit them hard when your military has a strategic advantage, which is usually always