This game is sending me mixed messages. The relaxing music and all the mechanics based around researching tech and advancing through the ages makes me believe that I should be taking a slow, cautious and strategic approach to play. However, the AI is incredibly aggressive, they seem to be completely uninterested in anything but destroying me as soon as possible!
I don't think this behaviour makes much sense given the mechanics of the game, and the reality of war being a risky business; war is something that should be avoided until it can be avoided no longer! We have a map with limited resources, so it is a matter of time before we are actively competing for those resources, and in such a situation it's inevitable that conflicts will arise. Then it is down to the diplomacy and military might of the civilisations to settle territory disputes and secure peace for a time, until the cycle repeats itself and eventually one side is wiped off the map. There is no sense or need to rush this.
Even if an enemy saw that they were militarily supreme, they wouldn't just go and destroy everyone else (unless they were causing them real problems), they'd demand tribute, and use their power to secure territory by threats, diplomacy and minor skirmishes. I want to see enemy AI launching attacks to take over strategic points and resources, not just to kill all my people. I want to see their forces line up near my borders and issue demands on the threat of sacking my cities.
Any tips on what I can do to make the game play more like this, the way I would like it to be?
