They all declare war!!!! (Help!)

[Angkor]

I'm having a real hard time trying to play the "hard" mode, have been wiped out by Igor a couple of times so was very happy when the next game was with/against the Italian guy and the "Black widow". I got a real nice island where I could produce rum and tobacco (being a smoker and a drinker myself that island promissed........) I started the game bit by bit did not explore much, sold a lot to the free trader to not go broke, got a nice settlement with just level two inhabitants. Bit by bit got to some 300 level three settlers and bought the lamp oil of the free trader so I would not need more islands. Had some 1050 inhabitants total, started building walls, investigated cannons and preparing for defense more then war. I had no troups and just one ship. The Italian guy declared war on me, invaded and sunk my ship. I asked the queen for help, she sent two ships and some troups. The small war ship was sunk before it arrived anywhere near my island and the other AI player declared war as well. I tried to fight off the first troups that landed on my island, I could not and loads of troups landed as both AI players atacked at the same time. The queen took sides with the widow and did not want to help me anymore. I had no more ships and between the two of them, AI started "cleaning" my island...............So I went to bed. How come they both attacked for no reason (I think)? What could I do? Normal level/mode is too easy and hard is too hard! Is this the end of me playing 1701? How could I be strong enough to survive such an attack??:angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :sad: :bash:

[Frieden]

Yes, I also played with Igor + Nadarsky + Castelli.
And , it was hard.

But, please, where is the problem ? :scratch:
If you are not able to play it in this extemly hard way, take another one :wink:

Okay ... here's one solution:
Igor usually declares war on you after round about 70 minutes. And Nadaryks too ! So you have to be quciker than both developing several things -> and they will do not attack you. Not as soon :wink:

In this case I prefer to settle on only one island with gives me everything I need to habe many citizens.
have a look at the screenshot below , and maybe you will understand...

[mamayourpeoplearehungry]

I will try that approach also. I have had a hard time in the hard level also. From other posts it sounded like if you advanced too fast it would make them declare war sooner not later.

[Frieden]

I will try that approach also. I have had a hard time in the hard level also. From other posts it sounded like if you advanced too fast it would make them declare war sooner not later.

Yes, indeed.
Thoguh it is not teh question if Igor attacks you but it is the question how many minutes later he attckas you :wink:

In one game I've been his brother, he got alcohol from me and everything seemed to bin fine. What happened ? he suddenly declared war on me :nono: :biggrin:

By the war, here is the map whre my favorite island is placed on: 655733 :go:
With only one island you grow up to many citizens , you have endless stones and endless ore :smile:
But fire must be deacitvated.

[mamayourpeoplearehungry]

It's working for me now. I used a different map because I didn't want to turn off fire and create a custom game.

I have an alliance with Nadarsky and Emillio is trading with me. I don't have Igor in the game and I haven't gone to war. My balance is negative but with everything I am selling I keep above the negatives. I advanced to Citizen fast and just built a large population with just the one island. I have the largest fleet or at least the most points for ships on the end screen.

I have added 3 small islands and advanced to merchant on just some of my town. I am now building the large warships and selling jewelery and perfume besides the rum and tobacco. I just need a cocoa island and to build my money up.

Thanks for the tip on advancing to citz fast and holding there for a while.

[Eshme]

Im not sure if you have to take the angry warnings seriously the AI's do sometimes. But until you get to Citizens, they are always congratulating.

They are attracted if you're weak.
A good trick is that in Frieden's screenshot =) Bury yourself into one island with lot of defense and they have no success to take it.

Another tactic i use is to build warships and milicia from cannons i produce or buy very early. Not many though, just 1 by 1 if i can afford it. Affording it is difficult yes, but they are impressed and dont attack me that much. I expand to good islands normally. But its almost certain that early in the game one enemy will be mad at me if they want to settle there too. Probably the others dont care, specially if i didnt engage in the war.
But that will be a good test for the fleet when the AI didnt grow so much yet. In my latest game it was 5 Ships from the enemie at first, but grew fast.