In my current game, I was at war with one faction, and had trade and economic treaties with another. It was early in the game and my power rating was about 120 vs. the two AI's whose ratings were around 30.

Out of the blue the AI that I had treaties with declared war on me. I never acted aggressively toward it, so it was obvious the first faction bribed the second faction to declare war.

I thought the AI played to win, which includes survival. You can't win if you are dead.

So, I did a U turn and sent a stack to attack the former treaty AI. What I discovered was that this AI had a single city and a couple of outposts. Destroying the faction was simple enough, and I never had any doubt given the difference in power ratings.

My issue is: declaring war on a faction that is 4x more powerful is suicide. If the AI is playing to win, it should have recognized that the outcome of a war with me would most likey be unfavorable. No amount of gildar (the bribe), should change the AI's perspective on it's chances of winning a war against a vastly superior foe. The AI is acting more like a hive mind (one faction willing to sacrific itself for the benefit of another), than as a seperate mind with it's own goals.

Therefore, I suggest that the code be changed so that each faction operates in it's own self interest.