Ok, this is more of a disappointment in the AI and thusly a gripe more than anything. Many on here have reported similar behaviour, but I thought I add another log to the fire.
So was playing a custom race on a gigantic galaxy in challenging mode. I started in a corner but had plenty of colonies to play with. I raced up the tech trees and maintained a tech lead the entire duration of the game. My nearest contact was a full 7 sectors away in the mostly center part of the galaxy- the Iconians.
Time passes and everyone knows everyone. The Iconians and I are like blood brothers. We are equal on every level except tech, but there are close second thanks to my generous side. The Altarians are losing a war to the Drengins and finally give up everything to the Torians. This was huge. The Torians were already the largest civ in the game and now they nearly doubled their population. The former Altarian worlds and the Iconian sovereign space are woven tightly together... but the Torians look at the Iconian worlds with envy.
Eventually, the Iconian-Torian War errupts in the center of the galaxy. By this time, I had forged an alliance with the Iconians and the Drengin. I was sitting fine. The Torians were (prior to the Altarian fall) too far to worry about, and the Yor didn't like me because I wouldn't give them stuff every third week they asked for it! Many of the minor races had fallen, and even my Iconian allies took out two minors that I was very fond of.
At first the war was clear a war of minor attrition as the Torians had numbers, by the Iconians had good Necromonger (my race) tech! That was until to key Iconian worlds fell. It was like the Torians found a friggin' monolith. They adapted very well and with the financial backing they had (they were nearly double the second place civ in population... thems a lot of taxes!), they didn't miss a beat taking it to the Iconians. Recognizing the threat of Torian dominance if I didn't assist the Icons, I stepped in. Strange though... the Iconians never ONCE asked me for help and I was an Ally...
Obviously, I had a lot of aces up my sleeve thanks to my superior tech level and I easily cleared out all Torian encroachment into the Iconian zone and the former Altarian zone. I quickly went from number 5 on the power list to number 2. At this point, the Drengin and I had a very sweet tech trade thing going. They seemed to be researching all the stuff I wasn't, and vice versa. So things were well... or so it seemed. Apparently, the Drengin had been trading even MORE heavily to the Torian!
The War continued and I begin plans to strike into the Torian home systems. I had setup a network of military starbases outfitted with speed boosts (all overlapping) that created a virtual "highway" to the Torian systems some 10 sectors away. Combined with having the max engine tech... getting there was not going to be a problem... however, the Torian battleships and Dreadnaughts that started showing up WERE a problem. They quickly could overcome my high tech ships with sheer numbers and raw power. I needed peace... and needed it fast.
I had previously turned down the Torian peace talks the 3 times they asked for it... but I was winning, and my goal to push them out of the center was not yet achieved at the time! Now that I saw nothing but a military stalemate ahead and was willing to talk... they wouldn't listen. How clearly the tables turned! Greatness.
I managed to buy peace however, but I envisioned it as only a cease fire while I ramped up even MORE tech and shifted back into a wartime economy to pump out my new fleet designs. Then the unexpected... the Iconians new there was no hope in fighting the Torians on their own and gave up... the THE YOR!!! This where I was left with a "wtf?!?" expression on my face.
And here is the gripe: why did the Iconians surrender to a race they're BARELY even trading with? Why did they NOT surrender to the Torian (they would-be victors) or me (their only Ally and one time saviour)??? I mean, I went to war FOR them when they didn't even asked. I liberated 2 of their planets and pushed ALL of the TOrian immediate threats to them 8 sectors away.
All but ONE of my 15 trading routes was with them. We had been allies for a considerable time (nearly half the game) and I had GIVEN them so much free stuff, it would make other leaders cry!!!
WHY!?!?! It doesn't make any sense. The Yor were merely bystanders at this point, they weren't leading in any category, they weren't at war or even neutral to anyone (they were friendly or close to everyone,) and they certainly didn't come to bat for the Iconians... oh, then there is the little matter of the Iconians being thrown off their planet by the Yor! (Granted, typically, backstory plays no part in sandbox games.)
I'm just seeing a trend on this whole "we surrender" thing... it appears to be random. And that's not a good thing. The AI's decision should be based on something. And in this case there were 2 choices ONLY to surrender to (IMO): the Torian as their conquerors, or me as their allies and previous saviour.
Thoughts? Similar experiences?