Betrayal & Cold-War blocs
Behind the diplomacy sits a colder logic: opportunistic AI leaders backstab weakened neighbors, deep grudges can override nuclear deterrence, and the great powers sort themselves into rival Cold War blocs.
How it works
Opportunistic betrayal fires when an AI's effective betray weight exceeds 0.5 and a roll (0.08 × betrayP × world aggression, ramped over the early game) succeeds. The target must be a neighbor the aggressor outmatches by more than 1.9× in power, with stability below 55, no alliance, and no nuclear deterrent the aggressor lacks. A successful backstab slams relations to −55, plants a −20 grudge in the victim's memory, and costs the aggressor 18 reputation.
Nuclear deterrence normally stays an AI's hand — it won't invade a nuclear-armed rival while unarmed. But a grudge is the exception: once the aggressor's grudge against that rival reaches 62, the deterrence check is bypassed and the AI will move against even a nuclear power. Fabricating a pretext through espionage multiplies the war-opening odds fivefold.
Meanwhile the world organizes into Cold War blocs — up to 4 bloc leaders chosen by leadership score (each must be at least 5% of the top leader's score). Every other nation aligns to the bloc where its score, computed as relations×0.6 + ideological affinity×18 + alliance bonus 40 + subordination bonus 80, is highest and clears 25. Cross-bloc wars register as proxy conflicts and drive up global tension, especially when the two lead blocs are near-parity rivals.
Formulas
betrayP > 0.5 and power > 1.9× target and target stability < 55grudge ≥ 62 bypasses the nuclear-deterrence checkscore = relations×0.6 + ideologyAffinity×18 + ally?40 + subordinate?80; joins if > 25Key numbers
How to play
- ▸Never let your stability fall below 55 next to an Opportunist — that's the exact ceiling below which an opportunistic strike becomes legal for the AI.
- ▸Staying more than half the aggressor's strength (they need a 1.9× edge) is enough to price yourself out of a backstab.
- ▸A grudge of 62 overrides even your nuclear deterrent, so don't assume the bomb makes you untouchable to a leader you've deeply wronged.