I have thought about this, and I am starting to think that one of the biggest flaws of the games diplomacy is the AI's unwillingness to realize they are getting their asses kicked. I can destroy army after army, and take several cities, but the AI will still want thousands of gold for peace. Once war is declared, one side pretty much has to be destroyed for it to end. I wish the AI could realise that it's either losing or that a prolonged war would not benefit them and then try to negotiate peace. But the last game I played, I had taken every town and beaten every army but the Sov herself, and to get peace, she wanted me to pay 250 gold, but she agreed to surrender. So, she would rather surrender than have peace. Surrender setting was normal.