However, the aggression level was stored as an 8-bit unsigned integer variable that could only store values in the range from 0 to 255 (or 28-1). The negative value would therefore result in an integer overflow (specifically an integer underflow), with the value being stored as 255[6] and Gandhi becoming about 25 times more aggressive than the most aggressive leaders in the game.

According to the legend, each leader's artificial intelligence in Civilization had a parameter that described his or her aggression on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being least aggressive and 10 most aggressive.[1][2] Other sources say the scale went from 1 to 12.[3] Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi was the only leader in the game with the lowest possible aggression rating of 1[4] and, as a result, was only able to wage defensive wars.[5] Once the AI changed its government form to democracy, which was preferred by peaceful nations such as India,[2] its aggression level decreased by 2. In the case of Gandhi, this would lead to an aggression level of −1.[6]