Tech trading too easy?

from GalCiv2 Forums
I think that tech trading in this game is a little too easy.

When I compare the researching of me and the alien races, I almost always seem to be lacking. On the other side, I still have most of the stuff, the others researched due to trading. I'm not doing anything but from time to time checking what they have and what I have. I put all their non-military techs in the list and all my non-diplomacy techs. I balance it out with money until it is green. Then I move on to the next race and trade them what I just got. I don't even try to be cheesy here, as I really only do this from time to time and not everytime I get something new.

A little focussing on getting diplomacy techs, who are extremely cheap compared to others, is all I have to do.

However, beeing able to keep up in technology with that little researching on my own side, seems to make the game somewhat easy.
8,547 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Fixed (ish) in 1.1, the AI is more picky and a lot more stingy about what to trade and how much for.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It's a big problem, really.

The real thing that's bad for game mechanics is how you can sell a tech to everyone, collecting from each. If you make the AI too stingy, you'll get that Civ3 feeling where the AI will never offer you a fair deal.

On the other hand, trading the same thing to 9 races is a bit of an exploit, since you never lose something by trading it away, you only gain what they have.

Instead of making the AI make a harder bargain, why don't they throw in some measures that stop trading a certain tech to everyone?

For exemple, in Victoria you still had to pay for techs you received, and giving away techs for money would reduce your prestige (influence?). Tech trading was still part of the game, but you coudn't abuse it nearly as much. That's what I'd like to see in Galciv2.
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Fixed (ish) in 1.1, the AI is more picky and a lot more stingy about what to trade and how much for.


But still nowhere near picky enough. I was trying to work out why I was finding the game so easy. Then I realised it's cos whilst everybody else was wasting resources on weapons research, I was just waiting 'til I was just about to do a military build up then going and buying the best weapons and defence techs I could find. Sure, that single tech was a bit more expensive than researching it, but it was MUCH cheaper than if I'd had to research the whole tree up to that point, plus of course I had the tech instantly rather than waiting half a year or more. Tech trading seems to break things, even if you AREN'T being cheesy and selling stuff on immediately (which I never do).

I wonder what would happen if you were restricted to only being able to trade the next techs in the tree? That would stop me doing what I outlined above. Of course, you could still buy your way to the front of the queue, but it would be as expensive as it should be. And it'd be tougher (though possibly not much) to do the cheesy buy a tech and sell it on technique since the AI would be under the same restrictions.

Nice to have the no tech trading option. I turned tech trading off and did my usual...sorted out a strong economy first, then built a massive tech planet and started to catch up on the research front. At this point, I'd normally go out and buy the best military tech I could and build a defence fleet. Because I couldn't do that, I couldn't quite fight off the Yor after they declared war (very, very nearly. I just about managed to take out the vanguard, but I was probably about 7 or 8 weeks shy of having sufficient military tech when their main fleets arrived. Was a fun/tense race though!)
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I've won my seventh straight game on Suicidal. If I turned off tech trading I would get destroyed hard, fast, and early. It makes that big of a difference.

What I found on Suicidal was that I had no hope whatsoever of keeping up technologically. In fact I don't even build research centers anymore and the only thing I ever research is the translator. (Until very late game when I'm pushing for, say, an influence or research victory). My research slider stays at dead 0.

By being the "tech broker" I insure that I have the best of whatever is available which is more than sufficient. And that gives me the freedom to (sort of) keep up with the AI military manufacturing. It's pretty amazing how fast they can research too. It's not uncommon for me to have Plasma III cannons or something on my very first defender.

In short Suicidal difficulty is currently only Suicidal if you have tech trading turned off.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
To make less exploitable jumping in tech by taking newest weapon or defense tech only, AI should price such tech with its base price, plus price of all prerequisite techs that player doesn't have.
And even maybe something extra since it is top AI military hardware.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hi!
I've won my seventh straight game on Suicidal. If I turned off tech trading I would get destroyed hard, fast, and early. It makes that big of a difference.

What I found on Suicidal was that I had no hope whatsoever of keeping up technologically. In fact I don't even build research centers anymore and the only thing I ever research is the translator. (Until very late game when I'm pushing for, say, an influence or research victory). My research slider stays at dead 0.

A god one solution. I never thought about that, am too much of a research freak.

BR, Iztok
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
In short Suicidal difficulty is currently only Suicidal if you have tech trading turned off.


Yep. Another couple of ass-kickings by the AI means I agree with you.

Now I just have to find out what level I can actually compete at with the tech trading off!
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yes, tech trading is still too easy, especially for money.