About the no tech trade option and if the AI cheats

No they don't trade when it's "off".

Pesonally, I don't like it OFF. Makes the game seem ...empty.

Perhaps when tech trading is off, the AI concentrates more on research? It certainly wouldn't make sense to have the computers trading but with you out of the loop.

And the AI cheats on anything above Tough.

And the AI cheats on anything above Tough.

By cheat we mean they earn more, start with more, etc. They don't cheat in the sense of create things out of nowhere, get extra research for nothing etc. They still play by the rules, they just get slightly more benefits than you do.

Oh, and at the highest level they can see the entire map.

when the no tech trading is allowed, how can you work out what tech the AI have? Can you do it with spying? Playing my first game with no tech trading now and i have no idea if im doing ok or not

For a rough guide you can still look at the Research graph, or indeed through espionage for specific techs (you answered your own question there). Or at least, I'd have thought so anyway. I play with tech trades on.

The research graph tells you how much everybody is currently spending on research, not how much tech they have. For that, use the stats, you can compare your stats with the top players there. If your bar is higher than the top player, you're doing good.

In the report window, there is also a mention of some of the techs the other races has.

In the report window, there is also a mention of some of the techs the other races has.

You obviously need to up your espionage spending. I can see every tech they have.

I had the same problem, with no tech trading the AI would totaly outresearch me. So then I just followed what they research and when (via espionage). Basicaly, they focus ALOT on technologies that upgrade your planets, such as better industrial sectors or improved research labs. They get those things upgraded nearly to the max -ASAP- and then they just rocket past you with production and research capability. So you just gotta keep your planets steadily upgraded with the latest techs and voila, you'll keep up.

The research graph tells you how much everybody is currently spending on research, not how much tech they have.

...Which in a no tech trading game will be directly related (apart from a few potential research bonuses such as some anomalies).

Thx for the replies guys. I'm trying one on tough to see just how much the AI is cheating me.

I normaly also go for planet improvements first to get the most out of my planets, research, factory, economy, etc techs. The thing is they still out-everything me and get crazy advanced weapons and build ships and colonize everything so fast. I could go head to head on the hardest levels before but this no tech trad eoption is a x1000 dificulty multiplier.

I like it, just have to find my even ground again and go from there. Gona start at tough and see what i can do.

I don't think it does get anything extra at tough. On tough, it's supposed to be exactly equal and the AI does its level best to kick your ass. I think the "cheating" starts at one level above tough and they start to get an artificial boost to their economy.

I don't think it does get anything extra at tough. On tough, it's supposed to be exactly equal and the AI does its level best to kick your ass. I think the "cheating" starts at one level above tough and they start to get an artificial boost to their economy.

Exactly, while I've heard the hardest level starts the AI out with full planet/star knowledge, the other levels above Tough get economy bonuses....no real cheating, just more money available to them.

Exactly, while I've heard the hardest level starts the AI out with full planet/star knowledge, the other levels above Tough get economy bonuses....no real cheating, just more money available to them.

Not that I know of. It's all the same intelligence level anyway, but the intuition of the AI (things like sensor range) goes up slightly at genius. Frogboy once commented that it's possible that on suicidal they have no fog of war, but they can't just see every planet by design. If it's on the other end of a gigantic galaxy, they'll still be clueless.

I like it, just have to find my even ground again and go from there. Gona start at tough and see what i can do.

Yes, it just takes time to get used to it, is all.

Yep, i was at suicidal to masochistic now playing on tough (even field) to see how much they were cheating before. Sorry i didn't word it correctly before

I call cheating to the bonuses hehe, I'm prety sure they get multipliers for all fields like econ, moral, research, production, etc etc. on the higher levels.

Hi!

I'm prety sure they get multipliers for all fields like econ, moral, research, production, etc etc. on the higher levels.

You need to see what insane bonuses they get above crippling to belive. In my recent maso game I've seen a small Arcean planet with only basic colony and NO research installations whatsoever (research ability 12 tp) and no starbase close producing 58/0/46 points! They had one research mining starbase fully equiped, but that should give them a 48% boost (from 5 tp to 8 tp), and not to 46 (or 575%). Madness...
BR, Iztok