So here are my questions:

- I've recently been playing without tech trading because I heard there were problems with it and the AI in 1.1; What exactly are the problems by the way? I've looked up a few topics on it and most people seem to be suggesting that the AI cheats in the processes, but I just don't see how that could be.

I've turned off tech trading for the last few games and the diplomacy screen looses a good deal of its appeal:

I'm not into trading whole planets or starbases, at least not until the end of a very long game.

I build ships and give them as gifts to aliens, but I seldom know what their tech levels are so I don't know if I'm giving them last year's models or state of the art equipment

I'm not exactly sure what influence points and credits garner me in terms of good will with aliens ---> for example: is it better to continaully bribe an empire with smaller amounts over the long term, or go for a big payday?

Aliens seem to react rather arbritrarily to my bribes. I'll bribe one group for a small amount and they'll immidietly be ready for an Alliance with me. I do the same for another and they become dependent on the bribes to the point that they attack when I don't pay them off after a while.

Aliens never initiate any diplomatic moves other than to tell me they want to kill me... so I guess its upto me to propose any and all deals.

Last question: Influence starbases... where and when to use them? Since switching to patch 1.1 they seem rather ineffective (no results from their influence redrawing the political map) or dangerous (aliens get angry quickly when they discover one in range of their planets.

Anyway, it seems like a whole new game since the patch -- which is a great thing -- just a bit cloudy on mechanics and strategies I thought I knew