AI Victory Conditions

No to alliance, yes to tech.

You can turn off the AI Tech Victory in Prefs.ini.

Interesting, is there any kind of warning when the AI is about to win by tech, like there is with influence?

It has been a long time, but I think there is a small window that comes up saying that they are getting close to a tech victory.

Aye, though I've never actually seen it myself, there was a very long game example in the journal section a while ago where the Terran Alliance came fairly close to winning a tech victory (and one of the screenshots was of said window).

Its interesting, I once came to a stalemate with the Drengin, both of us had take over several other empires and where the last two on the map. Both our empires had some massive research bonuses via resource star bases and the tech tree was finished in short order.

Interestingly enough the Drengin chose not to pursue a tech victory. I guess The AI was more interested in the squishiness of me under its boots then it was enlightenment. From what I could gather in the post wrap up (I took the tech victory) was that he was solidly out researching me until he finished up everything but the tech victory then turned everything into military.

Sounds like a good strategy to me. Get all the techs, and if your opponent decides to go down the expensive tech victory branch, you'll be pumping out more ships to crush him with. How did it work out for you?

Thanks for the answers everyone.

Anyone know the answer to 1)? That is, can the AI win an influence victory while at war?

Nope, the AI has to play by the same rules we do when it comes to victory.

It worked out well, I took a a gamble and put everything into my research hoping to finish it before the Drengin out built me. It worked out pretty well, although a few more months and he would have attacked. Like I said, it was a gamble, but that time it paid off.

Only once do I think I have ever seen an AI go for the tech win, it was the Terrans and again, pretty late in the game.

I'm hoping that the AI is more agressive DA by trying to win by whatever victory conditions are allowed. In my last game, I got that dread notice that said the Torians were nearing a technological victory and I knew I was far behind on that score. Unfortunately, the AI allowed me to exploit the Torian's love of high-end missile systems and buy all of the research techs that let up to tech victory. I ended up winning the game, which the AI never should have allowed me to do. It made me feel dirty.