Trade Goods

I really like trade goods as a concept, but there are a two small AI problems.

1. The AI seems to overvalue trade goods in diplomatic trades. (Also tech.) You can bankrupt an AI by selling it trade goods (or tech) that don't help it very much because it is bankrupt.

2. The AI seems to undervalue trade goods when it is choosing what to build itself. I have only ever seen an AI with trade goods of its own once. It should build them agressively and then try to sell or trade them. (At a fair price.)

That said, I want more trade goods, so that everyone can have a few! If the AIs agressively build and trade them around, it would make the game much more interesting. If declaring war against the Drengin costs you 50% of your military ability since they control the mil trade goods, the decision becomes much more interesting.

Another idea: building trade goods could require you to control an appropriate galactic resource first. This would help spread them out among the races.

Two suggested new trade goods:
"Nanoweasels" These energetic, flexible, marginally useful nanobots give +1 % to a lot of abilities. "They also make julienne fries." (I just like the word "nanoweasel," a rip off of the "garden weasel." This is the trade good that galactic emporers see on late night infomercials.)

"Omnitaters"
These hardy, nutritious tubers make formerly inhospitable parts of colonized planets green, pleasant, and productive. +5% planet quality.

Hope this is interesting,
martinl
117 views 0 replies