Trading Tech for cash Nerfed in 1.03 latest patch?

from Stardock Forums
Maybe it’s just me... I'm play beginner level. Darn it if I'm learning so should the A.I.

In 1.02, I had worked my way up to normal. My strategy was to trade any new techs for cash while maximizing research. Damn the torpedoes. Now the A.I. won't trade cash for anything. They have the credits but they're doing a Jack Benny on me (Robber: "Your money or your life..." (Long pause) "Well???" Jack: "I'm thinking, I'm thinking...")

Now I don't mind if the planet improvement ability is nerfed. Heck it was just waiting to be exploited. However, when I'm playing at fool level A.I.'s (yes, I'm not proud when testing a theory or a patch or a new political party) and they have cash but won't trade for two military techs, then I have a problem. Are they too dumb to know a good deal?

I'm thinking of not taking any extra diplomatic ability if it won't help me trade.

Now if I could just figure out what a Universalist with maximum luck could do...
173 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Code Monkey wrote a post on this topic on comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic which noted that things are *much worse* when you have no diplomatic ability.

I don't mind having the tech for money thing curbed, but it feels like it's just impossible to trade tech.

~SDC~
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
I had the same problem I worked my way all the way up to normal level and then Stardoch fixed the trade for cash. Trade a Alien race a Galactic Trade good and and tech and you were lucky to get a 100BC for 4 months. Even if the minor race had 20000BC credits.

Random RANT...

That is except when some minor race already beat you to the trade good. Sorry still bothers me to know matter what level you play some minor "annoying" race is there always beating you to techs and trade goods.

Really though with the latest patch it seems like you can get cash for trade goods again. As long as the race you are trading with can afford the trade.

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I am running a test game on sub normal AI version 1.03 and the AI is happily trading tech for cash. I fact it does it so often its becoming a very tedious if garanteed method of winning the game.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
I haven't played a full game in a week or more - haven't really had the time. However, it's been *ages* since the AI beat me to a wonder or trade good. When I move all the AI players to bright, they'll probably start doing it again. Those bastards.

~SDC~