AI offers free tech...!

[Severus]

I'm currently trying my first ever OCC game, small map, continents, 5 civs, epic speed on prince.

Needless to say i'm doing badly.... (mainly because i don't really have a clue what i'm doing, what the best techs to beeline for are etc.) I've ended up on my own continent with a lot of good resources like marble out of reach until my culture becomes legendary though i did manage to get the pyramids and the oracle (dont usually go for the pyramids in normal games as i never run representation on prince level until much later in the game but i figured i should be aiming on GPP and creating superspecialists to carry my science and get me back in the game.)

Anyway i'm isolated on my island apart from a size 6 barb city which keeps annoying me with archers but i dont mind as its nice xp for my units, and the only other civ i've met is Mali who are 2 squares away over the sea and who, at 1270AD, have a score of 1784 to my pathetic 477. I've got a healthy economy though due to my prophet superspecialists and have bought 3 techs from them to pull back to within 800 techs

I'd tried to buy another tech for cheap but Mansa refused. Fair enough i thought i'll just wait another couple of turns and see what happens next time when out of nowhere he offers me Horseback Riding for nothing!! (See screenshot)



I didnt know whether to be happy or feel severly patronised, although needless to say i took it

Anyway after all that i get to the point of my post. Has this happened to anyone else and is there some sort of power correlation that goes along with it (ie. if he's 8 times stronger than you he starts to take pity on you or something?) we weren't even on good terms, the only mod was the +1 for years of peace as you can see from the shot. Any ideas anyone?

[Zanmato]

Must be bug. Should report it.
I never get anything like that on Noble, never mind Prince. If it's free though I will take anything.

[Severus]

Oh i was definitely taking it no doubt about that!! (After hanging my head in shame for a couple of seconds)

Or it could be that the three techs i bought off him cost me much more than they're worth (at least than what i think they're worth.)
I cant remember exactly but one was definitely monothaism, about 180 beakers on epic i think which i paid 350 gold for, and the other two i definitely paid about double the gold compared to they're beaker value.

Could be if you do that enough the AI, or at least mansa, will gift you a tech off they're on back? (It's the fact that he contacted me with the idea that amazes me most).

[smjjames]

yea, haven't had an AI civ give me a free tech, usually if they give me a tech, they want something in return (usually some gold or another tech)

[bigotry]

Wow... I can't beleive what I am seeing.

[Zanmato]

Then I'm slighty surprised as to why it doesn't say '+n Our trades have been fair and forthright.' if you have been buying techs from him. I don't play too often at Prince but perhaps since the AI may not consider you a threat (yet) or perhaps they will want something else when they need it, they'll kind of 'butter you up' with freebies.

[The-Hawk]

Originally Posted by Zanmato

Must be bug. Should report it.
I never get anything like that on Noble, never mind Prince. If it's free though I will take anything.

I've had an AI offer me a free tech in Immortal and Deity games. Also, on several occasions, I've asked for a free tech and they've given it to me.

[Severus]

Originally Posted by Zanmato

but perhaps since the AI may not consider you a threat (yet) or perhaps they will want something else when they need it, they'll kind of 'butter you up' with freebies.

This is exactly what i'm thinking After i accepted he said words to the effect of "i am so glad you accepted, i'm sure this will benefit both of our peoples".
The thing is i've got nothing which he'd want, no tech which he doesn't have; only about 200 gold (and when i've got more i'll be buying another tech off him hopefully); and no military whatsoever (only 5 archers).

I dont know if playing with permanent alliances has anything to do with it? I've never played with this on before but thought i'd try it and see what happens.

[Severus]

Originally Posted by The-Hawk

I've had an AI offer me a free tech in Immortal and Deity games. Also, on several occasions, I've asked for a free tech and they've given it to me.

Yeah i've asked for and got free techs fairly regularly on Prince (especially from Hatty for some reason). Never played above Prince yet although i win 9 times out of 10 at this level. Have to make the leap at some point though (especially if this sort of thing happens more regularly... how easy must Deity level be with AI's giving you techs all the time??!)

[scooter]

Wow thats something. Never seen an AI just show up and offer you one. I've gotten them for free by asking, but never been offered one.

[InFlux5]

It's happened to me. It would seem that it happens if you are lagging far behind, but have good relations.

[Severus]

This is turning into one of my most memorable games.... (mansa does it again!!)



It goes without saying i'm still around eight tech behind mansa, i've now made contact with the remaining civ's bismark, isabella and monty (there goes my hopes a peaceful game i think! i'm confucian, bismarck is christian, isabella is buddist and monty is hindu

I've already been dragged into a war against monty after bismarck asked me to join him and issy, but sued for peace and it only cost me 60 gold, a couple of turns later mansa comes calling...

Has anyone had the AI offer tech twice in one game before??

[Severus]

Originally Posted by InFlux5

It's happened to me. It would seem that it happens if you are lagging far behind, but have good relations.

Damn!! Thought i might achieve a small slice of civ fanatic notoriety

[GiantRaven]

Wow MM is so friendly! He rules!

I think he must want to be a PA partner with you, that should help you win some

[Sisiutil]

The AI has never done that for me (and yes, I'm jealous and bitter). Though, as others have said above, I've asked for and gotten techs with the "Can you spare this for a good friend?" option. The closest I ever came to something like this was Louis giving me something like 1400 gold (all he had) out of the blue for an old, non-military tech--Calendar or something like that when it was around 1400 AD.

Now, if I were playing as Mansa and you were a low-scoring AI, I'd likely be doing this because I was looking to shore you up so you can be a cat's paw/buffer versus a rival Civ.

If that's what the AI is doing...wow. Smart AI.

[murphy54]

every action has a consequence ...so nothinq is for free...

[Severus]

Yeah Mansa is definitely a friendly guy...



@ Sisiutil, I think you're right he wants me as an ally against spain and aztec. Bismarck's pleased with him while Issy's annoyed and Monty's furious (and i'm currently fighting Monty).
I can also get Bismarck to convert to confucianism for 330 gold; 2 defensive pacts and 2 PA's would be very sweet... (and military tradition will be researched in 11 turns... if Mansa doesnt give me it first )

[GiantRaven]

You can only have one PA

Wow...that's amazing...

[Moonsinger]

Originally Posted by Zanmato

Must be bug. Should report it.
I never get anything like that on Noble, never mind Prince. If it's free though I will take anything.

They offered free tech to me all the time, and it was on Deity. I have noticed that whenever the AIs decided to offer me free tech out of their own free will and from the bottom of their good heart, it has been always something I really need. I guess they can read my mind.

[Smokey McDope]

You have to be REALLY far behind, such that you are the only civ without a tech, and an AI will toss you a bone. Consider it a bad thing to see AI offer you techs, you probably have a very slim chance at victory.