AI will not sell me techs

[eyrei]

For some reason I cannot quite put my finger on, in my last few games, the AI has all but refused to trade me technology, even when I am 4 or 5 techs behind. This makes things nearly impossible, since I play on monarch and higher. Once I finally get to the point where I have a robust economy, I find out that they simply wanted exhorbitant prices for them, which I could not possibly afford at the time. If it would take me 4 turns to research a tech, because everybody already has it, they still want something like 1000 gold + 25 gold turn. This is so much higher than the actual cost I would pay to research it, that I cannot bring myself to do it, especially when I need 4 or 5 of these techs to even get back in the race. This did not used to happen. If I was 3 or 4 turns from a tech, I could usually buy it from the ai for about 300 gold. BTW, my reputation has been stellar in all of these games, having never betrayed or even been the aggressor in a war. The only thing I can think of is that I have always had a slight lead in territory, but not in points.

 

[NY Hoya]

I have experienced this with both techs and luxury resources, but only after achieving a somewhat dominant position relative to other civs in military strength and/ or territory. Very frustrating when the AI won't trade you spices in exchange for ivory, silks and incense...

 

[gorilladf]

Yeah, if your not powerful, or have something they want, then they won't sell. You may not have enough combined money and resources to make it worth their while. Build a little more military, then go see them.

I found this out while trying to play as peacefull as possible. It requred I have a big army even if I didn't use it.

 

[Moulton]

Yeah, most of the time the AI prices it self out for me. I refuse to pay 800 or 1000 gold unless I am just desparate. Or trade 2 luxuries plus 500gold boot for 1 luxury.
Late in the game, though I have traded two for one. THe most they would pay (in that game) was 39 gold per turn for a lux. I had plenty to sell, no buyers. Since the luxury gives the same happiness as 10% tax, or in my case the additional one was multiplied by 4, so 40%, and my income was 1700 gold.... two for one became a good deal.
Now i started a new game, and Japan wants two techs for one... I did that, and she declared war next time....

 

[LaRo]

I tought the answer would be stealing tech but I spent 1000 or 1200 gp to get high chance of succes and I failed. However, my spy escaped without been captured.

 

[Troyens]

Weird AI??

I once tried to sell ten towns and small cities to a civ for just one gold.

They wouldn't take it!!
:crazyeyes :crazyeyes

Are they crazy - or are the Firaxis programmers??

 

[Cunobelin Of Hippo]

That feature was implemented with the patch in order to kill several cheats You can't trade the AI when it involves cities.

As for tech, a good army is the key Be stronger and you'll get what you want...and if you don't

 

[Colonel Kraken]

Another thing you need to consider in trades is your political relationship with them. If you're even only on "polite" terms with them, their price will be high. If they're "gracious" towards you, they are *much* more willing to trade with you reasonably.


--Colonel

 

[Selous]

ive found that sometime the AI may kinda take u under there wing ... the french did it to me recently in a diety game where the AI was about and age or so in front of me .. lol .... but they were happy to trade techs for about 5-6 gold per turn ... industrial tecks cost 10-14 gold per turn ..... that last for 20 turns .... i find it is much cheeper than research .... sometimes that is .... and the big civs go nuts for luxuries and will swap many old techs for it and large sums of money

also ... try shopping around for your tecks .... some other civ might give it to u cheeper .... it might be worth dumping your own science program if u are to slow and turn it all into hard currency ... the AI loves to get gold per turn off u