Also AI skipping.

[Millman]

In the orignal version the computer is able to skip tech advances in the end. I've seen it go from sanitation to mobile warfare to plastics although it hasn't learned any previous preresiquites for that particular technology.

It's not like my opponents one city I leave for them is going to make all the difference. Does it have something to do with achieving futuretech is that it opens the door for all techs for all civilizations?

Also, if you trade maps with the computer when you know the whole map, it could glitch and you'll have to restart it or deal with a blackish map.

 

[ElephantU]

Sounds like you are referring to Civ1 or unpatched CivII? I have not run into this playing a lot of OCC games where I tracked AI tech progress closely.

 

[Millman]

Yep, the upatched one for Civ 2. I guess it's good they fixed it.

It's not too bad, it means I have to invade them sooner.

 

[starlifter]

In the orignal version the computer is able to skip tech advances in the end. I've seen it go from sanitation to mobile warfare to plastics although it hasn't learned any previous preresiquites for that particular technology.

The AI is subject to the tech tree, like humans are, but with no blocked techs. It cannot just research an item without the prerequisite(s) for it. But what you are seeing is the AI leapfrog tech by things like tech trading (among themselves), huts, or even human devious gifting. Knowing how to do the latter allows MPE to be an even more important mid-game wonder.

It is worth considering, at times, just who an AI has contact with, before gifting. You can also delay an AI research by swamping it with new tech... if it is critical to your strategy, like getting Copernicus (so you can use it in your SSC).