Civilizations trading knowledge to each other

[Nevermind97]

Does anybody know if there is a way to make it so the the AI does not trade all of their technology to the other AI. I'm always playing catch up. They seem to be teaming up on me. There is never any civ that is behind except for me. I find this annoying and not very realistic.

 

[No.Dice]

The best way i can think of is to get rid of patch 1.17.

Play on 1.16, buy the most recent tech from the most advanced civ, and sell it back to all of the other civs. Doing this you'll make up what you initially paid for the tech, and generate quite a profit as well. Voila, you've just become a tech-broker. This will keep everybody fairly even with each other.

 

[Dimy]

I have the same problem... in Warlord level it's easy to get ahead in tech, but on Regent and tougher levels it's almost impossible...
In a recent Regent game I played I was isolated on an island for most of the BC's.... only in the AD's I managed to contact the first AI...which was also isolated. We were similar in tech...he had 2 techs I didnt have and I had two he didn't have so we traded...
then a few turns later we made contact with two other civs who were on the same continent... they were 3 techs ahead of us and also asking rediculous money for their world map
Around 1000 AD I was the first to make contact with an isolated civ on an island... the french...and they were FAR behind us in tech at that time...so I thought.... great, there's my prey... But by the time I could send troops over to their continent they met the other AI's and were ahead of me in tech . I was spending as much money as I could on research, but I couldn't catch up...
I had to support a large defensive army in my cities and I usually couldn't spend more on research than 40 - 60% without loosing too much money. I think it's useless to do your own research... I think you can better put research at 0% and buy all techs
I don't like playing that way and find it quite unrealistic, but I guess there is no way to keep up with the AI.

-Dimy77

 

[Nevermind97]

Yeah...I wonder if there is a way to make it so the AI cannot trade techs with each other. It would make it much more interesting having to acquire your own technology or something similar to Civ2

 

[Rob Lindsey]

Yeah, like all of you I'm having the same problem with enemy tech trading. And yes, it is not realistic AT ALL! But like No.Dice said, buy the most advanced technology and resell it to all the other civs. I've been playing on Monarch, and it's an absolute life-saver, though I also hate playing this way.

I had a weak, backwards nation bowing and paying tribute to all who demanded it. Once, though, I had a new tech to trade, swapping for gold or another tech as necessary. In a series of negociations (21 in fact) I acquired all the world's current technologies and was earning +200 per turn even with science at 100%.

Two hundred years later (1340's AD) we're all entering the Modern Age and I'm gaining an average of +1000 per turn. Pretty good and useful for a small fifteen city civilisation (the smallest in my world)!

I'm still weak (at the moment), but I tell you, I'm real rich! So I guess the moral of my little story is if you can't beat them, join them and milk them for all they're worth!



Also, I reckon that it's useful if you're the sort that likes playing during the modern age, because everyone is researching at the same level and advancement occurs more quickly. Until all the techs are researched and sold, you're rich, and then you've got about FIVE HUNDRED years to build and unleash the ultimate modern army. Yay!!!

:soldier: :tank: :soldier: :tank: :soldier:

 

[Hurricane]

I think many players have a hard time adapting their style of play to Civ3 compared to Civ2. You have to use an entirely different strategy than in Civ2, with the main point being that you will have to trade techs with the other civs. In Civ 2 you could easily research all techs yourself (and never trade) and win the game. This is not possible in Civ 3 (well, except Chieftain maybe).

Anyway, this is a good all-round strategy for the harder difficulties (Regent and up).

During the Ancient age, keep your research at minimum level to discover a tech in 40 turns. Select techs you believe noone else is researching (i.e. high up the tech tree). You main goal during this age is finding all other civs. Explore as much as possible (without hampering your civ´s growth) and pop goody huts. Always trade techs, even if the deal is that you give 3 techs and get 1. Always remember to check all civs when you get a new tech if you can trade it for something. Make roads to neighboring civs so that you can sell excess resources and luxuries.

Unless all civs are on one big island, try to be the among the first to build triremes. Try to find civs on other islands (you´ll need to risk your ships by going over sea and ocean tiles). If you find a new civ you can usually make lots of money and techs by trading communications and world maps. Make sure you have embassies with everyone.

Remember that all deals are devaluated immediately, so always trade first with the civ that pays the best, and work you way down to the poorest civs.

If you fall behind in techs, wait until all other civs have the tech. The devaluation makes it much cheaper for you to buy it last, instead of first. Never buy or sell anything during the AI´s turn.

This way you should make it nicely out of the Ancient Age.

During the Medieval Age, you can start focusing on building science improvements in your cities (libraries). With Knights against Pikemen, this age is good for a few wars (you will probably have had one already in the ancient age) to expand your empire. Keep your science at minimum, and use your money to buy techs, upgrade units and rush build temples. Try to get a few leaders to get some key wonders. The late Medieval age, with Cavalry against Musketmen is also great for warmongering.

When the game moves to the Industrious age, you only have Cavalry against Riflemen, so now it´s a good time to change to Democracy (if you haven´s already). By this time all your key cities should have libraries (and you have probably build the Forbidden Palace, too). Now switch to maximum research without losing money. Go for Scientific Method, and start to prebuild the Theory of Evolution. The AI usually goes for Industrialization and Communism, so you should have little trouble getting it. Time the completion of TOE so you actually get 2 free techs. I usally pick Atmoic Theory and Electronics, which gives you a very good lead on getting the Hoover Dam. Unless you already are the clear tech leader, sell Atomic Theory to everyone. You will get all known techs and huge mounts of cash.

From this point on you can usually research faster than the AI (unless you empire is much smaller than the AI civs´).