Do you ever steal techs in Civ3?

[BuckyRea]

When I first started playing Civ2, I found the espionage option fun and rewarding. Sometimes I'd get plugged and a war would start up. But it was cost efficient and stood a reasonable chance of being successful.

When I upgraded to Civ3, I found the cost of stealing techs to be outrageously high and rarely, if ever, successful. Only one titme did I think to sting another civ whom I suspected of wanted to steal my techs. The sting worked and I immediately found myself in the middle of a massive war. I catch them trying to steal my technology and so they go to war against me? What the heck is that all about?

At this point I wonder why they even bothered to put espionage in the game in the first place, given the high cost-low payoff ratio for it.

Does anyone ever use spies to steal techs--or even troop placements? It seems like the AI rarely do either and I sure don't anymore.

 

[Tomoyo]

All the time. Starting in the middle ages, it's usually cheaper to steal a technology at safest than to buy one at last civ, on Sid. It's a nice way to get technologies while you're behind, while also not giving help to the top AI.

 

[Abegweit]

Yes.

ten chars.

 

[Combat Ingrid]

It seems like the AI rarely do either and I sure don't anymore.

The AI seems to use spies much more on the higher levels, guess they don't have the cash on lower levels.
Here's picture evidence from a recent game

 

[Heretic_Cata]

Yes, especially in my mod. (cheaper)



Fuhrer Gandhi - so true.

 

[Virtual Alex]

Haha it's just like Ghandi to be a thieving facsist!

 

[SuperBeaverInc.]

I never steal techs. I'm usually ahead of the AI by the time I am able to steal techs.

 

[azzaman333]

I dont steal techs normally, since a) i dont have the cash and b) i cant afford a declaration of war at the time.

Of course, at Deity I assume its nessecary to steal to keep close.

 

[nc-1701]

If I have the cash then yes I always plant a spy I steal plans right before a moajor war or a nuclear strike and I steal a tech if I'm at war or another to keep me from trading I have the cash and need the tech.

 

[Empiremaker]

Yes.

On DG I start stealing around the middle of the Middle ages. I customized the .biq so that all espionage is cheaper, but even without I would steal.

And remember that when you pay gold to and AI for tech, they use that gold for more research, hurrying or other things, and stealing denys that.

The Espionage article in the war academy is good, and I found out that safest isn't that much more sucessful than Carefully.

War decleration is rare if you have a MA or MPP and aren't furiousm, so I steal more against those civs.

I don't use any of the other espionage actions except plant spy.

 

[Ansar]

How can I steal? I'm always ahead and trading with the AI.

 

[AutomatedTeller]

if you are ahead, there is no real need to steal.

 

[Tone]

How can I steal? I'm always ahead and trading with the AI.

Time to try the next level up perhaps?

Back on topic, I never used to steal but then I saw the power of it at Sid level. I like to think that I know how to play a fast research game but the Sid AI is insanely powerful. Sometimes stealing is the only way. If you don't use it at the moment, just keep the idea alive in the back of your mind just in case you need it someday.

 

[Ansar]

Actually, its my first attempt on Emperor and I'm comfortably keeping up.

And trying the China COTM27, I know I'm not ready for Demigod.

 

[Dreadnoughtt]

From what I learned, Its cheapest to steal tech in the modern age or late industrial age. Thats when techs gain tremendoues value. Other than that, its just cheaper to buy or research them yourself.

 

[T.A JONES]

The AI seems to use spies much more on the higher levels, guess they don't have the cash on lower levels.
Here's picture evidence from a recent game

Hi! Thanks for that pix . Its cool to see those AI dudes get up to some meaningful mischief from time to time. what level did ya say that happened again?

Heres a important Question. whats the lowest level Anybodys been able to witness being victim to a tech theft. I played Regent for the majorty of my Days byt the last few months have taken Monarch as the standard. Ive never been the victim of a tech theif before, Thats why I ask. Ok? Thanks

 

[azzaman333]

I remember an AI having a spy in my territory on Monarch. Never noticed them trying to steal a tech though.

 

[Son_Of_Dido]

Sometimes, when I'm trying to rush through the tech tree to get to the next era, and a rival civ has branched out and taken an optional tech that I want (economics and navigation would be decent examples), and their asking price for trade is, in my opinion, too high. If I've got the money, and more often I not I do by the late middle ages/early industrial ages when this is more likely to happen, then yeah, I'll steal it.

 

[Combat Ingrid]

Hi! Thanks for that pix . Its cool to see those AI dudes get up to some meaningful mischief from time to time. what level did ya say that happened again?

Heres a important Question. whats the lowest level Anybodys been able to witness being victim to a tech theft. I played Regent for the majorty of my Days byt the last few months have taken Monarch as the standard. Ive never been the victim of a tech theif before, Thats why I ask. Ok? Thanks

That game was on demigod. I have seen AI spies in regent games too, but not very often.
It was rather ironic that in the game that screenshot comes from, India entered industrial age while I was still in late ancient age. However, I managed to catch up with them in the modern age and won the space race. Praise Firaxis for the fascist government!

 

[LLXerxes]

if you are ahead, there is no real need to steal.

If you're ahead there usually isn't anything to steal anyways.

I don't, unless I'm trying to start a war. But usually no, because I don't like having to spend too money to guarentee it.