how much free tech to give away?

[podraza]

I've been dabbling in the higher levels now (Monarch) and noticing that the AI doesn't want to trade me value for value in techs. Indeed, its usually far from it. They want to rip me off.

Is it worth it to make these trades?

I suppose if I can trade a single tech to several different Civs for several different techs, then I end up receiving more beakers than I gave away (in a certain sense), even if each of them rips me off in their respective trades.

But if I am facing just one AI, and he wants to charge me double, does it make any sense to trade with him? if I really need this particular tech I suppose it might. But in an ordinary situation, doesn't this simply amount to subsidizing my opponents? Why do that?

 

[50_dollar_bag]

I play Monarch too and they do rip you off, usually it's hard to get the full value for your tech unless it's a monopoly. Most of the time unless you've bee-lined or are really ahead in tech there is always someone who has partially research a tech you are trying to trade, therefore decreasing it's value especially if it's favoured by the AI.

I wouldn't trade a tech when you only know 1 AI you'll never get what it's worth.

 

[cabert]

first thing, if you face only 1 AI, he won't trade techs.
second thing, trading is only worth it if you can trade multiple times for the same tech (it can be good also if you need the tech he offers, but can't research it fast enough ).

 

[ElJojo]

The bargain you have depends a lot on diplomacy. If you are in good terms you can get a reasonable deal : Calendar versus code of laws for example.
Trading is also useful to backfill the techtree, early in the game when you have a monopoly on alphabet because you bee-lined. You may get riped-off but you gain a lot of turns not having to research all those basic techs.
Otherwise you should use your tech advance in other ways, like bribing AI into wars. It's still expensive but you get to slow two AI in their development and research.
It also depends on your goal, after all you don't always need techs to win. But if you're aiming at building the spaceship it can be useful to trade, if you have more production than your competitors. You don't care about tech parity as long as you can outproduce them. Domination victory is more tricky, you can always overwhelm your opponent with inferior troops but keeping a military tech monopoly can save you a lot of time.
So diplomacy and context are, as often, of great importance.

 

[Wlauzon]

Make friends with the civ with the least techs, Monty is good for that.

Offer him a tech to make war on a civ that is above you, or is mad at you.

Keep feeding him a new tech every turn or so - this not only makes him love you, it also makes him better at smashing the other civ.

Of course you know that eventually Monty will turn on you - he always does, so near the end game don't give him any