How useful is tech trade?

[Heroes]

Often see that an AI don't want to trade a monopoly tech to you, which makes broker so much harder! Do you have some thought on that?

 

[Good Omens]

You can try improving your relationship with the other leader, through diplomacy; maybe propose Open Borders, or a resource trade, or an outright gift. Sometimes that does the trick. Other than that, you might just have to wait. Civ 4 seems different from 3 in that the AI is more cautious about trading; it seemed in the past that a new technology was instantly shared around the world. They're a bit more secretive now.

 

[Oni]

I heard some complaints about tech trading but I have had no probs. There was a tech I wanted that one civ refused to trade but I was way ahead in tech compared to everyone so I left it at that.

Went to some other civs and got some different trades (not exactly what I wanted though). After a turn or 2 a different civ proposed to me a nice tech trade!!! I was impressed as in Civ 3 it was usually just demanded and caused war when refused.

So far any demands made by other civs I found reasonable and I gave it to them to keep relations strong.

 

[VeniceBeach]

The AI likes to keep new and valuable techs to itself, especially ones that open Wonders or powerful units. You can no longer rely on the AI to do your advanced researching for you. You can use them to backfill techs that you ignored. So if you beeline for certain advanced techs, you can always go back and acquire the older techs from the AI, sometimes three for one. Then again, you miss the benefits of those older techs during the times when the AI thinks they are valuable.

 

[Pentium]

I hate that too. They just won't trade with me.

I had a game I was going for SS, and they said "We fear you're becoming too advanced". The fact that they were 5 tech ahead of me didn't bother them at all.

You have to chose the techs you need and research them, and buy the other when you can.