Research Bug?

[Warthog]

I am wondering if I missed discussion of a bizarre behavior I just ran across.
While researching invention, I got into discussion with Gandhi. He was willing to trade me invention for about 600 gold. As I had about 22 turns left to complete, I figured this was a good deal. Now, before completing the transaction I decided to hit the enter key and go back to my science advisor. I switched research to some other line then went back to Gandhi. I was surprised to see that he was now quite annoyed and refused the deal he was previously ready to agree to . Totally confused , I went back to my science advisor to switch back to invention. Now, here is the kicker, I now had 40 turns to completion and in further negotiations with India, Gandhi continued to refuse our earlier deal.
I felt justified in reloading at this point, and tried the maneuver again. This time I switched research before hitting Gandhi up, of course now he didn't want to have anything to do with me. Back to the science advisor and the research left had gone back up to 40 turns again.
So, I reload again and just cut the deal with Gandhi, he gets his 600 gold, I get invention and my advisor switched to another line of research after the fact.
Is this supposed to work this way?

 

[bobgote]

ok the thing is, when you switch the research to a different science, all the research you had so far is now gone. So you were 18 turns in on your research.

Secondly, the AI players will charge less when you've already got some or most of the research done. This is why you got the cheaper price.

When you're in the position you're in, trade first then change the science that you're researching.

 

[etj4Eagle]

Originally posted by bobgote


Secondly, the AI players will charge less when you've already got some or most of the research done. This is why you got the cheaper price.

Yep to expand on what bobgote said: The cost for buying a tech is a function of how many beakers you have left to research. Hence since you had already done some of the research, the price was discounted sufficiently that India was willing to deal with you. (This also happens with other civs learning a tech).

And when you threw out your accumulated research, well you could now no longer afford the tech.