They got it / they can't use it / I want it and can use it

[1940LaSalle]

Kind of cryptic, I know, but here's the situation: a neighboring civ has rubber, and I don't. They're not sufficiently advanced technologically to use it so it's not listed as a resource (I don't think). Suppose I built/helped to build a road leading from the source of rubber into my territory (it's near a border): since I would apparently be connected by road, and ultimately railroad, could I then trade with the other guys to get this resource they can't exploit (yet)?

 

[Turner]

No. They have to have the tech that gives them the knowledge of the resource in order to be able to use it. And in the normal rules, there will always be something they can do with it once they know they have it. I have seen in Rise and Rule where you get knowledge of Uranium before you can use it. In that case, the AI will usually trade it, because it's more valuable to them as a trade then using it to build something.

Just go build some units and go take it.

 

[1940LaSalle]

Yeah, that was my fallback option: make them reject a trade offer and then lower the boom. Hoping to avoid that but I guess I can't.

 

[CKS]

Well, you could always give them replaceable parts and then trade for it. You could also try to get the tile by building a town (or towns) and culture. War isn't the only way, but it may be the best choice for you.

 

[Turner]

They won't sell their only source of it because it's immediately useful, via Infantry.