Trading Alphabet and Writing

[LuckyJack]

In my current game I was researching Alphabet in the hopes of trading it to the two AIs I'd encountered. Alphabet never showed up on their Technolgies list while I was researching it. But once I discovered Alphabet, it did not show up on the Technolgies I could trade them. I continued on researching Writing and the same thing happened. I saw no indication that either had learned Writing (I did see they both learned Mysticism) and yet I could not trade it once it was discovered. This is the second game in which this has happened to me. In a previous one it happened on Alphabet, Writing, and Literature. Could it be that the AIs are learning this path at the same pace at which I am learning it? I thought so at first but having this repeat in a second game is too much coincidence. Is there some game mechanism in place which prevents me from trading these techs?

 

[Turner]

Could it be that the AIs are learning this path at the same pace at which I am learning it?

That's probably it. Not really coincidence, just the way the game works. Happens to me all the time.

 

[bingen]

As soon as you (or anyone else) discover a tech, it becomes cheaper for everyone else. Therefore an AI that is researching it will often be able to discover it on the same interturn and subsequently trade it around first.

There is a trick that will allow you to trade the tech first. When you discover your tech press "the big picture" then press F4 for the Foreign Advisor.

 

[LuckyJack]

Thanks for the Advisors tip. I'll be certain to try it next time I research a Tech.