Trading strategic resources to the AI.

[redstoner]

I'm just wondering how many people do NOT trade any strategic resources to AI Civs.

I personally avoid trading anything such as iron, saltpeter, oil, etc. I like having the advantage of being able to build units they can't.

I completely understand trading them for other resources, techs, lux, and stuff. They do have significant value and the AI usually pays well for them. I just prefer to have the advantage of a stronger military capability than the cash value.

If they want them that bad, they can come and get them.

 

[jollyolly]

I agree. Why help civ's that are most likely going to be enemies in the future.

The only time I might do it is if I know that the civ doing the asking will get p****d off and attack, especially if they have a kick ass army and I'm defending my capital with riflemen still!

 

[Baltimoretrader]

I'll trade resources to get tech / cash per turn ....

I'll only trade a good resource like oil or saltpeter if the civ getting the resource might be fighting another civ I want destroyed.

You might be able to trade the tech and demand a military alliance. You can attack the civ to start the fighting, and then step back, and let the two go at it.

 

[WackenOpenAir]

i'd say that depends on their relative strength and distance to me.

the weaker and further away, the more likely they get a resource.

 

[budweiser]

I dont usually trade the stuff, but I sometimes gift it to weaker civs if I want to help them live or if I need their help against a stronger foe.

 

[Hyland]

Almost always trade 'em. Makes loads of money for you and the tribe geta an upwards mood swing of grat proportions. If i'm planning a war with a tribe i dont trade anything at all with them....

 

[apparition]

Never, although I once gave motorised transport and a resource to the Zulu because the interface was running slow - accidental click.

 

[DS_Legionary]

If they are a nearby neighbor, and it's early in the game, and they are wanting like iron or saltpeter, then I will definately not trade them. Those resources give huge advantages in their ages. If it's in the later game, and they are not a nearby neighbor. Then sure, I'll trade with em.

 

[Kaiser_Berger]

I typically don't trade them too much, but in Deity level games, it's a different story. If you have iron and one of the AI's does not, it can be an incredible tool to help get caught up in tech.

 

[JustBen]

If other AIs have surplus, say, Oil, you might anticipate that since your Oil-lacking neighbor will be buying it from someone, that someone might just as well be you.

Rubber is a personal favorite to play around with; you can use it to help prop up a floundering foe on a distant continent. For example, in my current game, my civ is equipping France's infantry corps to keep the monstrous Indians from annexing their territory and becoming a runaway superpower.

Selling off Saltpeter or Rubber will probably only make your enemies a bigger nuisance to you, since their cities get tougher to crack but they don't actually threaten you. It's when you ship them Horses and Oil that things can get scary, since these are what gives the Bad Guys (tm) what they need to take things from you.

Let's not forget about the role of time -- you're just going to be less threatened later in the game, so it's not such a big deal to share your Aluminum reserves. It's when you start giving Ancient Persia their Iron that you most expose yourself to harm. Assuming they're brash enough to declare war on their only source of Iron -- which they are disinclined to do, another reason you may want to appease them through trade (before they outright demand it from you!).

That all said, I suppose I'd usually rather my enemies not have a strategic resource. But any time before Scientific Method rolls around, I probably want the cash badly enough to pony up.

 

[The Last Conformist]

I usually sell excess SRs. Obviously I will not sell Iron to my powerfel Persian neighbours in the mit-Ancient or things like that, but normally I figure it's worth it.

I also sometimes gift SRs to civs losing against other AIs to keep them fighting longer and so tie down the more powerful AI.

 

[MM2]

I mostly sell everything.Resources and Luxs. Instead of OIL !!!!
If you can control this resource,u normally win the game.

 

[5queens]

I usually sell any extra luxs or extra resources. The resources I tend to take more seriously though (for obvious reasons).

 

[Trev]

Sell everything I can generally for tech and gold/turn deals, the prices paid particularly for stategic resources can make it very worthwhile, and assist in developing your civ economically

 

[tao]

Note that the AIs (at least in 1.29) are willing to pay very good money for strategic resources, even if they have the resource, but unconnected. Sell asap, you otherwise the opportunity may be lost.

 

[Hayek]

If I am the only civ controlling a certain, important SR, then there's no way I'd sell it. If not, then I always sell excess SRs.

 

[DoTheMath]

Only to weak civs that I don't want to attack or allies.

On the other hand, civs will always get the opportunity to buy techs, so I'm usally very free in trading them.

I'm cautious about selling luxuries, often to an ally, or weak nation.

 

[Black Waltz]

I'll only sell if they're not a neighbour.