Trading the AI into stagnation

[m00g0d]

Probably discussed before, but couldn't really locate anything on it.

Will the AI offer so much for new tech/resources that it will stagnate its own development?

I am playing a game with Arabia (Monarch level) and, while I am leading in score, I was in a fierce race for the tech lead with France (and therefore Britain and Persia) I aggressively traded to keep up, pawning off advances almost as soon as I got them.

Now, while my research infrastructure did improve over the course of the middle ages, nothing happened to France to diminish their strength...but they fell further and further behind. I'm wondering if part of it might have been the fact that for one or two advances, they were paying out close to, or over, 100gpt in the second era.

If this is the case, does anyone know more about it? Is there a cut off for the AI as to how much it will spend for tech? Will it lower its tech spending to afford a gpt deal?

Sort of rambling, not very clear post, but hopefully you can get my meaning and offer some insight.

 

[magnusmarcus]

In several of my games I think I may have noticed the same "Stagnation through Tech Whoring" phenomenon. By researching at least 3 new techs every 20 turns I was able to trade the leading ai a new tech for all his disposable income as soon as an old g per turn trade ended. Through the course of 40 or so turns the ai gradually offered less and less gold per turn for my techs and his research rate was basically reduced to nil at the end.

 

[SanPellegrino]

the AI isn't allowed to give you so much gpt hat it is running a deficit. but of course, if you sell the same tech to everyone you make sure their budget isn't spend on researching different techs by different AIs which they can whore around later

 

[Chieftess]

It's a strategy I used in the first Civ3 Demogame. But, if you demand too much gpt, the AI could just go ahead and declare war on you. (which by that time, they're spent).