How does trading influence points effect you?

I've noticed that you can trade for "INFLUENCE POINTS" when bartering with other factions. However i never understood how that effected you.

My assumption is that it applies a bonus to your influence points thus increasing your influence. But if thats the case , does it spread it out equally ? and does it then - the enemies TOTAL influence ?

Its hard to picture it is all and i have no idea how much Influence points i have in any sector of influence.

5,035 views 6 replies
Reply #1 Top
The influence you acquire through trade has no effect on the map at all, so it doesn't "spread out". It also doesn't add to the influence needed for an influence victory. It just adds to your number of votes in the *next* UP issue.
Reply #2 Top
The influence you acquire through trade has no effect on the map at all, so it doesn't "spread out". It also doesn't add to the influence needed for an influence victory. It just adds to your number of votes in the *next* UP issue.
End of quote


Wow, that's awful. Is it one influence point per vote, or is there some conversion rate? I ask because even in a fairly mediocre medium map empire, I'm pushing a hundred thousand votes, so that one influence point won't go very far if it's one point per vote.
Reply #3 Top
AFAIK it's one vote per point. Yeah, trading them is completely worthless - especially since we have no control over which issue will be voted on.
Reply #4 Top
One thing i've tried once, call me the idiot newbie of long past, is to trade as much as i could to every other races IPs just before a UP meeting cuz i really wanted to have the upper hand in the next decision. I sure did; IIRC, everyone's trade routes gained the benefit of extra-protection for three years, or somethin' in that line of thought! ;)
This was the very last occasion i gave out any technology advantages to some AIs for timely votes.

Btw, you can also get a Peace Treaty by dealing a lot of stuff to an enemy -- only to be stabbed right back soon after by ANOTHER but brand new declaration of War! Hypocrits, i said, an algorithm behaving in this devilishly manner might as well select Neutral as Ethics permanently. I'm accountable for what i decide to do, so should ai_they - in fact. :)

Some things are soooooooo strange in a GC galaxy.
Reply #5 Top
The influence you acquire through trade has no effect on the map at all, so it doesn't "spread out". It also doesn't add to the influence needed for an influence victory. It just adds to your number of votes in the *next* UP issue.
End of quote


Wow in that case the AI way over-values them when trading to you. Although, I have noticed they won't take IPs from you for much of anything.
Reply #6 Top
I consistantly top off trades with money but if they offer up all their money then I'll take whatever ip they'll give. It doesn't hurt but I wish they'd make that slider like the money trade -- that it would just go to their maximum offer.