Why does the AI never try to trade with me?

from GalCiv2 Forums

I have played a cupple of games now and agree with earlier commentators in that the AI is sometimes strange. I wonder just why they hardly ever try to trade techs, planets etc with me. I work hard to get good deals on techs and it sometimes gives the me an edge, but the AI never tries to do the same with me.

Another point I have wondered about: sometimes they come about asking sth like "The xyz are growing too strong. We suggest to secretly supply arms" etc.. But then they do not go on making any suggestions. It ist just as if I had opened the trade chanel to them. Skrew them, I always close the screen. But what do they want to communicate me with this stupid repetitive message?

Thanks

tokla

4,701 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Are you playing on a diff level below Tough? I haven't done that in a long while, and it's possible that the handicaps for the AIs include limiting their trading activities. I've seen regular offers for techs and less regular ones for trade goods. But now that you make me think about it, the only 'offer' I recall ever getting for an entire colony was in 'give us that as a present' mode.

On the 'growing too strong' message, I've always just taken that to mean "We're getting scared of them, you look kinda tough and not hostile to us, why don't you do something 'cause we can't."

Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Nope, I am virtually always playing tough :-) But I hardly ever get any offers for my techs or trade goods.

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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I always had the impression that the AIs are programmed to exchange techs between one another but far less with the player, perhaps in the spirit that it's up to you to suggest such deals? Though indeed they could become even tougher to play against if they actively tried to buy certain technologies or planets from the player.

With regards to the "growing too strong" thing, I have the same understanding as GW Swicord. It's a bit similar to when an AI is under attack and asking for help; they won't tell you what to give to them, they just ask for any help whatsoever.

Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Quoting Noctilucus, reply 3
I always had the impression that the AIs are programmed to exchange techs between one another but far less with the player...
End of Noctilucus's quote

I've never heard of a dev admitting that there's an AI Cartel of some sort, but you're not the first person I've seen mention this perception. It's the reason I really like to disable the Tech Brokering option (limits tech trades to things you researched yourself).

On tokla's basic point, my backup guess is that you're seeing a sign of how The Map Is The Game in GC2 and some combo of your map settings and play style(s) so far has yielded few to no AI trade offers.