Using diplo to "spy" AI tech: flaw in gameplay?

from GalCiv2 Forums
This is not a bug per se, but I do think it deserves a bit of attention. In the diplomacy screen, I can happily scroll through all of the AI's tech. This means that I don't have to spend a dime on espionage, or find out "the hard way" what military techs the AI uses.

This strikes me as a bit of a flaw. How am I supposed to be afraid of the Drengin or Yor when I know exactly what they're going to hit me with? How am I supposed to feel the risk of attacking someone when I know exactly what his weakness is? This knowledge should only be available via espionage and combat reports, in my extremely humble opinion.

I've also noticed that the AI will research a defense to counter my weapons, even if I've never fought him. This however is only a correlation and isn't anything I have a right to complain about, given how little time I've looked at it and how many factors exist that could cause this.

Proposed solution: Add a filter in the diplomacy algorithm that will hide all military technology from civs that are below a certain relation level (or maybe just all unallied civs). However, the hidden techs look different in the list and the player (human or AI) can make them visible during the interaction. Thusly the player keeps the ability to sell or give techs to whoever he wants, but cannot steal valuable military intelligence by seeing a list of every tech an AI knows.
11,004 views 12 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
I totaly agree, noone would give you informations about his military...
that is probably good idea, alot of people don't like tech tradeing at all, maby if only allies and races with "close" relations could trade (give you to see their) weapon tech, probably some of the others too...

i think that other civilizations should be able to come to you (and other computers) and say: "i would like to buy weapons/armor from you" and you would decide what you will show and what will you not show... hmmm, nice manipulating bastards we could be...
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
I understand were you are coming from. But I don't believe it needs to be changed because, just because they have a cartain tech. such as weapons, does not mean they are using it. Later in the game it matters a lot less of what they have researched and matters more on what they are researching.
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
This has actually been in the game since GalCiv1. I use it extensively when determining what to research to trade with other races.

It's possible what you could do is base it on your relations with that race. Neutral or lower would get no military techs, anything above that you would see most military techs.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
I made a thread about this too. I competely agree. You shouldnt be able to show or see tech with anyone under a certain level. Neutral is even cutting it close.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
I agree. I think an easy compromise would be to:

1. Make it so a civilization at WAR with you will not show techs for trade. If they want to offer techs for peace, so be it, bu they need not tip thier hand.

2. Make it so only your ALLIES will show you thier weapons techs (the red ones). Generally they won't trade those techs with you anyway.

Then it would be reasonable approximation to what would really happen.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
That would be one of those "easy tweaks" that would make the game better for me...
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
well, i think we all see where are we getting at, have someone posted it at sticky thread about easy tweaks?
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
This sounds good to me.. I wonder what the dev's think?
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
It seems like a good idea, but I think this is something that might be a good idea as an option that I can turn on and off. And here's the other thing: Espionage gives you a LOT more than just what techs they have. At the advanced level, you will also periodically STEAL technologies and it also allows you to see what is on a planet, to help decide if you should use those Tidal Disruptors or not.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm bumping this What does everyone think? It could also go along with the "limit tech trading" that people are suggesting.
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
Yeah but then you cant trade techs anymore if you don't know what they got, and you don't. This one swings both ways. And you only know what They HAVE that YOU don't. They could very well have Hardballs, and also your weapon techs.

Its been this way since GC1 anyway.

And I could see it now... if they changed it. There would be 400 post on the forum how unfair it is that the AI can trade techs but we cant.
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
1. Make it so a civilization at WAR with you will not show techs for trade. If they want to offer techs for peace, so be it, bu they need not tip thier hand.

2. Make it so only your ALLIES will show you thier weapons techs (the red ones). Generally they won't trade those techs with you anyway.


You could still tech. trade... and the AI still could... only with this suggestion only ALLIES can. Which, I think, is more fair and better.