Two techs for the price of one, and upgrading ascension starbases

I wanted to buy technologies from another race.

I first wanted to buy "galactic warfare", the price was about 1500. But then I also added "beam weapons" and the price of both dropped to about 200.

The price of "beam weapons" alone was about 200.

Why would they sell me both techs at the price of the lowest tech alone?

 

Another question: I sent a constructor to an ascension starbase to upgrade it. Nothing happened, the constructor just stopped beside the starbase and did nothing.

How do I upgrade the ascension starbase?

Thanks!

4,968 views 3 replies
Reply #1 Top

Answers to question

 

1.)  Sometimes the AI is weird like that. It is also due to the hidden AI value that is given for such techs.

2.) You can not upgrade ascension starbases at all. Have fun trying to make sure they do not blow up!

Reply #2 Top

For #1, could this be a case where the AI doesn't evaluate the worth of a predecessor technology when a successor is on offer?  I know I've often seen the "Why would we want to trade for X when you're offering X+1" response in the negotiation screens, maybe this was the same factor in reverse?

Reply #3 Top

Well the diplomacy is a little whacked.  I say that because if an AI is desperate for an economic treaty they will hand over several star systems (some with three planets) to get it.  In fact in general, handling of planets in diplomacy is poor.