REQUEST: Technology "compare mine with AI's" display

from JoeUser Forums
When playing Altarian Prophecy, I found that there was a lot of busy work involved in figuring out what techs I have that AI civs need, and what techs the AIs have that I need. It would be great if there was a display provided somewhere (maybe a popup on the diplomacy screen?) with the following information:

- For each of my techs, what AI civs do not have that tech yet?
- What techs have been discovered by AI civs that I need?

This would be really helpful when I'm trying to decide what techs I should trade, and how valuable they are. I need to know things like:
- Does only 1 AI civ need this tech, or do ALL the other AI civs still need it?
- If a particular AI is being difficult about trading a tech to me, what other AI's have that tech?
ideas
8,076 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Just to clarify - I'm NOT suggesting that you add this to AP, but I would like to see it in GalCiv 2
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I always found tech trading to be a bit of a guessing game as well, this might help. But could it be exploited into a cheese tactic somehow?
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
IMO, this should be made an effect of intelligence. If you have an appropriate intel level on another race, there'd be nothing to say against displaying that info in the research info in something like a field in the tech info screen or a tooltip displaying races that have it, races that don't have it and races we don't know zilch about. It could be a simple list with races listed in green (have it), "standard text color" (don't have it) and something darker (don't know).

Another useful piece of information would be a rough estimate of tech level in the trading screen that at least tells whether a tech is still like magic for the player or just a waste of money that could be researched in one turn.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Good points there DireFog, tying it to espionage would pretty much remove the cheese factor I think.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Interesting idea. The higher our espionage level, the sooner (on average) we find out that race X has completed tech Y, to the point of getting estimates of when they WILL finish it at the highest espionage levels. The description of the highest level does say that we know as much about their government as they do.

Then the real question is, when we open a trade window, do we see what they have, or what we think they have? Something to think about.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Of course you'd see what you think they have or what they're ready to trade. Yes, I see the problem too. To make this system work properly, you'd have to achieve a rather high intel level for efficient technology trading and/or have the player choose what to show to others.

As ist is now (in GC1), it's a very rough version of the "know all" system. You can get knowledge about the other races by just having a look at the trade lists and your own tech list. It's not hidden information, it might as well be shown in a nice and friendly way.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
As ist is now (in GC1), it's a very rough version of the "know all" system. You can get knowledge about the other races by just having a look at the trade lists and your own tech list. It's not hidden information, it might as well be shown in a nice and friendly way.


Yes, that was my point exactly. If the information is legitimately available, just present it in a more player-friendly format for easy review.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
I think CalltoPower2 had a tech view which showed every tech known by every civ in a simple way:
A table, with the techs under the left column, and each civ in its own, with relevant info, if available.
Add things like trade goods to the mix, and maybe even planets and ships based on a filter (or +/- expander like in the current trade screen).