Specialization and gifting techs

from GalCiv3 Forums

So I was about to finish researching one of the specialization techs and then what normally be a good thing, ended up being bad as the Ai decided to gift me a Specialization tech. Because it was for a different specialization then I wanted this effectively cut off my current research and preventing me for getting the tech I wanted.

I wish I could refuse Gifts of techs specialization, currently there is no way to do so it just forces you to accept it.

Or even better, any traded Specialization techs or gifted techs didn't count towards your one specialization.


I havnt played enough of Galciv 3 to know for sure, but thinking about it, this might even be able to be used as a tactic to "nerf" your opponents either AI or real player if you can guess what their play style is focusing on and give them less then useful things. Even gifting a race the +max population tech could give unintended consequences lowing approval if they start to get to high a population. (extreme case i know, don't take this last bit to seriously but still might work)

2,981 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Yes I consider this a HUGE problem.  I logged out of my game and came onto the boards specifically for this reason.

 

*** BIG RED FLASHING LIGHTS FOR YOU DEVS ***

 

We either need to be able to refuse tech specializations that are given to us as gifts, or they should not prevent us from researching our own tech specialization in addition to whatever was gifted to us.  This is a serious problem.

 

*** BIG RED FLASHING LIGHTS ONE MORE TIME FOR EMPHASIS ***

 

Now back to my regularly scheduled galaxy conquering (with now nerfed tech specializations, thanks to gifts)...

 

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Well even if you gift them the weakest of some of the 3 choices, they still will get some bonus, and, at that, will get it earlier than if they would research it on their own, which really means their game is stronger not weaker. And you don't have any guarantee that they never get the other bonuses as well traded from some other factions. The thing is that this might happen anyway via Ai-to-AI trade in alot of games with the player having absolutely no control over it...

Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

A few more reasons why the game isn't ready for release yet.  Diplomacy isn't where is should be, there are options available to the AI that are not available to the player, the player should have the option to decline a gift and preferably with at least the options of "That's too generous we can't accept, perhaps a trade instead?" or "Why would I want that piece of crap?".  Also as I have been arguing with no success yet, collapsing specializations do not improve the game.  This is partially because the options are not at all balanced but mostly because its a bad idea in the first place.

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I agree with you kestlstw.  There aren't enough ways to interact with the AI / other players.  At least with players you have the ability to reason / chat.  I also think all the crashes people are getting need to be eliminated.

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting kestlstw, reply 3

A few more reasons why the game isn't ready for release yet.  Diplomacy isn't where is should be, there are options available to the AI that are not available to the player, the player should have the option to decline a gift and preferably with at least the options of "That's too generous we can't accept, perhaps a trade instead?" or "Why would I want that piece of crap?".  Also as I have been arguing with no success yet, collapsing specializations do not improve the game.  This is partially because the options are not at all balanced but mostly because its a bad idea in the first place.
End of kestlstw's quote

 

 

 

I agree it has caused some issue tho I wouldn't say its game breaking, its just a polishing point. And as the devs had said they have locked down the current version of the game until release to avoid unintentional bugs. I see the issue as more of a patch in later then game shouldnt be released kinda a thing. Tho maybe im bias, i didnt play much of the game pre change.

Also, I think the main reason for the issue is the changes were put in to late, there just wasn't enough time for tech balances, beta testing and other effects caused by the change.

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I didn't say it was game breaking, just that it is a bad idea and a poor implementation.  It can be done well although I can't remember one I actually enjoyed.  I have made several suggestions throughout the forums though.

 

I'm thinking about remaking all of the tech trees after the modding tool is released to move the current specializations to new lines in the tree and replacing them with different things, though I haven't finalized what I plan on replacing them with yet.

Reply #7 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

i agree with the "Right to refuse/ask for something else". Refusal should have an affect on relationship with the AI - it could offend the AI and in some cases, really offend (as in break treaty/stop trade level of displeasure) the AI so you'd want to think through the consequences but any gifting - AI to Player/Player to AI - should be refusable or at least negotiable.

Otherwise, if this isn't implemented, I'd go for the idea that the gifting shouldn't count against your specialisation plans (ie you get gifted the tech of Lighter Weapons, that shouldn't cut off the other two options of Cheaper and Smaller).