GameSpot's Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri Game Guide

PC GAMES
  News
  Reviews
  Previews
  Movies/Media
  Downloads
  Hints/Codes
  GameGuides.com
  Special Features
  Beta Center
  Release Calendar
  Forums
  Top Games

PC GENRES
  Action
  Adventure
  Driving
  Puzzle
  Role-Playing
  Simulation
  Sports
  Strategy

SWITCH TO:
  VIDEO GAMES
  GAMESPOT LIVE
  GAMEBUYER
  HARDWARE

SUBSCRIBE TO:
  PC Newsletter
  HW Newsletter

ELITE SERVICES
  Join GameSpot

SEE ALSO
  GameFAQs
  Gamespy Arcade
  Netflix

INFORMATION
  Help
  Contact Us
  International

part 2

Chapter 5: Controlling Your Empire
Chapter 6: Terraforming
Chapter 7: The Art of War Chapter 8: Diplomacy
    Contact
    Commlink
    Give and Take
    Council Meetings
Chapter 9: Situational Awareness

Chapter 8: Diplomacy

Give a Little, Take a Little

When you call up the hailing frequency of a rival faction, you never know quite what to expect. One thing is for sure, however, a rival faction will ask for the world at every opportunity, demanding access to your most precious research and usually not offering much in return. You can't blame someone for trying to get something for nothing. You shouldn't let them get away with it. Diplomacy is a two-way street, and you should get something valuable in return.

WARNING
Nine times out of ten, saying no to a rival faction asking for a free technology will not cause any harm in your relationship to it. However, with the more militant factions like Yang and Santiago, there is a slight risk they'll be personally affronted and announce a vendetta. How you handle this situation should be directly related to the proximity of the faction in question. If they're on the other side of the world, you shouldn't concern yourself with their hyperbole. If they're right next door and, amassing military units along the border, you may have a sticky situation on your hands.

The wise diplomat will attempt to make technological trades as even as possible. It doesn't take a genius to see that giving up air power in exchange for Centauri ecology is not a fair trade. Simply refuse the offer and attempt to even out the trade.

Baby with the Bathwater
Thee are some technologies you shouldn't give away under any circumstances, even if you're getting something valuable in return. Most rival factions will incessantly demand your high-end military technologies, such as air power, and will offer little in return. Resist the trade! While the faction may be friendly now, the second you hand over air power, you can expect it to quickly build up an air force that could threaten you.

TIP
The longer you can keep your valuable military technologies out of the hands of rival factions, the longer you have to build up that technology. For instance, only when you have a commendable air force should you consider handing Air Power away in exchange for a new technology.