increasing AI competetiveness without increasing difficulty level?

[rah]

For me, no tech trading makes it easier. I'm usually too lazy to check everything I need to, to get the most out of it.

[Garth Vader]

I do as well. I have a hard time trading anyway cause my diplomacy usually isn't very good!

What would make the game harder would be an AI or civ that could tech and fight. I find I can get out teched early quite easily, and out produced early quite easily. But once I take a neighbor out then I can out tech and out produce and it's over.

The only AI's I have seen conquer are the ones that never get out of the middle ages!

[jbp26]

move up to monarch, regular AI, maybe add an extra 1 or 2 civs. this should be a nice, easy transition. once you're comfortable there, you can take away the extra civs, and then finally go back up to aggressive AI. prince to monarch isn't nearly as difficult of a transition as it once was.

[johnmcd]

Move to contient maps if you're playing Pangea's that way you have to ensure you are staying tech competitive with powers you can't just take out.