Strategy that "feels too good"

[Jason]

No, as long as you don't actually make the offer, it has no impact at all with your relations. I was taking away basically the whole income of the Germans and English since the ancient era and they both popped up to "gracious" with me eventually. Till I conquered the English, heh.

Slightly Madman has the "normal" system that we're all used to in any game that invovles trading. I think that's what this is supposed to be, but the trade advisor means that you never have to make an offer and risk rejection, or the price going up as a punishment.

To be honest I hate that kind of thing, and I'll be screwed out of my current "rob em blind while you research 100%" strategy, but right not I sort of feel like I have "trading cheat mode" on.

And before someone says "then ignore the trading dude," I can't. If it's there, I'll use it, I'm competitive. As for on deity, it may well be the only way to stay afloat, but you shouldn't have to exploit poor design to stay in business.

[Lynx4Ben]

It would be helpfull if there was more of a consequence for ripping people off. And if the advisor wasn't as accurate. BUT HE DOESN'T TELL YOU EVERYTHING. For instance he tells you what the other guy is willing to pay, but he isn't telling you if YOU are getting ripped off. Manytimes you get the best deal, but in the end it is still a crappy one. For instance i was trading some luxuries to the persians and they wanted a extrodernary amount. Being my first game I gave it to them not realizing I was being ripped off. I then gave the same offer to anouther tribe who gave me a MUCH BETTER DEAL.

[Blaupanzer]

If you do trigger their temper, they go to war. I like the trade advice, but he only tells you about their side of the deal. Unique luxuries are very valuable in the game as a main source of happiness, for example. Money is not as key, although very useful. On the higher levels, the AIs insult more easily, get impatient while you cycle with your advisor, and ally against you when war comes.

[Jaybe]

Originally posted by Lynx4Ben
... For instance i was trading some luxuries to the persians and they wanted a extrodernary amount. Being my first game I gave it to them not realizing I was being ripped off. I then gave the same offer to anouther tribe who gave me a MUCH BETTER DEAL.

The situation of the other civ was probably different compared to the 1st civ who 'ripped you off.' What is a 'fair' price depends on the individual civ.

[Jason]

I don't see how the trade advisor didn't warn you anyway. If you get "that will be acceptable," it means "keep going higher till I don't say this anymore"

[hectordogg]

I've found that if you follow the trade advisor's recommendations to get the best deal you get a reputation as the driver of a hard bargain, regardless of whether you actually make the offer. After a few good trades, every civ on the map starts saying things like, "I hear you drive a hard bargain, but let's see what we can work out." On the assumption that this isn't merely a random detail added in, it can safely be assumed that getting good deals has diplomatic consequences. This certainly seems to be the case for me. I've been getting great deals my entire game, and the only civs that like me are the ones I give gifts to.