Newbie question on technology deals

[Aculeo]

Hello, all.

I've been playing Empire for some time now, but only fairly casually, and I've never really got into the depths of it. I have a couple of questions.

In pursuing technology I'm finding that building up a research capability and obtaining technologies is very slow. Far quicker is to obtain technology by means of deals with other nations. But assuming I offer them something they like, I'm concerned what kind of whirlwind I'm sowing for further down the line.

For example, say I want canister cannon shot. I offer a friendly nation a few thousand pounds and they cheerfully hand it over. When I eventually end up in a war with that nation, although we have comparable technologies, how much will the money I gave them have assisted them? Does the AI keep track of each country's accounts, and use the money as I do? Or does the money I give just disappear and the other nation carries on as before? I generally try to avoid trading tech for tech since that would seem to be setting myself up for a fall, but are there technologies it is safer to offer?

One other question, if you'll indulge me; although this may be more of a modding issue. In previous TW games I recall there were ways (either by cheat code or editing files) to change building/recruitment times. I'm not necessarily after "complete all queued buildings instantly", but it would be nice to have troops appear a bit more quickly than they do. A full year to produce 240 line infantry doesn't seem reasonable.

Of course, ideally, any acceleration in recruitment times would only apply to me, not the AI...

If anyone can offer any guidance on either of these points I'd be grateful.

[Tango12345]

I generally try to avoid trading tech for tech since that would seem to be setting myself up for a fall, but are there technologies it is safer to offer?

Well-if you want to stay safer, don't give them military techs, but any tech will help a nation.

One other question, if you'll indulge me; although this may be more of a modding issue. In previous TW games I recall there were ways (either by cheat code or editing files) to change building/recruitment times. I'm not necessarily after "complete all queued buildings instantly", but it would be nice to have troops appear a bit more quickly than they do. A full year to produce 240 line infantry doesn't seem reasonable.

Normal Line Infantry only take one turn to train IIRC-ie 6 months in game terms. There are mods that increase the number of turns per year-personally (with DMUC), I use four turns per year, which has slightly more realistic timings in my view.

[eXistenZ]

I only sell techs to othe countries. Trading techs is pretty much impossible, cause as a counteroffer they ask too much money, or they just change the subject to Military acces.

Any tech you trade/sell will help a nation, cause that means they can focuss on another tech, cause they have less to research.

I sell industrial/ philosophical techs to my neighbours (sometimes), and i sell all tech to my enemies' enemy. Also i sell tech to countries that will dissapear for certain: Portugal, the mughals, Denmark, marocco,..

[Aculeo]

and i sell all tech to my enemies' enemy.

Ah, but what they don't know is that before very long, they'll all be my enemy.

Mwahahahahaar!

Ahem. Sorry.

But thanks for the answers, kind folks. I am going to look at the DMUC mod as soon as my poor battered net connection recovers from all the Mount and Blade mods I made it download last week.

[eXistenZ]

Ah, but what they don't know is that before very long, they'll all be my enemy.

Yeah that's true, but most of the times, your enemy will win, and the nation who you sold it too is gone. The mughals are a good example, they get overrun by the Marathas if you don't intervene. And offcours, with enemiy's enemy, that's a very wide definition. For example, As Prussia, i am now allied to spain, so they won't attack me in the back while they have flanders. But i know that when i declare war on france, they'll become my enemy. So i sold a bunch of techs to portugal and Marocco, before they dissapeared

[Tango12345]

or the Knights of St. John-lets face it-will they attack anyone? Nope, least of all you.

[dutch81]

In ONE game the Knights of St. John captured all of North Africa except Egypt ... not sure how they did it but they took Tunis very early and moved through the Barbary States with ease (since they build no infantry at first) then on to Morocco before even Spain could get there ... unrealistic YES but still very cool to see a small nation do so well.