I prefer to trade things like Satellites lvl 1, Weapons Platforms lvl 1, Ship Construction lvl 1, and four or five other assorted level 1 starting techs.
It usually works. So does trading twelve levels of Space Yards when you only have one.
Of course, I rarely take advantage of the AI like this (unless I'm playing at a severe disadvantage).
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The Unpronounceable Krsqk
"Well, sir, at the moment my left processor doesn't know what my right is doing." -
Freefall