Request for strategy: Late game tips

[atul]

jutetrea said:Is it worth not selling boosters at all? Why bootstrap a nation other than a pure ally into a new line?

At least I tend to swap items. Usually there's something other than gems that you're needing, like boosters for your weak paths. Or, not everyone has earth for dwarven hammers. But I've also sold items for gems, good friends get the base forging cost as a price (so my gain is the one from using the hammer and some good will spreading around).

Regarding the alliances, I feel that there should be something to be gained in an alliance in order for it to last. Of course I'm not going to backstab at the first opportunity, but the guy whose only message to me ever was "NAP, 3 turns to call off?" and who then proceeded to cut off my path of expansion without consulting me isn't going to have a stable neighbour. On the other hand, people that are fun to play with or trade a lot I've defended even if we haven't had a formal alliance.