What exactly is the formula that related you Civ's science output to the number of turns per discovery? I've noticed that at certain points in the game my discovery rate drops even if I am producing more science beakers as a whole than I was previously. This happens especially when I have just grabbed a whole bunch of science at once, like when trading with everyone after getting Marco Polo's early. Can somone explain to me what the deal is here?
I will say up front that the exact way Civ II figures the current cost of science is not simple, and I won't explain all the details. But I'll give an overview, and there is a guy at Polyton that discovered the exact details, but I can't remember his name, and the Polyton page loads too slowly for me to browse their site for the link. I'm sure Smash can give it when he notices this thread, though.
The cost of research depends on:
1. # of techs (AFTER the starting techs you got)
2. Difficulty level (Science Increment)
3. Civ II's Science Increment Adjustment (only applies at Deity level)
4. Base Cost of tech
5. Base cost modifier (penalty or bonus)
Note: #5 depends on the current reference civilization, which in turn depends on your "Power" rating (E.g., "Supreme" or "Inadequate", etc.)
Now, if the reference civ (AKA "key civ") changes, your cost of science can jump significantly. It can go up or down. You probably only notice when the cost goes UP, hehe...
Just like the "real world", if everyone has knowledge, science comes faster. If you GIVE all your science to the AI civs, you cost of science will usually decrease, unless you are the ref civ (AKA "key civ"). If
you are the ref civ, the cost will not change with gifting, BTW, and so there is no need to gift.
Many people don't like the AI on par, tech wise. If so, don't gift. If you give a civ Tactics, for instance, well... that might have military consequences. But the scientists in your civ will probably love it!!
NOTE... you will only see the science cost adjusted every 3rd advance that you gift, and then only if you gift to the correct civ.
In essense, if all the other civs are in the stone ages, your science will usually be expensive (unless
you are the ref/key civ). The big fluctuations occur as your "power" rating changes, when such changes cause a switch to a different ref civ (which is itself at a different science level than the prior ref civ).
The CivFanatics search is not going thru for me, due to BBS overload right now... but you might try that, too.
EDIT1: I see Smash was posting while I was writing the above stuff, LOL.