Scientist Farming

[Ansar]

I didn't really think this belonged in the Quick Answers/Newbie Questions thread, so I decided to ask it here, where the true experts are.

When is it usually best to start scientist farming?
I hear some people like to start after 40% corruption.

[Marsden]

I don't have a rule as such, I just switch my citizens around to get the maximum amount of beakers. For Ex: if I'm getting 8 beakers without a scientist and 9 with one, I'll take the scientist unless it hurts other production. Usually in a city that's making only 1 or 2 shields, just enough food, that sort of thing.

But I don't even have Civ Asst., that tells you a lot about corruption.

[zerksees]

This is a tough question to give a simple answer. If a city has a lot of food and a lot of corruption (let's say over 80%), I would probably make it a science farm. I might push that number down to 70 or 60% if I did not need to build more units or other improvements. You really need to look at what other improvements are there and what you can afford. If you are 70% corrupt and have a lib and a uni, can you get more beakers with people working the tiles? If it is even close then let them work the tiles and pull in food, and build the pop to generate even more beakers.

I guess it also depends on difficulty level and where you are in the game. At chieftain you are going to need science farms if you want to get UN or spaceship. In this case you can direct more resources toward building these farms.