Acoustics

[Jeddius]

Hello all,

How fast are people getting to acoustics these days? Without the scientist slots in the library and the free bulb after writing it seems to take a ton longer. I just played a game and I didn't get there until turn 135 (probably way too long). Are there any shortcuts to get there? I haven't even gotten one GS yet.

Also, how in the heck do I sell open borders? One person told me they have to be friendly, but I can't sell them to friendly UI's either. Do you need to be on a certain type of map? I feel like I'm missing out on valuable gold here.

Please help and thank you!

[grandad1982]

To sell open borders simply offer the AI your open borders and ask for money in return.

[Jeddius]

Oh snap...I thought you could get their open borders and sell them too. That's what I'm doing wrong I guess, asking for their open borders too....facepalm lol.

[grandad1982]

When the trade screen pops up you can alter the items on offer by selecting/deselecting them. Open boders is just the same as any other trade item.

If the AI asks for an OB agrement but is offering OB for OB arrange it so its your OB and their gold.

EDIT: as you say it doesn't matter if you or they offer the deal you can still play around with it.

[Jeddius]

Sounds good, that question is answered...anyone have feedback on the Acoustics issue? I need to get there faster so I'm not wasting policies (now that we can't save them).

[rtfischbeck]

Some of the top players are hitting acoustics around 110 on Deity with Siam from what i've heard. Personally, i've been playing Babylon and pushing rifling, which I find is doable by turn 130.

[Jeddius]

I miss the old days of hitting Acoustics around turn 75

I guess I don't feel that bad if I'm only 20 turns behind some of the top players, but I'd still like to know how they are doing it so fast! Maybe Babylon would speed it up too?

[Soronery]

Are you guys talking about standard or quick speed when you give turn numbers?

[wurstburst]

Beeline writing from the start, make a library (rush build if you can), make a national college. Take the SP to get +50% growth in the capital. Keep your scout and warrior(s) close to home, since you'll only have a very small army to start until you get the NC done.

Don't found a second city until the national college is done, or you'll need another library. After that you can start expanding with settlers. Your early library and NC will let you move ahead of the other civs fast.

Once you get a tech lead, you should be able to go on the attack to absorb some puppets to keep the research BPT growing.

[Bibor]

Originally Posted by wurstburst

Don't found a second city until the national college is done, or you'll need another library.

Or build a second city and rush-buy a library there. Its not a terrible idea if there's a legendary city-site close by.

[alpaca]

You should go for Astronomy now instead of Acoustics because it's cheaper to get there and the Observatory is useful.

Martin Alvito has pulled it off on turn 86 (last he told me, not sure if he improved it by now), my personal best is something like 95. The strategy is a National College start as has been mentioned, plus getting two early Research Agreements at one time and a third on the ground a little later. To get enough money, sell luxuries.

You have to time and micro-manage* the RA so that the first two RA's unlock Civil Service and Education and the third will give you time to research Compass and Optics and then unlock Astronomy.

*you might consider this an exploit

[Airey]

Originally Posted by Bibor

Or build a second city and rush-buy a library there. Its not a terrible idea if there's a legendary city-site close by.

If you have the rush-buy money, why not rush buy at the cap, get NC up sooner.

[Martin Alvito]

Originally Posted by alpaca

Martin Alvito has pulled it off on turn 86 (last he told me, not sure if he improved it by now), my personal best is something like 95. The strategy is a National College start as has been mentioned, plus getting two early Research Agreements at one time and a third on the ground a little later. To get enough money, sell luxuries.

You have to time and micro-manage* the RA so that the first two RA's unlock Civil Service and Education and the third will give you time to research Compass and Optics and then unlock Astronomy.

I don't think it can be done faster. You'd need a fourth RA to pull it off, and the constraint is too tight. If you forego the Maritime ally you could do it, but that's a bad idea. If you hit the lottery and a CS with Gold/Silver/Gems has it inside borders at start, goes Worker first, improves it and is next door, you could rush it and get an extra luxury to buy the RA. But the odds of all of that obtaining are pretty bad.

[basta]

OK, I'll be the troll here: someone please explain the delirious advantages of bee-lining to this particular tech--how will it change your life and make your civ superfantasticinvincible?

I hardly ever build the opera house and it hasn't ruined my games, and rifling will do a lot more for you at higher levels, non?

[Bibor]

Originally Posted by basta

OK, I'll be the troll here: someone please explain the delirious advantages of bee-lining to this particular tech--how will it change your life and make your civ superfantasticinvincible?

It gets you to Renaissance: stronger city-state bonuses, new awesome policy trees.

[ApocalypseMao]

Originally Posted by Martin Alvito

I don't think it can be done faster. You'd need a fourth RA to pull it off, and the constraint is too tight. If you forego the Maritime ally you could do it, but that's a bad idea. If you hit the lottery and a CS with Gold/Silver/Gems has it inside borders at start, goes Worker first, improves it and is next door, you could rush it and get an extra luxury to buy the RA. But the odds of all of that obtaining are pretty bad.

Of course, you could play as Spain, luck out, and find El Dorado first.*


*Yes, I know many people here think this is gamebreaking and should be nerfed. I havn't been lucky enough to get that combo yet. I like playing the Inca more than Spain.

[Surgeon]

Originally Posted by ApocalypseMao

Of course, you could play as Spain, luck out, and find El Dorado first.*

I managed to get 'silver mountain' or whatever its called in my capital with spain. Very nice. Maybe a bit overpowered but Im stuck between 4 civs so I think its fair.

[alpaca]

Originally Posted by Surgeon

I managed to get 'silver mountain' or whatever its called in my capital with spain. Very nice. Maybe a bit overpowered but Im stuck between 4 civs so I think its fair.

Potosí. Well... 20 gold in the capital is, uhm, well...

[Bibor]

Originally Posted by alpaca

Potosì. Well... 20 gold in the capital is, uhm, well...

It's balanced *nod*

[biohazard72]

Originally Posted by Bibor

It gets you to Renaissance: stronger city-state bonuses, new awesome policy trees.

Not to mention Astronomy is the strongest science tech in the game, for it usually allows access to 4 safe Research Agreement partners at a point in the game when you have the cash to do it.