How does the AI get so far ahead in Tech?

[Mullet Crusader]

I've recently started playing Monarch, since i started walking all over the AI's in Regent, and im noticing now, that when i first meet a Civ, we'll typically be dead even in tech, or within one or two, and i can usually even it out if the AI isn't too greedy or whatever their porblem is, but soon afterwards, like, still in the very early Ancient Ages, they'll be like, 4 techs ahead! Horse Riding, Iron Working, Mysticism and Writing! Its nuts! I trade frequently, expand fairly quickly, but the AI just kills me in tech! Is Monarch the difficulty level where the AI starts getting bonuses or am i screwing something up? Any help appreciated.

[DiamondzAndGunz]

Yep. Monarch is where the AI starts to get reduced costs for everything. The AI trade ratio is also more favorable for them. So therefore, they can research and then buy techs for less than you.

You might want to adapt a more agressive strategy on the higher levels. Also, check out some of the tips around here and in the War Academy for dealing with Monarch and above.

[Takeo]

Monarch is where the AI starts to get a bonus, but it is not a very big one. How many AI are you playing against? If you are playing against more than a few and some of them are expansionistic, that is probably where some of those early techs are popping up from. Once all the goody-huts are gone, that trait won't be helping them out any longer. You will eventually catch up. If you were winning often on regent, then it won't be long and you will be doing the same on monarch.

Takeo

[Alvin]

If you don't build alot of libarays, maybe or it just you are really cool guy.


Moderator Action: Alvin, please don't flame other users. Read the forum rules.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/faq.php?faq=updated_rules_2011

[Renata]

I'm part-way through my first solo game on Monarch as well and I know the feeling - halfway through the ancient ages I was six or seven techs behind. But it's not the end of the world - there's bunches of things you can try. Turn research to 10% and go straight for republic. Use the extra cash to buy techs once everybody else knows them and they're as cheap as they're gonna get. Keep on the lookout for brokering opportunities - in my game Spain is constantly sharing the dunce cap with me and a few times has gotten one tech ahead of me when everybody else was two or more - then I could buy Mathematics off one of the other AI and sell it to Isabella for Polytheism, getting two techs for the price of one, more or less. And seriously consider some pointy-stick research. Use an embassy to investigate neighboring civs - the easiest to pick on is usually the one that doesn't have horses. Go attack outlying cities - take as many as you can as fast as you can and when the counterattack comes (here's why the lack of horses matters - archer counterattacks take a lot longer to get to you than horse counterattacks) sue for peace - you can usually get a tech or two, sometimes more. (Don't forget to pillage - it helps with the extortion.)

Anyway, in my game it's now the mid-middle ages and I'm caught up in tech. No idea if I'll win the game, but I'm in decent shape.

Hope some of that helps.

Renata