would this add balance to the game?

[mazzz]

make the great libary a small wonder that never expires?
the human player is ussaly ahead in techs anyway, this would prevent invading nations with tanks and bombers, when they have pikemen?

[sabo]

No because the player who owns the GL can set his science to zero for the entire game and rake in TONS of gold.

[socralynnek]

For some scenarios, it might be nice, but then researching isn't rewarded s.t. no one should research(the AI would still do so theres a big advantage for the human player who could make lots of money!)

[warpstorm]

What difficulty are you playing at? I find that at the higher difficulties I am rarely ahead in tech until the late game.

[vesuvius_prime]

Actually, if we look at history, we virtually don't see huge technological gaps between *interconnected* nations. The only cases where such gaps existed, were between nations that didn't have contact beforehand (like Europeans and American Indians, for example).

It would be more realistic, if Civ3 made sure that there couldn't be huge tech gaps among neighbors at least. That would add much to the balance of the game.

[DragonRunner]

I think that units should gradually upgrade to more advanced units gradually without any gold, because it makes absolutely NO sense for a unit to stay using spears when it's being attacked by Modern Armors. They should gradually upgrade to more advanced units, over 10-20 turns because of the gradual introduction of the modern weapons, cost free. Maybe Leo's workshop would halve the time as opposed to the money.

[Blasphemous]

DragonRunner, the RNG's randomality already simulates this (old units can still beat new units). If the spearman can beat the tank, he probably has a RPG hidden behind that shield of his. ;o