Is it hard to keep up with the AI in Science on Emperor?

[Leathaface]

On King I used to surpass them around the medieval era, definitely by the Reneissance but on my first game on Emperor the AI is still ahead of me.

The world congress was found before I could research printing press

 

[joncnunn]

It sounds like AI Korea is in your current game.
Most of the time if you make Printing Press a priority (after Education for Universities) you should be able to found World Congress, but sometimes you won't.
The good news is that unless an AI builds FP (different from whichever AI founded WC) then you'll still be able to propose resolutions since the human has the tie breaker.

 

[Zaimejs]

Generally, they are in the lead for awhile, but you can catch up later. I sucks though... when you get behind and you don't get any wonders ... and you are just thinking... what have I done.

Strategy that I found helps... early expansion. Get that 2nd and 3rd city up right away and build your population. Best cure for what ails you.

 

[jlim201]

if you mean "compete" as in equal as AI, you can do that after University in capital usually. To get a significant advantage (5-10% in demographics), just wait a while. you will pass them if you play like a normal human with some experience in civ would.

 

[Uzael36]

I never had to really adjust my style to get a tech lead in Emperor. However, I did have to get more focused for Immortal. Sometimes you get a bit behind at the start, as they get a head start, but you'll eventually pass them if you don't make too many mistakes. Early on, take advantage of being behind with spies and RA's.

 

[sun8119]

The short answer is no You should always prioritize science. If you do it is not hard at all.

I think only on deity I had AI win SV before me. On lower difficulties if I don't fool too much around then AI will never win SV

 

[Enonwnn]

If you want to get ahead early, build GL and NC in the capital by turn 65 (doable with a good balance of hammers and food).

However, you can totally forget about GL and build NC by turn 150 and still be "in the mix". If you don't have a NC by this point, it is still worth building later on but you won't get as much effect from it. Not building it at all will usually mean you will fall behind in tech unless you have other science buffers in place (Observatory, science-heavy religion, Patronage+Allies, early Rationalism opener, etc.). Generally on Emperor, you don't have to beeline the science techs to get an eventual tech lead. I usually beeline for the situational wonders which would make a bigger difference to me in the long run (such as Petra, Great Mosque of Djenne, Forbidden Palace, etc.).

Emperor is a good training ground in my opinion. It will allow you to try different tactics out but still be able to recuperate if they go wrong. For your first few games, try Science heavy starts, then build up from there.

 

[Fluffball]

With the short synopsis you provided it would seem you need to focus more on science than you are doing or have done in the past.
Early libraries and nation college really make a difference as does growing your population but you also need to keep up that focus throughout the game. I have had games in the past where i gained a lead and quickly started to fall back behind as i relaxed my focus once gaining the lead.

 

[poekie70]

I just finished an occ game on emperor for both achievements and I was in the atomic era while the last AI's were in the renaissance era. the key to keepin up on science is population growth I got my capital to sieze 63 which was enough to beat the AI with 20 cities just prioritzi rowth over everything and you should be fine also have around 2 to 3 food caravans to your capital for an extra boost.

 

[Memoryjar]

On Emperor, you should be tech leader (in demographics) when you're universities are up and scientist slots filled. If you don't, you need to improve your empire (go to 4 cities), you growth (prioritize food instead production, build caravans/cargo ships and feed your cities), use manual management for specialists. Also, build National college ASAP in you capital.

 

[LoneRebel]

I just finished an occ game on emperor for both achievements and I was in the atomic era while the last AI's were in the renaissance era. the key to keepin up on science is population growth I got my capital to sieze 63 which was enough to beat the AI with 20 cities just prioritzi rowth over everything and you should be fine also have around 2 to 3 food caravans to your capital for an extra boost.

Wait, how could you send food caravans to your capital if you only had one city?

 

[poekie70]

I meant in regular games

 

[Chum]

I meant in regular games

I don't see how you got a capital to size 63 with no caravans on Emperor before the AI won.

 

[kaspergm]

I usually hit Industrial era around the same time as AI on Emperor, from that point, I'll be ahaid.

 

[joncnunn]

I usually hit Industrial era around the same time as AI on Emperor, from that point, I'll be ahaid.

Personally, I don't use era advancement markers for this; I go directly to Demographics screen at the bottom where it has Literacy rate.
In addition, if I want to know details about relative standing, I go to Trade Routes : Available routes and look at the science beakers.

 

[reddishrecue]

The AI will have the science advantage in the earlier eras but in the later eras that's a whole different story. If you tech the right tech paths for the science buildings, focus on science and adopt the right social policies that give more science you can eventually beat the AI in science in the later eras...

 

[poekie70]

Maritime city states full tradition tree, HG and TOA also I had fertility rites but I couldn't found a religion so ethiopa was the majority in my city I had a great tech lead but because I had 890 toerism a turn it was only a matter of time before culture victory

 

[Cedbird]

Generally, they are in the lead for awhile, but you can catch up later. I sucks though... when you get behind and you don't get any wonders ... and you are just thinking... what have I done.

Strategy that I found helps... early expansion. Get that 2nd and 3rd city up right away and build your population. Best cure for what ails you.

This is very true.Also build your National buildings especially National College asap.Make those buildings one of your priorities. The Ai will have you wondering how they got up so fast in tech so we need as many bonuses as we can get.
I just left Emperor for Immortal because the games were boring me.Even though I won maybe 55 to 60% of my games.I quit on most of them because late game I always knew I would win.But pick good settlement locations with resources and food as said above.
Lastly always have your military ready for what I call 'Wars of convenience ' or 'Choice wars ' Some one is en-brawled in a tough war how about going in and taking a city or two and then going back to being mr nice guy around the world.More pop,more science,more resources, and more money.