Advancing technology -- what's next?

[SSgtBaloo]

This is sort of an informal poll. Judging by my Civ III performance to date, I have determined that if I were a world leader, my nation would be in deep, deep trouble. I am currently playing at the easiest level, to try and get a feel for the game. I'm sure many of you scoff at such an easy task, but until I get a better handle on Civ III I'd better stay in the shallow end of the pool.

My first question (more later, perhaps) is: what technologies do you really gotta have as fast as possible, and what techs do you just wait for the other civs to develop, then steal or trade for them? This goes for each era: prehistoric (or whatever it's called ), medeival, industrial, modern, etc. (provided, of course, there even is an etc. I've only gotten as far as modern when the game ended.)

Please respond. I eagerly await your replies.

--SSgtBaloo

 

[SesnOfWthr]

Well, heres an informal response to your poll.

In the ancient age I generally try to go for philo unless I have an early UU. The benefit of Philo is nice (C3C 1.15) Unless I am the Celts, or something, because then I just beeline for whatever the required techs are.

Medieval, I generally go for gunpowder first, and then try to fill out the tree. Although Military Tradition is an important tech too, I almost consider that Industrial.

During the Industrial there are two priority techs, Replaceable parts, and Scientific Method. The first because the strengths of infantry are obvious, and the second to build the ToE.

During the modern age, it depends what my victory goals are. I almost always try to get Computers(?) first to get the MI. If at war, then I aim for MA. If at peace, then I try to pick up spaceship techs in whatever order is most convenient.

I am polaying C3C at Emporer, mostly.

HTH.

Edit: many typos.

 

[SSgtBaloo]

I have Civ III PTW, and I finally downloaded DYP recently. I like the added complexity of DYP.

--SSgtBaloo

 

[Dida]

It depends on your play style. I am generally agressive in mid ancient to the end middle age, fighting frequent wars against my neighbors, because early expansion is very important to secure a winning position. And peaceful during the first part of industrial age to consolidate my gains through the ages of warfare and build up other things that I have neglected such as science and production etc. I become aggressive again in early modern age, after I have stock piled huge army of tanks and huge fleet of warship and bombers.
I research usually goes like:
First get pottery quick, as it will enable your cities to grow faster and crank out settler in top speed. In early ancient age when war is not yet needed, settler is your most deadly weapon. Get also ceremonial burial to get temple, and then I usually goes for the waring tehs, such as Iron Working to get swordsman and horsebac riding and so on to get horseman. This will enable me to see where these 2 crucial resources are and secure them as early as possible and also give me powerful units to wage ancient age war.
In Middle ages, I usually first get Theology to get Sistin's Chapel, and then, I will make bee-line to military traditon to have cavalry.
In Industrial age, I will research first Theory of Evolution, and then make bee line to flight and tank. Before I get hold of large quantity of tanks and bombers I am usually in peace, busy developing my country.
In modern age, there is no essential tech. I just finish up my conquest, or the conquest is already done by this point.

 

[King Alexander]

SSgtBaloo: There are many articles from advanced players that describe exactly what, how, and why they choose a specific tech. Check your science advisor screen and read a lot the Civilopedia to have in depth knowledge in what each tech-path leads to.

Many advanced players, avoid building Great Wonders, as they prefer to built up their army and losing so many shields in Wonders: later on, they simply capture the cities with Wonders and destroy entire nations.

I'd say, enjoy the game first, built Wonders and choose what Wonders you aim for and why. In higher levels, however, you haven't the time needed to built a Wonder or if you have the time you are militarily weak. Read a lot the articles at the Military Academy and read what players do at Succession Games according to the game difficulty.

Also, it is good to learn to micromanage your cities and to know what your worker must do and why. This makes the difference, in comparison to the AI, in higher level difficulty.

 

[binyo66]

You should not have problem researching on Chieftain level. The main thing is to sell it from the highest to the lower. U may delay sell it on some circumstances. The only thing with Chieftain, most likely u have to research all of them by yourself. I always avoided researching deadend tech (on regent or above), except my uu depends with it. Medieaval I always try to get suntzu on many cases (except I am on small island). Industrial, I try to get ToE and go to Electronic on many cases. Well, it basically depends on the situation afterall.

 

[Samson]

Hi,

My thoughts -

Ancient age - Phylosophy, then republic. Try and buy the wheel and iron if there is a chance I could capture a recorce.
Medieval age - Chivalry and Milatry tradition, I normally avoid the upper techs to leave me a chance of capturing the great library.
Industrial age - Steam power. I reakon this is the simgle most important tech in the game. Then if I have a chance of getting them (not often), I go for the ToE and then Hoover Dam. If I am behind (more usual), I will usually go for replacable parts and then tanks.
Modern age - not been here for a good while

 

[binyo66]

If you are playing a C3C philosophy is a go. Even when you are playing CivIII or PTW its still a good bad. Basically in ancient try not to search what AI would search. There is a thread regarding what AI would search next (I think in starategic forum). 2nd rule is to avoid research dead end tech (except it relates to UU, with exception literature, if u are sci civ). IMHO Ancient : poly, code of laws, literature is a good start. Medieaval : go to PPress (it would be ignore by the AI). Industrial age go grab TOE (prebuild first) and electronic (if you could build hoverdam it would boost your shield along with factory).
Modern : if you are not in war, I suggest go to computer. If you are then go to get MA.
Edit : What will the AI research next http://www.civfanatics.com/civ3acad_ai_research.shtml