Bumping this thread in hope of getting some advice.
Other people in this thread seem to be able to get more science out of their empires late game than I do. I know rationalism isn't as strong as it once was, but I still feel like I'm leaving something on the table. Not sure if its not enough cities, not enough suzerains, not enough amenities, not enough research labs, or whatever. Nevertheless I have a lot of trouble 1-turning the late game techs. I'll go over the last four science games I played in no particular order. All games are 100% peaceful (may not be optimal, but its what I've been focusing on), and use both secret societies and heroes & legends which should speed things up even more. Some games used monopolies and corporations, but I feel that mode hinders science victory as much as it helps because you can never trade for the AI's luxuries to help with amenities.
GAME 1
Unfortunately T105 is the closest save to T100 I have of this game, but this is a pretty typical game for me. Standard lakes, standard settings, random civ picked.
On T100 I have 11 cities founded, with another settler on the move. Kilwa finished a couple turns earlier and getting an empire wide +15% to science .
I won the game on T220 having a bad future era tech tree, 18 cities, making just under 1600 science per turn. Missed Amundsen-Scott due to poor planning, had five! (but no Geneva) scientific city states all with 6+ envoys, 5 of 9 city states suzerained (25% globalisation bonus), all cities content. Culture was a struggle all game (no cultural city states), finished with just under 200cpt, and never made it to my tier 4 government.
GAME 2
Fantastic map, early suzerainity of Nan Madol, also have suzerainity of Auckland although Auckland will be raised soon after this screenshot was taken.
Other T100 stats: 14 cities, no additional settlers on the move. Kilwa finished, getting the empire wide 15% to culture, but not to science. Magnus is in the process of establishing to chop a cothon and the move capital project.
End up winning this game on T183 in large part thanks to a really good future era tech tree. Finished with 19 cities, but only 1600 science per turn. About 400 culture per turn (with Kilwa bonus). Got Amundsen-Scott, two scientific city states (both suzerained, also Geneva), 6 of 12 city states suzerained (+30%), all cities content.
GAME 3
Good start, but slowed down by barbarians at the beginning. Not many good spots to settle cities outside the area near my capital.
Other T100 stats: 9 cities, one additional settler on the move. Kilwa not started yet.
Ended up winning on T234 with a mediocre future era tree. Finished with 17 cities, about 1400 science per turn, and just under 300 culture per turn. Got Amundsen-Scott, two scientific city states (both suzerained, no Geneva), 6 of 8 city states suzerained (+30%), all cities content.
GAME 4
Typical dance of the aurora / work ethic Russia with a nice strip of tundra. Also put more city states in the game than normal which helped.
Other T100 stats: 15 cities, two additional settlers on the move. Kilwa is finished, and I'm getting an empire wide 15% to both science and culture.
Ended up winning on T168 (my pb) with 22 cities and a good but not great tech tree. This was the only game I actually managed to ramp my science up over 2k, ending the game with 2300-ish, and was closer to 2500 when going through the future era techs. Definitely helped out by having four scientific city states including Genvea, and 8 of 15 city states suzerained. Also had 500 culture per turn in large part due to Antananarivo and the 15% Kilwa bonus. Almost all cities were content, but two were discontent.
