Binary research

[Sero Sed Serio]

I heard the term used by TMIT in his Immortal University youtube videos, and I've been intrigued since then. I haven't been able to find any thread specifically about the technique in the forums, but then I didn't search -too- hard.

Basically my understanding is that it's easier to acquire gold modifiers than beaker modifiers, and thus it's a good idea to get some markets and such, build up cash, and then surge up the tech chain. Is that the basic idea?

I've been using this method successfully late game, but I was hoping someone could fill me in on any other details I may have missed so that I can use it more effectively early game; if there is anything more to the idea at all.

 

[JujuLautre]

The idea of binary research is to use the science slider always at 0% or 100%. Basically, you put it at 0%, stockpile cash, then use it at 100% and blled the cash you have accumulated to research your next tech without having to lower it.
Good points:
- you lose less beakers due to roundings
- you get bonuses to research a tech when other leaders already know it, so this way you have more chance to get such bonus (because you wait)
- let's say that you just researched writing: you stockpile cash while building libraries, which gives you more beakers when you start researching than if you had just started to research you next tech straight away
- you have more time to see what other leaders research, giving you more trade opportunities ("no, I will not research alphabet in the end since 4 AIs already have it in the end")
- you have a reserve of cash to use in emergency cases

Bad points:
- needs more micro management
- there are some others, but this one is the main one.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

The idea of binary research is to use the science slider always at 0% or 100%. Basically, you put it at 0%, stockpile cash, then use it at 100% and blled the cash you have accumulated to research your next tech without having to lower it.
Good points:
- you lose less beakers due to roundings
- you get bonuses to research a tech when other leaders already know it, so this way you have more chance to get such bonus (because you wait)
- let's say that you just researched writing: you stockpile cash while building libraries, which gives you more beakers when you start researching than if you had just started to research you next tech straight away
- you have more time to see what other leaders research, giving you more trade opportunities ("no, I will not research alphabet in the end since 4 AIs already have it in the end")
- you have a reserve of cash to use in emergency cases

Bad points:
- needs more micro management
- there are some others, but this one is the main one.

Rounding error on beakers is extremely minimal now but the others are all very, very good reasons to use binary.

One further bad point is that the AI might demand your cash, but then again that tends to work into a relations boost if you need one so it could be bad or good depending on whether you need tech or safety more.

 

[PieceOfMind]

Another positive:

-More cash lying around for all those expensive but better random event options.


For extreme micro-managers who play Spiritual civs, it might be worth timing your 100% slider settings for when you have the modifiers from civics. e.g. Go 100% after switching into Free Religion, or go 100% after switching to Nationalism ("binary spying" ).

 

[JujuLautre]

-More cash lying around for all those expensive but better random event options.

That was in my last category