Closing the technology gap?

[tetrah]

Hello all,

I'm currently playing the 18 Civs Earth scenario and it's around the year 1900 AD. I have 90% going to technology and 10% going to culture and have had it this way for the entire game, yet Hapshetsut is still light-years ahead of me. Is there any way to catch up at this point, and if not, is there any way to ensure staying ahead in future games? I'm playing on Noble difficulty, by the way.

 

[GONdorman]

Uhmm, dunno...

Did you build Libraries, Universities, Observatories, etc? They boost science a friggin lot...

Are your cities big, and developed (IE with tiles improved)? Do you have sciencist specialists? If you can spare some population, make some of those...

Then, is Egypt a big empire, or not? Is your Civ a small one, or big one? The more cities a civ has, the more research there is... Perhaps expanding a bit could help...

Welcome to the forums BTW! Let the Civ4 side of the Force conquer you

 

[tetrah]

Thanks. I'm pretty sure the reason I am lacking is due to the small size of my Civ (not a lot of room in Europe).

 

[Ozbenno]

If you are behind, one easy way to catch up (even with a smaller pop base) is to research techs that other AI don't have (even if they are not of themselves useful to you), to maximise their trade value. You may be able to get 4-5 different techs from one tech.

 

[PhroX]

Hello all,

I'm currently playing the 18 Civs Earth scenario and it's around the year 1900 AD. I have 90% going to technology and 10% going to culture and have had it this way for the entire game, yet Hapshetsut is still light-years ahead of me. Is there any way to catch up at this point, and if not, is there any way to ensure staying ahead in future games? I'm playing on Noble difficulty, by the way.

The percentage of your commerce going to science is irrelevent. What matters is the actual commerce you are bringing in in the first place.

For example, if I have 5 cities, each producing 10 and my slider is set to 100% science, I'll produce 50 per turn.

If however, I have 10 cities, each producing 10 and my slider is set to 60% science, I'll produce 60 per turn.

Indeed, unless you've got a sucessful religion, a couple of corps, and perhaps several settled GMs/GPs, running at 90-100% science is a pretty good indicator that you've not got enough cities. Either build more, or, if this isn't practical, go take someone else's.

 

[tetrah]

Phrox, thanks for the information. I think your analysis is correct, but I have a difficult time taking cities. From my limited experience, it seems as though defending cities get an outrageous bonus. For instance, Russia had to bring in 5 tanks and a couple of Cossacks to take one of my cities that was being defended by a handful of Grenadiers.

 

[PhroX]

Phrox, thanks for the information. I think your analysis is correct, but I have a difficult time taking cities. From my limited experience, it seems as though defending cities get an outrageous bonus. For instance, Russia had to bring in 5 tanks and a couple of Cossacks to take one of my cities that was being defended by a handful of Grenadiers.

Cities do get a massive defensive bonus - up to 100% (it can be more in certain situations - eg Chichen Itza) from the city itself, plus many defensive units will have the Garrison promotions which give them an extra boost. However, the first bonus - that of the city itself - can be reduced, or even removed, by having siege units (catapults, cannon etc) or aircraft bombard the city before you attack. Depending on the city's strength, and the number of siege units you have, this can take several turns, but it's usually worthwhile.

 

[Supr49er]

Phrox, thanks for the information. I think your analysis is correct, but I have a difficult time taking cities. From my limited experience, it seems as though defending cities get an outrageous bonus. For instance, Russia had to bring in 5 tanks and a couple of Cossacks to take one of my cities that was being defended by a handful of Grenadiers.

You need to bring lots of siege. Promote some with CR (City Raider) and some with Bombard. Later in the game use your Bomber fleets.

And welcome to the Forums.

 

[Willem]

I have 90% going to technology and 10% going to culture

I hope you realize that having it like that makes Markets, Banks etc. almost useless. Since they work on a percentage, if you have 0% of your economy going towards Gold then they don't do anything. The only time they'll provide any benefit is when you have a shrine/corporation that's generating it's own income or are running a Merchant specialist.