Early Ancient Age Scientific Leader

[El Duderino]

Hi, just recently, I was playing as the Persians, and the first Tech I researched was Iron Working, so I could get Immortals and blow the nearest civ to bits, however, I got I nice little bonus in the meantime. After I researched this, I got a Scientific Great Leader. I then rushed the Pyramids, which gave me a very, very nice head start. My question is: Would I have been better off going for a Sci Age? Personally, I think I made the right decision, because all my cities grew nice and quickly, and, the Pyramids started making money from being nice and touristy, so I could raise my science spending to 90%. All in all, things were very nice. I do believe I made the right decision, but I would like other opinions on the subject.
Thanks.

 

[punkbass2000]

Science age doesn't work. Always build a wonder.

 

[El Duderino]

Science age doesn't work. Always build a wonder.

Hmmm. I never knew this. In that case, I definitely made the right decision.

 

[punkbass2000]

Yeeeeeeep.

 

[bed_head7]

Even if it did work, you made the right decision. Techs can be traded for, and AA tech leads quickly evaporate. The Pyramids is infinitely better than researching faster.

 

[Rammstein]

So Sci age doesn't work - what's that, a bug or just a lame concept? What is it supposed to do, anyway?

 

[Ginger_Ale]

Actually, (in 1.22f), in the modern age (probably the industrial age too), if I go into an age of science with an average amount of built up cities, it'll cut tech times by 1-2 turns. Not the greatest, so I always rush a wonder, but I do believe it "works".

 

[eldar]

I'd nearly always rush the Pyramids - except when I'm on a small isolated island, or an Archi map, in which case I'll keep it to one side and rush the Lighthouse.

Neil.

 

[Doc Tsiolkovski]

Actually, (in 1.22f), in the modern age (probably the industrial age too), if I go into an age of science with an average amount of built up cities, it'll cut tech times by 1-2 turns.

No, it won't. SGA does not work. Period.

Note you will see an increase in city beakers, and estimated Research time will go down. However, those extra beakers are nowhere recorded; in the end, you simply don't get the Tech the next turn when it says "1 Turn left", it'll be "1 Turn" again. Sometimes even for several turns.


To answer to original question:
Using a SGL for the Pyramids is the very best thing you could have done under all circumstances (unless you're on a 10 tile island, of course).

 

[Ivan the Kulak]

Hmm, I always wondered about that science age. I've only tried it once, and it didn't seem to work well. You know, none of the science wonders seem to do much either, science doublers like Newtons and CO seem to be pretty worthless, and even the Internet seems only to knock 1, maybe 2 turns of a tech research time. What they should have done was have a late game wonder that gives tech based on tech owned by other civs like the GL, but maybe make it 3 civs that have to have it, or a wonder that halves research time for the next three techs you choose to research, this would have been more fun and useful.

 

[punkbass2000]

True, but if you can get the Colossus as well as those two wonders into a first ring city it can be a ridiculous science producers, especially as such a city should have a university by now. Also, a turn or two can be huge in the medieval and industrial ages and by the time you're getting the modern science wonders it's probably really just giving you 10% more gold as you're already doing 4-turn research.

 

[Tomoyo]

Those science doublers are gods in OCC.

 

[Theoden]

There is no case where you should use SGL's for Age of Science. Always rush a wonder, and the pyramids is the right choice.

I once got one for the wheel which was the first tech i researched. I off course rushed the pyramids. Obviously the japanese werent in that game

The Internet actually does a serious science boost. going from a 5-turn to a 4-turn tech gain can be powerful and make the space race go much faster. Even if you're researching every 4 turns it will make a considerably amount of money (plus it gives culture in all cities).

Theoden

 

[dmanakho]

Hmm, I always wondered about that science age. I've only tried it once, and it didn't seem to work well. You know, none of the science wonders seem to do much either, science doublers like Newtons and CO seem to be pretty worthless, and even the Internet seems only to knock 1, maybe 2 turns of a tech research time. What they should have done was have a late game wonder that gives tech based on tech owned by other civs like the GL, but maybe make it 3 civs that have to have it, or a wonder that halves research time for the next three techs you choose to research, this would have been more fun and useful.

Agree Newton's and Co are pretty useless, they only increase research in that single city, which is marginal comparing to number of beacons your empire produces anyways.
I only build them if i go for 20k victory for culture or if i play really easy levels when i can build any single wonder anyways .
Internet is much better since it puts research labs in each and ever city.
It increases research in much higher proportion.
It's also a must have wonder if you go after 100K culture.
But, if you choose conquest or domination or even 20K (if you were lucky in AA) your game is usually over way before you can build Internet.

 

[El Duderino]

Good to know. I was extremely happy when he popped out. Very nice surprise.

 

[LLXerxes]

Yes Sci discovery ages never work. If it weren't for the fact they rush wonders they woulda been a TOTAL dud, but they don't appear as much as non scientefic Civs (I gotta work on my spelling )

 

[Longasc]

Well, 3% compared to 5% is not sooo much more. Depends much more on luck and the game - you need to be the first to research a tech, does not happen that often on Deity in the early game.

 

[LLXerxes]

Well, 3% compared to 5% is not sooo much more. Depends much more on luck and the game - you need to be the first to research a tech, does not happen that often on Deity in the early game.

I'm ALWAYS the tech leader in my games, Chieftien and Regent and earlier scientific leaders occur more often

 

[punkbass2000]

Well, 3% compared to 5% is not sooo much more.

'Tis relatively. 167% of the odds. One in 20 is a lot better than 1 in 33.