Great Library Advice

[eamofox]

I have seen several strategy posts that suggest going nearly 100% of revenue going to gold and virtually nothing going to science, and making sure you get the Great Library. I am attempting my first run through on emperor level like this, and just got education so the GL expired. What is the strategy now? I have 0 libraries, and marketplaces already built in almost every town. Do I have to buy new techs fromsother civs? They come at a fairly high premium. It also doesnt seem to let me plan prebuilds as effectively as I would like (Bach's and ToE are my only concerns really.)

Just an FYI I would war with the civs and demand tech for peace, but I am playing Arch map and they are fairly far away, and I still have the Celts on my own continent to finish whiping off first.

 

[vmxa]

Spending zero in research does not preclude building libs. You could have squeezed in a lib in the better cities by now. The purpose of zero research is to pile up cash to pay for deficit research later.

The whole concept is generally employed during a war campaign. If you are not at war, no research to spend a lot to support troops, so no reason to not research. As a whole I would expect to use the tactic on an Always War game or Sid level.

If not at war and on emperor you can do better by researching. The GLIB is mainly for denial to the AI on Emperor or lower. At DG I find it does not pay for itself. Above that it is quite a commitment to get and I find it is not a real bargain at Deity.

Sid is the only place I would really want to spend the effort to get, again an AW game chances all of that.

 

[eamofox]

Yeah this is my first time not doing my own research. I usally prefer to lead, and grab the science output wonders. Figured I would try this strategy out, and so far I like aspects of it. I like being able to upgrade units on the spot with the piles of cash I have.

 

[eldar]

Typically a GLib strategy works like this:
1. Build (or possibly capture) the GLib, and turn off research until education. Markets > Libraries, but still build Libraries in your core because:
2. Try to time your Golden Age so it starts the turn you learn Education. Now you can research relatively quickly, and quickly put up Universities in your best research cities. You may even have a pre-build for Copernicus on the go.

Obviously Part 2 relies on you having an appropriate UU to start your GA.

 

[eamofox]

ok that makes sense. I am Iroquis so the GA has come and gone a long time ago.
I do have some serious cash, may rush some libraries in the core. Most are only a few turns anyway.

thanks for the advice

 

[SleeperLv]

Hmmm nice idea about starting golden age at education. And if you can get copernicus then your science should become really dominant, unless somebody else does the same.

Btw, doesnt matter how old unit you have, even if its 1/1 - build 3 of them and catch an unprotected archer - GA!

 

[vmxa]

When playing Hiawatha you can often avoid using the MW in a standard game. Use swords instead, unless it is AW.

 

[ThinkTank]

There are some succession games that were played as zero science games, a recent one is SGFN-04: Ragnar for Secretary-General! , you may want to have a look.