Great Library gifting Middle Ages

[Potatoe985]

I have read stories of the great library gifting all the middle age techs or even farther into the future. is this true? if i waited to build the GL and they got that far ahead would i catch up in one turn even tho it expires at education.

 

[Gainy]

I have read stories of the great library gifting all the middle age techs or even farther into the future. is this true?

Yes

if i waited to build the GL and they got that far ahead would i catch up in one turn even tho it expires at education.

Again, Yes But generally, that isn't how it is done - as you do not get the opportunity. An AI will have built it by then.
What I do, is capture it from the AI once they've reached the Industrial age. Works like a charm

 

[WoodenTaco]

I read SirPleb's account of a particularly sleazy way of doing it. Build the Great library, build nothing else in that city. When you think that two of your opponents are soon to get education, give away the city, to the english or the romans or whoever. Then, wait a couple hundred years, and take over the city again. You will get a lot of techs for free if you are behind, including ones that require education first! Just be sure to not have researched education.

Note that this is certainly an exploit, and if you are ever in any sort of multiplayer game, don't do it.

 

[Kronis]

WoodenTaco-

I remember this- I believe it has been patched, so that if Education has been discovered, the GL is useless when you seize the town back.

 

[al_thor]

In a recent COTM, the Indians had the GL. I had made it through the Ancient Age fairly well, but I had shut my Science off before even learning Theology. This was a Diety game, and the AI was out-pacing me to the point of insane. Anyway, after many years (not sure, but a LONG time), I waited for the Wonder Initiation pop-up for the Theory of Evolution. What I was interested in was Replacable Parts, but this gave me a good clue. I then captured the GL and, in one turn, I was rocketed into the middle of the Industrial Age. It was pretty cool. In retrospect, I probably waited too long, as I was soon after defeated by the Carthaginians in a Cultural domination.

 

[Kronis]

I wasn't aware that a captured GL, built by another civ can give you techs...!

 

[Drakan]

WoodenTaco-

I remember this- I believe it has been patched, so that if Education has been discovered, the GL is useless when you seize the town back.

When has this been patched ? I play with version 1.22 and it works fine. It's called the Great Library Elevator. You'll find it detailed in the HOF Forum: "Sir Pleb, going for Sid". I believe he's one of the best players If not the best of this game. the way in which he plans things ahead and makes them work, he makes it look all too easy, which just isn't true and shows his impressive skills. Read his threads, they'll teach you a whole lot, and open your eyes to a new form of playing civ.

You gift away the city that has the GL (make sure you don't build it in your capitol, because obviously in a negotiation it's the only city you cannot give away. Ideally it's better to buid it in a coastal city) just shortly before discovering education. Normally you give it away to a civ that is far away from you (in another continent) and who's feabler then you. You set your science to zero to save for unit upgrades. surround the city with useless units so as to prevent any other AI civ from capturing it .You then retake that city once you're sure they have arrived to the Industrial Ages. I've taken on as much as 18 technologies the turn after I capture it, in which it becomes obsolete.

I use it at Deity a lot. The best players don't normally use this strategy. They steal techs and then trade them.