Great Library... Yeah, very great.

[satchel]

Originally posted by Oda Nobunaga
SOMETIME it's possible to win the GL race despite being hopelessly backward. Just make a beeline for Literature while the AI research all the other useful stuff and build the other wonders. That's what I did that other game when I started in the middle of a jungle.

This is usually my strategy. I tend to play scientific civilizations, on regent level. I like to research directly for literature, and if I've met enough other civs by the time I build the Great Library, I can either turn off research altogether, or concentrate on expensive techs and let the cheapies roll in. It works fairly well, if your goal is to end up with a comfortable tech lead.

 

[CSZeus]

Yeah... the nice thing about the GL is the fact that you can skip development on some of those techs that you don't consider too important, but the computer does. For example, I just about never develop the Monarchy/Feudalism/Chivalry stuff, because they don't lead to any other techs. But the computer likes to research those... so just sit back and let them do the grunt work for you

 

[Bill_in_PDX]

Originally posted by willj
Anyway, does anyone know for a fact whether or not you need contact with a civilization to get techs from the GL?

You can only gain the benefits of the GL from civs that you have contact with. So a key strategy in building the GL (which I try to do every game) is to make it a priority to find other civs and trade for contact prior to it being built.

 

[Sim_One]

Originally posted by satchel


This is usually my strategy. I tend to play scientific civilizations, on regent level. I like to research directly for literature, and if I've met enough other civs by the time I build the Great Library, I can either turn off research altogether, or concentrate on expensive techs and let the cheapies roll in. It works fairly well, if your goal is to end up with a comfortable tech lead.

start building the great pyramids and then switch to GL when you get literature...although you may think the pyramids is more important

 

[The Overlord]

Yeaahh as it was said here some time earlier even if you are on top of the science-ladder you should produce the GL. And why you should do it? Oh of course to prevent another civ to build it. When you are on top you have to defend it by all means. Should a Civ which is clearly behind the tech-race get the GL it will become well advanced in no time and therefore will be a tough competitor. So even if you are No 1 do you a favour and build this thing to keep your position.

 

[Sanaz]

My favorite thing about the Great Library is focussing all of my research towards Military Tradition and Cavalry. Except for the highest difficulties (where it seems that the player can never get ahead or even stay even in science), you can get Cavalry shortly after the GL becomes obsolete. Then the middle-age wars can begin with a good advantage (especially if they don't yet have Gunpowder and Musketmen). This is the time I try to expand my land-holdings to get ready for the Industrial age.

 

[solarjetman]

The way to get the Great Library fast is to first research Masonry and start on the Pyramids, then get Literature while working on them. You can then switch over. You just have to make sure you have Literature before someone else finishes the Pyramids, though a quick purchase of Mysticism can let you switch over to the Oracle for a few turns.

I've found that since Literature isn't a requirement for advancement to the Middle Ages, the computer isn't all that swift about researching it, so this works fairly reliably for me.

After getting Literature, I think the only thing worth actively researching is Currency (and its predecessor, Mathematics). Once I've got the Library built (or have good confidence that I'll get it) I turn research all the way off, and that makes Marketplaces very nice. Unless I'm building nothing but Swordsmen and Horsemen, of course.

 

[Ribannah]

But if you can complete the Pyramids instead, go for it!
You can always trade for techs, but those free granaries last forever.