help with space race...

[phoenix_night]

i want to play for a space race victory, but i always run out of time (2050) before i can come close to finishing it .

i usually get to the middle ages in the first couple of hundred years AD, but then it takes me about 1000 years for industrial (in my current game).

obviously i haven't played much civ before, but i do know that's not quite right as i see people playing in the modern age with centuries to go in the game.

why does it take so long for me to advance through the ages? my science advisor still says research is 'progressing well due to generous funding' and 'we're technologically advanced'. why? and i can't get techs from other civs as they are behind me. i try to invest as much as possible in science all the time, though in my current game i was at war for most of the 13th century. as i was a republic i had to find some cash to fund my armies so it did suffer a little there.

but why am i slow in progressing?

 

[farting bob]

on average, how long does it take to get a science in industrial in can get it down to 4 turns (the min)without going way is to rade. on ower levels the AI gets sciences slower than you, so you are often the first person to get techs, which is good for woders, but is slowin progessin uup the tech tree. when you play higher levels (regent --->) the AI will trade techs between you, and will be at the same rate. then you can lower your science rate to get you huge amounts of money, and simply buy them. however, dont buy from the same civ every time, cause then they will get a big treasury could tthen buy bigger armies and improved infastructure.

 

[dojoboy]

farting bob is right. At the first two levels of difficutly (chietain and warlord), the AI is handicapped in research and production. I've reached space on warlord, but you'll need to know how to beeline the tech tree and what city improvements (pretty much anything that increases gold which allows you to increase the research slider, and that increases your science rate) to build. ANother thing, once a tech is discovered, it can be researched faster by other civs - another reason why its easeier to gain techs on higher levels.

 

[Tassadar]

If you want to do all the reaserch yourself, you need about 18-20 city ( std map ), democraty and dont spend more then 10-15 % of your budget on units.

With about 20 city size 12 with all improvement you should get to modern era by 1800. Conquier or built your city.

 

[Woody]

If your "technologically advanced", you can sell some techs to the AI for gold per turn. Then you can put more of your own money into science. It is not unusual for me to have taxes at zero during the industrial age. I run my civ on money that the AI gives me for techs, resources, and luxeries.

 

[china444]

Go for a conquest or a culture victory. I always thought spaceship victories were boring.

 

[Mathias]

Shaceship victory boring? I'll wager that you haven't tried for a significantly early launch. On regent level, a 1600 AD launch is possible.

Hmm.. 18-20 cities is not enough on standard map though. Try about 25-30 cities. The real key is how you manage them. The placement of Forbidden Palace is crucial. It is important is to get libraries in all cities ASAP. Build the Colossus to start a super science city, in or near your capital, and next to a river if possible. Build the Pyramids for faster growth, and build the Great Library and try to maximize the techs you get from it. Research Monarchy and build the Hanging Gardens, as it helps you move to Republic. Don't switch to Monarchy unless you are religious. If you're scientific, you'll get Monotheism and can build Cathedrals, otherwise build Colloseums where you need them, and wait for Monotheism from the GL. You can pull two scientific civ into the Middle Ages to get it right away, if you want.

In the Middle Ages, research all the way to Metallurgy before heading for Education (you should get it from the GL by then). Sell or give ancient tech and Feudalism to the AI to speed up their progress, and switch to Republic as soon as you get it from the GL. Build the Sistine Chapel, and Bach's if you can, to fight unhapiness. After Education, get Astronomy and build Copernicus's in city with Colossus, then go for ToG for Newton's in the same city. Research Magnetism, and finally Banking if you haven't been able to trade for it. **Do NOT research any techs that are not required to move to the Industrial Age.** You should have a substantial tech lead, and can acquire the rest of the techs through trade. Aslo, a switch to Democracy is not necessary.

My recipe works rather well, if I do say so myself. Of course, every game is different, and although this is explicit in detail, none of it is written in stone. Alter it as you see fit, and above all, enjoy your game. Good luck!

 

[phoenix_night]

i got a space race victory in 2005. after getting to the modern age in 1906.

i had about 18 cities, almost all of them had every improvement and i had a good few wonders.

i was trading techs and stuff, which was good. 100% investment in science and still 650gpt.

 

[The Machine]

i also recommend economics, so u can biuld adam smith tc. also build pyramids and sun tzu, as these pay for the city improvements, so u dont have to.