Holding back on alphabet...

[KAuss]

I've had my 2nd win yesterday on Noble and it came by way of culture...

I got to an early tech lead by being Financial and never looked back... I'm sure most players find theirsevles in the same boat because we're all about getting the right techs before the AI to exploit their early usefulness (not to mention trade value)...

What I usually do though, and I think this is a mistake... Is research all the needed things and beeline to alphabet... In hopes I'm the first one and trade for the rest of the lower techs I didn't want to waste turns on...

However, if you're the tech leader, most of the time you're dealing out a 675 (epic) tech for things that are worth 180 or 225... Even if you get three, it's totally not worth it...

Then for those that you can't trade with, they tend you DEMAND it from you as soon as you get your alphabet tech too!!! WTH... They should really restrict AI to alphabet rule also... I'm sick of them trading for alphabet... Makes no sense...

Anywho, by restricting myself to no trading early on, I was able to peacefully (without pissing anyone off early game by rejecting threats) research up 3 religions all the while the computer still haven't gotten alphabet... I got Confusion, then Taio, then 2 turns shy of getting Christianity, and got Islam last...

With this, the econ of my city never looked back... Not to mention the extra culture for my culture victory!!!

I finally got alphabet after stabilizing my econ, and needless to say, I have cities twice as big as the other civs because of theather and all the other late tech goodies...

The AI generally build up large masses of army or settler rush early game, so they NEVER research anything on their own... They make up for the military rush by demanding things from you... Without alphabet you take this away keeping them in the dumpster for a LONG time...

Not to mention, by time you get alphabet, that is when you'll see the world relations... You'll get to pick who to side with and so fourth...

So I don't know if anyone else tried this, but it worked out wonderfully with me... I was almost double the score early on when I was 800, the other civs were still stuck at 450 or something...

I know score don't mean anything, but in the early game, this shows you your tech lead...

 

[Dairuka]

You can trade technologies with the AI, if they have Alphabet, and you do not.

You can also trade gold with the AI, if they have Currency, and you do not.

 

[LeSphinx]

As I 've played game with the cultural aspect, I often go for Alphabet in order to trade with the AIs the smaller technologies I do not have the time and money to research on.
that give me a huge boost in building and improving my civilization!
LeSphinx

 

[Dairuka]

On the later difficulties when you are behind in the technology race, grabbing the Alphabet helps you to catch up.

If you play a Financial leader in such a case, and also grab Currency, you can buy alot of the early technologies for around 100 gold each.

 

[Shillen]

IMO, the AI should not be able to demand a tech from you if you have a monopoly. After all we don't even get the option of trading for a monopoly tech from the AI, let alone demanding it. I don't like the rule discrepancy there.

However, if you're the tech leader, most of the time you're dealing out a 675 (epic) tech for things that are worth 180 or 225... Even if you get three, it's totally not worth it...

Yeah but if you trade with like 3 other civs, even if you're losing value on alphabet for each trade you make, in the end when you sum up the 3 trades you probably got more than 675 beakers worth of techs. Sure, you're helping the AI's out a little, but you're helping yourself out also.

 

[KAuss]

I know this isn't going to work on harder diffs but in diffs where you definately can out do the AI in research, it's always good to keep things to yourself...

Just for the sake of not pissing off the wrong civ in the early game...

I'mma try this a few more times to see how well I do to start...

 

[Dikaioma]

Yeah but if you trade with like 3 other civs, even if you're losing value on alphabet for each trade you make, in the end when you sum up the 3 trades you probably got more than 675 beakers worth of techs. Sure, you're helping the AI's out a little, but you're helping yourself out also.

Yeah, I think they know the other AI's don't have alphabet either, so they know you are going to get a tech out of all of them. AI get's alphabetx3, you get 3 new techs. You are put way ahead of the curve.

 

[rrhal]

try to do a round of trades without trading alphabet first. Snuffle their cheap stuff first. Then they have to make you a better deal for alphabet.