how does The Great Library exactly work ?

[Foma2]

Sorry for asking but the way The Great Library works has always been quite unclear to me.

Please correct me if I am wrong but as far as I'm concerned once you've got it built, you get for free any technology discovered by any three nations in the game. And it gets obsolete once University is discovered.

So, my understanding is that if two other nations have discovered Navigation and the rest of them are not interested in it, you wil never get it via the The Great Library. Am I right ?

 

[phatpaid]

I think that's how it works. Tho i'm sure someone with the book or whatnot might have a more precise answer.

 

[Osvaldo Manso]

I think that's how it works. Tho i'm sure someone with the book or whatnot might have a more precise answer.

The Great Library gives you any technology that two (not three) other civilizations already possess. The rest of the information is correct.

I find The Great Library to be a pretty useless Wonder of the World because usually I'm well ahead of other civilizations on science research. Besides, University is an important technology that opens the path to Metallurgy (Cannon unit) and Chemistry (road to Automobile and Flight). I recommend The Great Library only when you had a tough start and are falling behind in the technology race. Its benefits are also more effective when you play against a large number of civilizations (preferably 6).

 

[Foma2]

It's what I feel about it as well. I built it in a couple of games a few years ago and found it pretty useless as I discover University before I get anything useful from it. But I had a feeling that I am missing something - apparently not.

 

[TheWhiteLynx]

the one thing I wonder is, how is it you actually get the technology? I have the library built, but nothing happened, how do I choose what tech I want?

 

[Pikachu]

The Great Library gives you any technology that two (not three) other civilizations already possess. The rest of the information is correct.

You also must have contact with the two civs that possesses the new technology. A civ that doesn't know your civ exists will not send their books to your great library.

I find The Great Library to be a pretty useless Wonder of the World because usually I'm well ahead of other civilizations on science research. Besides, University is an important technology that opens the path to Metallurgy (Cannon unit) and Chemistry (road to Automobile and Flight).

That's right. The great library is not worth building. It is fun to destroy it though. Then strange things happen: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=65669

the one thing I wonder is, how is it you actually get the technology? I have the library built, but nothing happened, how do I choose what tech I want?

You can't choose wich technology you get. Whenever two civs you have met get a technology you don't have, you will get it automatically.

 

[GenMarshall]

You also must have contact with the two civs that possesses the new technology. A civ that doesn't know your civ exists will not send their books to your great library.

That would prove to be advantage if you dont want them to know your secrets and you yourself built the Great Library before anyone else did .

 

[mopyper]

Actually, you do NOT need to have contact with the other civs. And this is a very useful wonder when you are playing Emperor level. Skip the stuff that doesn't lead to major philosophical and revolutionary improvements, and let the others research it. I very rarely research the wheel, because as soon as the library is finished, I can get that (along with iron working, pottery, horseback riding, etc.).

 

[Pikachu]

Actually, you do NOT need to have contact with the other civs.

Oh no, I must have been playing civ3 again. Shame on me!

I very rarely research the wheel, because as soon as the library is finished, I can get that (along with iron working, pottery, horseback riding, etc.).

How do you survive on emperor for that long without charriots?