How to get ahead?

[drunk7daysaweek]

I'm playing at regent level, and after 15-20 turns I'm always massively behind the computer technology wise. Is there some way to keep up with them, or is this just an obstacle?

 

[Tomoyo]

Umm... go out, meet them, and research the technologies they don't have, and trade it for the ones they do have. It's not that bad to be behind early.

 

[hievery]

Don't worry, once you get out of despotism your money per turn will increase alot and so will you sci.

 

[mikezang]

Try Micromanagement, you will win easily.

 

[Brain]

That's nothing to worry about. If a regent level AI is massively ahead of you after only 15-20 turns it's probably because they traded their starting techs with other civs. Go and meet those other civs and start trading with them too.

 

[bonscott]

Send out at least 2 warriors or scouts to meet the other civs ASAP when you start. Trade around. Get to Monarchy (or Republic) as quickly as possible. Make sure you road every tile worked. Libraries in productive cities.

For the most part you probably will be behind quite a bit until the middle of the middle ages. But learn what techs they don't have and trade them those techs and some lux for the techs you need. If still behind then beeline to Navigation and go meet the other civs on the other continent and be the tech broker. You should then be pretty much caught up by the Industrial age. But continue check with the other civs nearly every turn for trades.

 

[tR1cKy]

If you meet them early, you have at least a chance to trade your starting techs for their starting techs before someone else can do it.

 

[777]

Shove them with little war and then squeeze their techs, then head to republick. Plus popping goody huts ain't are bad thing

 

[drunk7daysaweek]

I dont particularily like republic, I find I have many more civil disorders

 

[Tomoyo]

I dont particularily like republic, I find I have many more civil disorders

Maybe you should fix them?

 

[drunk7daysaweek]

Maybe you should fix them?

how do you mean? And does republic give most money/science?

 

[vmxa]

Go to F1 and look for cities that have more unhappy citizens than happy ones. Decide if you can use the slider to correct it or if it is better to change a citizen to a specialist of one form or the other.

In general the slide is better. It would be best if you could get another lux or add structure. Well structures are situational. Markets are usually best, but many factors go into the action you need to take.

 

[drunk7daysaweek]

I did the above, and as soon as I switched republic all my cities revolted... no one was happy.. Then I have to spend much money on luxuries so I'm losing 60 gold per turn. Please tell me the benefit of Republic, it is extremely expensive, they dont like war and my science didnt increase

 

[TyranusBonehead]

You'll take a hit in the pocketbook when you switch to Republic. I think that's fairly normal, but it should go down.

The advice I've been hearing is go to Republic when your cities are all roaded and close by, this reduces corruption which costs you gold.

 

[Idylwyld]

The benefit of Republic is increased food production. More people = more worked tiles = more money to spend on science. You will probably have to drop more people to entertainer but you should see a net gain. Don't use the luxury slider, in the long run you're better off using entertainers and running science as high as you can at a break even.

 

[Woody]

Republic is always a bit worse for the first ten turns or so you are in it. It takes some time for the bonuses you get with Republic to make up the difference. The biggest bonus is that you loose the despotism penalty on food production, because of this your cities should start growing. That gets more tiles in production and commerce, shields, and etc will increase. Soon you will have a more productive empire than you did under despotism.

Another thing to remember when switching to Republic is that many times you can lower the science slider a couple of notches and still be taking the same number of turns to discover new techs. This happens because you basically double the amount of income when you switch to Republic. When you lower the science slider you can increase income or luxuries to keep you empire from going broke and/or going into disorder.

 

[Rohili]

I don't like the Republic either. I'd advise you to use Monarchy, especially if you find Republic doesn't work for you.

And Idy, AFAIK Republic does not give food bonus. It only eliminates the penalty under Despotism.

 

[Idylwyld]

And Idy, AFAIK Republic does not give food bonus. It only eliminates the penalty under Despotism.

Any reduction in starting point penalties can be considered a bonus. But you're right the numbers show a penalty under Despotism and a ground state under Republic. Still net effect is a growth in food production in irrigated tiles leading to more rapid population expansion leading to increased commerce available for research leading to a net growth in research pace. That's why the Philosophy slingshot is so valuable. Now if they'd just get rid of the 4 turn research minimum. I've had games where from literature on I could maintain a 4 turn research cycle (on monarch) for the rest of the game. Nothing is worse than just having to wait around for that next tech to come in 4 turns with your slider at 20% when you feel like you should/could be going so much faster.

 

[SJ Frank]

@idylwyld:

Just curious, what level do you play on? And do you play with Accelerated Production turned on?

 

[777]

how do you mean? And does republic give most money/science?

Get luxuries and marketplaces, it keeps people happy and very efficient way. You don't need cathedrals and so save lots of money. And republick won't have so high corruption than despo have so thats benefit too.

Anyh00t it's my favourite gov. and I usually play through game with it.