How to keep growing with high Science %?

[tR1cKy]

Hi Drak!

To the thread starter: to keep the scientific outcome well high there are 2 parallel road to follow (best if you use them both).

First: grow your economy. Marketplaces and banks in all productive cities. The most obvious effect is that you can rise the science spending without going broke. Marketplaces have also a beneficial effect on happiness if you have 3+ luxuries available. With the improved happiness you can grow your cities larger and/or reduce the luxury spending, thus saving money that can be devoted to science spending. Then, reaching WLTKD is less difficult. A city in WLTKD means less money wasted.

Second: build scientific improvement. Libraries and then universities in all your productive cities. But don't be overzealous in building such things: those improvements aren't worth the expense if the city is too corrupted or too little. Judge by yourself when it's the case.

Ah, don't forget war. Even if you're pacifist a few military campaigns are quite useful. As an example, a blitzkrieg offensive resulting in the capture of 3-4 cities may lead your opponent into offering a tech or two in exchange for peace.

 

[Own]

my advise is to not research. in most of my games, in a republic i can get 200 gpt, plenty to buy, and in some of my better games, i can get 300-400. however, when it is put into science, because there aren't marketplace or bank bonuses, it will go down a lot, and even with libraries and universities, you could research, say gunpowder in about 15-20 turns. buying not only gives ai's incentives not to attack you while building up military, it also makes them love you.

 

[tR1cKy]

It would be my advice too... zero-research gambit, extorsions and trades are by far the best way to advance in tech. BTW, the thread starter asked explicitely how to keep science rate high...

 

[GorfTheWanderer]

No. Don't swap to democracy, it's a complete waste as pointed out already by Tricky.

Republic is fine at all levels whether you want to win by conquests, diplo, SS, dom ....

I agree... Democracy is only good if you are a peacfull civ and need to boost to your workers to help improve your land (which you shouldn't need if you have your cities that are not growing producing workers until they can grow more... then join them back to cities to reduce the support costs of all your workers)
Beware of Democrat if you have a large/medium sized military for you get no unit support from that Gov. Republic doen't give you much but it does help with the military support costs. Also beware of Democrat if YOU start a war... bad bad bad.... war wearines is much harder on your civ then and all of your cities will start to starve themselves off or riot (even if you didn't start the war in democ if you don't end it quick you will be sorry)

 

[GorfTheWanderer]

First: grow your economy. Marketplaces and banks in all productive cities. The most obvious effect is that you can rise the science spending without going broke. Marketplaces have also a beneficial effect on happiness if you have 3+ luxuries available. With the improved happiness you can grow your cities larger and/or reduce the luxury spending, thus saving money that can be devoted to science spending. Then, reaching WLTKD is less difficult. A city in WLTKD means less money wasted..

Yes... Go Go Go for Lux as soon as you see them in the beginning they giv you a huge advantage when your empire has grown...

Second: build scientific improvement. Libraries and then universities in all your productive cities. But don't be overzealous in building such things: those improvements aren't worth the expense if the city is too corrupted or too little. Judge by yourself when it's the case..

Yes.... I tend to ignore the mine green/irigate brown & white on my outer borders.... They waste the extra shields anyway... Just irigate to grow large pop then put them to work as Scientist/Taxmen/Engineers once they get large. These benefits aren't corruptable.

Ah, don't forget war. Even if you're pacifist a few military campaigns are quite useful. As an example, a blitzkrieg offensive resulting in the capture of 3-4 cities may lead your opponent into offering a tech or two in exchange for peace.

Yes... Intimidation is a wonderful thing if you can do it.... Just be carefull if you are evenly matched for the if the AI has/gets friends you could start a WW that you really didin't want...

 

[Tukker]

my advise is to not research. in most of my games, in a republic i can get 200 gpt, plenty to buy, and in some of my better games, i can get 300-400. however, when it is put into science, because there aren't marketplace or bank bonuses, it will go down a lot, and even with libraries and universities, you could research, say gunpowder in about 15-20 turns. buying not only gives ai's incentives not to attack you while building up military, it also makes them love you.

When Would be the best to buy techs from the AI, I mean at what difficulty level should you buy techs from the AI? Ive only had the game for about 10 days or so now and I just beated my first WarLord game. Its easy to stay ahead of ai with techs at lower levels but at what difficulty level would be the best to put science to 0% and buy from AI?

 

[Rohili]

Actually Democracy is good if you are going for a peaceful scientific research route. I typically earn 300 - 400 gpt even with a 60% science rate (which is already more than enough). It is even more recommended if you are a religious civ.

 

[Gogf]

I'm not sure is cathedral so important. I barely use them, only if occupied city grows up to 12 so I can keep WLTK more easily. But it's not necesary 'till the hospitals come.

Then clearly you play on the lower levels. In order to get any techs first in order to trade them around for other techs and GPT (to keep your econom going) on higher levels, you need to have 100% science once you really get into the middle ages. You'll be pulling in GPT from other civs, so you'll still be making money.

Cathedrals are essentials, as they prevent you from having to use the lux slider at this point in the game.

@Tomoyo: Yes! Exactly what I do !

 

[Tomoyo]

@Gogf? What? My only post here was on defenders? Was that what you were referring to?

 

[Gogf]

@Gogf? What? My only post here was on defenders? Was that what you were referring to?

Not building them until rails.

 

[Brain]

I dont think Im building too many military units, but maybe I am. I usually have about 3 garrison units and 3-5 offensive units in my cities.

You mean you have 6-8 units per city.

That's WAY too much and it's exactly your problem. You need to change the way you think. Try two defenders per 3-4 cities (yes, you read that correctly). And all your attack troups stacked on the borders.

I wrote a message a few days ago about why defenders are not a good idea. You'll find it at the bottom of this thread.