How to keep up in tech?

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Chris Withers

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I'm wondering how people keep up in tech at the high levels. I'm playing at Emperor and probably have the latest version, having bought it just a few months ago. I've read all the strategy articles and am doing my best to trade, get it in peace treaties, etc. But still I find I'm always behind unless I'm lucky enough to capture the Great Library (which actually seems to happen quite a bit for me - at which point I just stop playing since I know I've won then).

Anyhew, are all those articles written for an earlier version of Civ3 where perhaps it is easier to keep up, get better trades, etc?

I even found in my current game that one of the jackass AI civs actually got Literature before me so I couldn't trade it away like usual. First time that's happened to me :(
 
It's possible to keep up with the AI at Emperor and above. But it's not easy and not really necessary - at least until midgame or so. I'm commonly several techs behind until the late Middle ages. I rarely try for the GL unless I capture it.

The AI's trade with each other at such a discount on the higher levels that you really need to learn to play from behind and not worry about it.
 
Do people eventually catch up by constant wars with getting tech from peace treaties, or by eventually building libraries & universities, or basically never catch up and always win by conquest?
 
You have to be aware how the AI researches:
In most cases, only one AI Civ does all the work, at something like 100% research; and the other AIs fule that one with gpt for techs.
Because of the questionable tech tree in the Industrial Era (Nationalism + 2 Gov techs, and the AI will ALWAYS research those ASAP), the human should be able to either catch up already at that point, especially if no SCI Civ is around, or at latest after building ToE.
Often enough, even earlier (and I'm talking about DG/Deity here).
The crucial thing is: It must become YOU who gets the cash from the AI Civs, no longer a leading AI Civ.
If you play a SCI/SEA/COM Civ, you will usually research techs in 4 turns @90% Science/10% Lux from that moment. You will not manage really fast research if you have to care for your income as well ;).

How to catch up? Either trading, or you manage to research a tech the AI ignored so far (PP is a good candidate).
 
The scenario I always run into is that I keep up just fine in the AA (this is Emp and DG), but when the MA comes along, the SCI civs all get a freebie which they then trade around. Suddenly, I am three techs behind with no marketable tech to trade. Sure I could buy one of their techs, but I have always thought that to be a no no. And yes, I might have Monarchy or Republic over an AI but they seem to value MA techs much higher than those. I'm never sure what to do at that point.
 
I'm never sure what to do at that point
Click to expand...

1) Don't panic.
The MA techs are more expensive than those Gov techs if some AIs already know them.
2) By all means, research Feudalism yourself (unless you can get it in a straight tech deal) - never buy it. And, not at min.
3) Try to buy Mono (or Eng, if that opens a brokering opportunity). If you find a weak AI, you can even pay in gpt.
4) With Mono, you have options to research - Theo, Chivalry, Invention (assuming you could trade mono for eng). Choose what the AI doesn't have; you should beat at least some CIvs to that tech, and can broker again.

But, try to never feed the tech leaders with gpt. Cash, not that problematic.
 
Is it worth buying techs at an extortionate gpt or a high lump some? Won't this just hold you back in the early stages coz the AI never gives you much gold for it?
 
By 'some' I obviously meant 'sum' and apologise for the brain tripping out there
 
Doc Tsiolkovski said:
1) Don't panic.
The MA techs are more expensive than those Gov techs if some AIs already know them.
2) By all means, research Feudalism yourself (unless you can get it in a straight tech deal) - never buy it. And, not at min.
Click to expand...

Feudalism is always my first MA tech. I like to start building/upgrading an MDI stack asap.

3) Try to buy Mono (or Eng, if that opens a brokering opportunity). If you find a weak AI, you can even pay in gpt.
Click to expand...

Hmm. I usually go for Eng before Mono because I want to also start stockpiling Trebs. In fact, I tend to be a lower MA tech tree person in order to find out where the saltpeter is, secure it if necessary with MDI and Trebs before the AI has a bunch of muskets, and then head towards MT for Cavs.

My reasoning is I never build cathedrals and don't bother with banks or unis until I've done a bit of conquering anyway. However I'm now thinking I may be too rigid in my research and I might be losing out on trade oppurtunites.

4) With Mono, you have options to research - Theo, Chivalry, Invention (assuming you could trade mono for eng). Choose what the AI doesn't have; you should beat at least some CIvs to that tech, and can broker again.
Click to expand...

I usually skip Chivarly altogether unless I have no iron in which case I want KT. I like Knights but I prefer a few Pikes with a bunch of MDI + Trebs for conquering.
 
Don't care for Cathedrals. The reason why I suggest to go Mono->Theo is what come after Theo.
PP is a very good chance for a monopoly tech, Banks are crucial (IMHO that is another important change; they are not that important on Emperor - reason should be the decrease of optimal cities, i.e. only a very small number of cities are not corrupted), Astro + Nav for trades etc.

And yes, I'd skip Chivalry as well - but the AI is slowed down a bit here.
In general, it doesn't really matter. As long as you are THE /one of the techleader(s) mid-industrial, all is well. If you build the ToE, or research is secondary.
 
Doc Tsiolkovski said:
4) With Mono, you have options to research - Theo, Chivalry, Invention (assuming you could trade mono for eng). Choose what the AI doesn't have; you should beat at least some CIvs to that tech, and can broker again.
Click to expand...

Other than interfacing w/ the other leaders via diplomacy, is there a quick/easy way to see what techs they have that you don't?
 
The AI will always head there, Knights are too expensive at that time (good units, but no need to hurry to that tech; MDI are more efficient, until your cities grow big enough), it's optional and dead end.
The very same applies for Cavs later.
Up to incuding Monarch, it's nice to head there. You will get substantial numbers before the AI has that tech.
DG, forget fighting with superior weapons. It's about fighting with superior tactics.
 
vmxa said:
Medevil Infantry not in prior versions iirc.
Click to expand...

lol, so many of my questions are answered by "its in C3C" :)

BTW, C3C is on the way from Amazon, so soon, I won't be asking those dumb questions. :)

I'm guessing they may have been added to balance the Knights?
 
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