Is an Early Tech lead possible?

[Stalker0]

I've been trying to shake up my early game, and wanted to get people's perspective on Science.

No matter what style I play, I am always behind in techs in the early game on Emperor+. Its not until Renaissance (and spies) that I start to catch up, and can then eventually surpass the other civs.

Now this style has worked for me for a long time, but I thought I would get advice on this to see if I'm fundamentally undervaluing X in favor of Y, which I why I'm always behind in tech for the early game.

So first question, are you able to get tech leads early?

And if so, where are you prioritizing science (as opposed to other yields) to get that lead?

 

[CrazyG]

Is it possible to lead in tech? Yes.

Easiest way is probably to take God of All Creation and replace shrines with councils in your build order. If your civ has early science (or indirect science, like Carthage with city connections + progress) it's pretty easy to get ahead briefly.

It is overall a good idea? No, the opportunity cost is high. Also, the techs tend to do nothing for you if you haven't built earlier buildings.

Its not until Renaissance (and spies) that I start to catch up, and can then eventually surpass the other civs.

This is just a good strategy. Even when I play as Babylon or Korea, I still fall behind, then pull ahead around industrial era.
This way you get a couple of free techs via spies, and at least initially the AI's spies will annoy someone else instead of you.

 

[a3kov]

Depends on how early you need. Maya can be the tech leader starting from Classical (at least on Immortal), with enough jungle/forest around - try it.
As CrazyG said, there's no need for huge tech lead if your culture and infrastructure don't follow. If you can't build wonders you just researched because you are lacking a policy, or if you can't build newly researched buildings because you haven't built the previous more important ones, there's not much advantage.
There are some exceptions to this rule - some techs give you immediate buff (tile yields, WC at Printing Press, etc). Also warmongers benefit from unlocking new military units earlier than their enemies.

 

[ICanHasName?]

I think it's possible but requires a civ with science bonuses and focus on it. In general the thing with the spies is almost always how it will work

 

[stii]

Getting behind is pretty normal, if oyu are really ahead and can stay ahead the game is pretty much over. With a few really good starts it is possible though.

Getting lucky and getting great library will put you ahead for quite a while but it is rather transitory, also depending on the patch it varies from hard to impossible.

Assyria can do it with a good start, royal library provides a huge tech boost and lets you go straight to xbows , which lets you get another huge tech boost by authority conquest.