Journal of a random game.

[jm chen]

I read through this thread just now and didn't see anyone mention reading succession games as a powerful source of learning.

Picked up an incredible amount of knowledge lurking in that forum -- micromanaging to avoid waste, why food is more important than shields, the power of the curragh, the beauty of CxxC spacing, avoiding wonder addiction, catapult genius, all that.

Give some of those a read, you'll be in awe of these guys.

 

[TruePurple]

and can only hurt as their continued existence just raises my costs.

How does the existance of a nation raise your costs? More nations you face, the more science required to learn a tech?

I don't want the AI spending their money to learn something I already know, I want them spending their money on something I don't know, so I can buy it or steal it, or beat it out of their hide.

Well if I sell them steam they might just research what ever tech I'm working on now.

I still don't get it. Techs don't give you any advantage if everyone else has them as well.

Ohh.. reagans "star wars" project.

 

[Bede]

How does the existance of a nation raise your costs? More nations you face, the more science required to learn a tech?

Precisely. If there are nations which are behind the curve in technology and which lack the the resources to catch up (city count and commerce primarily), the best thing you can do for them is put them out of their misery. They just don't ever get into a postion where they can help you, either by researching new things or buying what you already know.

And the more nations on the map the higher the beaker cost for new knowledge. It's only really noticeable in the late IA and Modern Era, but the effect is there.

Well if I sell them steam they might just research what ever tech I'm working on now.

Then you can buy it from them with the money they paid you for Steam, if you need it. At this stage of the game the AI will be researching towards Fascism, anyway.

I still don't get it. Techs don't give you any advantage if everyone else has them as well.

Techs don't give you any advantage. It's what you do with them that counts. Many times it is better if everyone has some knowledge because then they are cheaper for you.

Unless you can get out of this way of thinking any level above Emperor will be way too frustrating. Once you change your thinking then the frustration goes away and you can concentrate on the important stuff, like managing the empire to meet your objectives.

 

[TruePurple]

the more nations on the map the higher the beaker cost for new knowledge.

More beaker costs for all my rivals as well right? So whats the big deal?

Techs don't give you any advantage. It's what you do with them that counts.

It doesn't give you any advantage to build calvary in a war when the other side only has knights? Or to be able to start on a wonder long before the AI? Or to build railroads and get a production/movement advantage that the AI doesn't?

Many times it is better if everyone has some knowledge because then they are cheaper for you.

Why both buying techs from any of the AI if it doesn't provide me any advantage/any advantage of the AI over me

Are you saying it was a waste of money for me to research in the deficit?

 

[Bede]

Are you saying it was a waste of money for me to research in the deficit?

Not at all if the result moves you closer to short and long term objectives.

That is what the money is for.

It doesn't give you any advantage to build calvary in a war when the other side only has knights? Or to be able to start on a wonder long before the AI? Or to build railroads and get a production/movement advantage that the AI doesn't?

You've got it!! It is what you do with it that counts. But if you have cav and your opponent has knights, you should have wiped the floor with them long before.

As for wonders, unless I hit a lucky streak I don't build any before the late MA or the IA. Smith's in the MA and ToE and Hoover in the IA. Just flat don't need them in a long term epic game going for Space or diplomacy. Cultural games or Conquest or Domination might take a different approach.

 

[TruePurple]

Its is what you do with it that counts.

What do you mean by this? Lets take steam. What I would do with it is build railroads for increase production! Or literacy, I'd use it to build libraries for increased tech and culture (so would the AI) Or calvary, I'd use it to whoop the AI who only had knights. (just like the AI would)

Sounds a awful lot like a tech lead gives you an advantage over rival AI's. So no I still don't get what you mean. How would you use these techs special that make them a waste of time otherwise?

Any victory, you need to beat the AI to accomplish it. And most techs give you an advantage, if the AI doesn't also have that tech. Like if your able to produce swordsman even though the rival nation can't even though its got metal. Thats a tech advantage one can use offensively or defensively. But if you both have iron working & metal, its almost the same as not having the tech at all.

Having iron working but the AI not having iron working... moves you closer to the short or long term goal of area domination. But having the tech but the AI has it too gets you no closer to any goal, except further up the tech tree.

If I can outproduce the AI via steam in my game, then I can overwhelm its forces easier and gain tech for trade easier (more food means more scientists) But if the AI has the same production boost, whats the point?

When I had a tech lead in magnatism, the AI had a hard time mounting any successful attack accross sea. When the AI got magnatism too, I lost some of that advantage. (not all of it because thats where my nice UU is) Thats what I call a tech lead, which gives you an advantage.