modern era tech development

[sav]

Alright. So on the PSX at Emperor level, I can pretty much rule the world - not in a "I have every city bar one" sense, but in a "my powergraph is bigger than yours" sense, ok? This is usually pretty settled by the late 18-early 1900s. BUT... it is around this time I find that my rate of discovery, though it doesnt technically lower, it just slows down. Its like my industrial revolution happens around when it is meant to (mid 1800s), but there are so many things to discover after that I just cant keep up, and dont get to build a spaceship. But by the time i realise this, its too late to conquer the world, cause everyone else's technology is sufficient enough to block my attacks.

What do i need to do to markedly increase my tech rate in the last 200 years? or should i be flying planes in the 1700s?

In my current game, im a democracy, my powergraph is equal to every other civ's powergraphs put together, it is around 1920. I've just got refrigeration, but keep having to spend my resources on spies to punish the bithcy AIs who just dont know when they've been beat. If i concentrate, i can make discoveries every 3 turns, which is amazing by my standards, but cant get it to go any faster... and those bloody AI's catapults...

WHAT DO I DO????????

And why has the AI got such crap techs so i cant trade with them?

 

[Smash]

Freights!

Each freight delivered nets a gold bonus,What you also get is a science beaker bonus equal to the amount of gold.You can discover techs by delivering freight(caravans early).Late game bonus can be huge if the right city improvements are built.

Pick a nice fat AI city as far away as possible.On a seperate landmass.Click on it to see what goods it demands.See if you can build some of the demands but don't worry if a commodidty isn't demanded though.

Just before delivering a freight,check your science advisor.Note where your research progress is.Deliver the freight.Re check your science advisor.You should clearly see that you gained science beakers as a result.

 

[starlifter]

You might try the CFC War Academy, and also look at the first link in my Signature block... some info might help your situation, particularly the info on trade and Power Democracy (even if you're not in D, it is useful).

 

[Old n Slow]

Two other major considerations:

1) Build more cities (especially early on) -- it only stands to reason that ten cities should have twice the horsepower of five cities.

2) Consider a super science city. There are five wonders that are city specific -- why not put them all into the same city? Why not locate that city on a grassland space touching four specials? In a number of games that one city has generated a third to a half of my entire civilization (all 20 cities) science activity.