Monarch to Emperor segue

[civ3sophomore]

There appears to be a big difference between the science capabilities of the AI between Monarch and Emperor level.
I yank my Science funding up to 80-90% at the very beginning, then have to slowly reel it back to avoid having to foreclose on improvements as I'll wind up without gold, even if I have one of my cities generate wealth.

It seems most of the other AI civs have 5 more science advances than I do, even when I use a science-inclined civ (Greek, German, etc.). I try to make up for this via extreme treachery but then I wind up having to use all my resources to build my military so that I can subdue one of the weaker civs into giving me most or all of their science. This only really helps short term b/c everyone still pulls ahead of me again thereafter.
Regardless, the need for a military that can overcome other AI's on the Emperor level precludes the possibility of me building any wonders. At all. By the time the Middle Ages come around I just don't measure up (btw, I read the article on this site about avoiding WOTW addiction but as I said, I ain't gettin' ANY through multiple eras).

I can consistently win on Monarch level now, and I'm getting *smoked* on this Emperor level. Can anyone suggest how I can stop having to play catch-up and compete, especially in terms of science research, or how the experts work around this weakness?

Thanks in advance.

Consuming corvus,
M

 

[eldar]

Monarch To Emperor: The Great Leap

It's all in there...

To summarise though:
- AIs get more and better bonuses: higher free unit support, 80% production costs, more free units to start, better AI-to-AI trade discounts.
- Human gets more penalties: only 1 free content citizen per city, higher tech costs.

Hang in. Learn to use the Lux slider. Don't ever build Wealth!

 

[gmaharriet]

In addition to what Eldar said, you need to learn how to do extremely good trading and to research techs the AI's are less likely to have (so you can trade them). I believe there's another article in the War Academy called something like, "What the AI Will Research Next" that may help you.

 

[Delphi456]

I feel your pain! I just started my first emperor game three days ago and am struggling. The first civ I met was 4-5 techs ahead of me. The next 3 civs I met were at the same level as the first. I couldn't afford to buy any of there techs so I researched Alpha on my own, then Writing, to get a monopoly. The 5th civ I encountered had Writing too, so I immediately traded it to the first four civs, getting me almost caught up. My biggest mistake was kicking Bismark out of my territory - he delcared. Luckily I've got iron an am making swordmen, but I don't know if I'll get them done in time to help. I keep trying to contact Bismark, but he won't answer. Hopefully I can buy peace before I wipes me out. If I can survive Bismark, and the 5 horsemen barbs to my south, I'm pretty sure I'll have this game in the back, even though I'm only halfway thru the AA. Micromanaging my empire will be my saving grace, hopefully.

 

[eldar]

As far as tech goes, absolutely - trading, going for monopoly techs (in the AA, try Writing, CoL, Currency; in the MA, Monotheism, Education, Printing Press...).

The AI puts a great deal of weight behind techs that give them a new government, resource, wonder, or unit (approximately in that order or priority... resource/wonder might be the wrong way round). If you look at the list of techs above, they may enable new abilities or buildings, but little else, so the AI is less likely to go after them.

Trade, trade, and trade some more.

 

[Sashie VII]

Trade, trade, and trade some more.

Exactly, the AIs never suspects that you would use the techs they trade you against them

 

[greygamer]

Adopting the path Alphabet-Writing-Philosophy is not a bad choice especially if you get philosophy first (free extra tech) also sets you up for literature and libraries which help further research. I usually go this route unless circumstances dictate otherwise.

 

[civverguy]

For warring on emperor level, how many units do you need to defeat the enemy?

 

[eldar]

For warring on emperor level, how many units do you need to defeat the enemy?

Early game, figure on 4 defenders in the capital, and 2 in outer cities. Those defender are probably spears, the capital is probably going to be < Size 7, and it won't have walls. You can probably take the capital with 8 Archers/Horses, or 6 Swords.

As the game progresses, start getting Artillery into the mix as cities grow (bigger defence bonus), more defenders appear (say 6 in the capital, 3 elsewhere), and they get tougher (Pikes, Muskets...).

Once you research Maths, start building Catapults in cities with no barracks. Most experts would advocate a stack of 50% artillery (Catapults, etc.), 40% attackers, and 10% (1 or 2...) defensive units. Obviously if your defensive unit has the same defence as your attacker, swap defenders for attackers. E.g. swords have 2 defence, so just go with 50/50 swords and catapults. If you're Roman, you're laughing (Legions are 3 attack, 3 defence, and 3 defence will see you a long way, especially in Vanilla Civ3 where there aren't units like Medieval Infantry).

What you're aiming for is a high kill ratio. The AI will always have more units than you, so you have to level it off by losing far less units of your own than you kill. Artillery helps by knocking HPs off enemy units without putting itself at risk. So instead of attacking a 4HP spear, you end up attacking a 1HP spear... an outcome that is far more likely to be in your favour.