Most undervalued tech by A.I.

[magritte]

What do people think is the very useful tech that the A.I. is most slow to research? My thought is replaceable parts. The worker rate bonus is great when you're trying to complete your rail network and infantry are awesome. They're cheap to build and upgrade to, and almost unbeatable defensively until people get tanks, and even somewhat useful on offense against riflemen & below.

The A.I. is also very slow to research medicine to get to sanitation--that's the tech that enables you to take full advantage of railroads by population explosion. Actually, the whole Industrial age approach of the A.I.--going after Nationalism and then fascism and communism seems totally wrongheaded. Then again, they usually spend the whole industrial age at war, so maybe it makes sense...?

 

[Durkz]

Literacy----

 

[barbslinger]

I have to go with literacy too. Our AWSid game would not have been a possible win if we would not have gotten the TGL at 550AD on SID.

 

[WildFire]

The AI doesn't go after Polytheism very fast and it's a great to get and trade. It's worth a good bundle.

 

[grs]

one more vote for lit.

 

[El Loco]

lit definetly, gives u a shot at the great lib, probably the only wonder you have a shot at in deity or sid

 

[Cuivienen]

Literature, no doubt about it.

 

[warpstorm]

Lit, otherwise the GL strategies wouldn't work.

 

[scoutsout]

I'm gonna toss in a vote for currency, just to be obstinate.

 

[Tomoyo]

Scout has a point. I would say that it is currency too, to make it not so obstinate.

 

[viper275]

I have got to say Currency and agree with Scout. Those marketplaces are simply amazing once you get your hands on luxuries, and the AI only places it at a moderate value. I'm very glad that was mentioned, I forgot about it for a second.

 

[citizen001]

literature or maybe writing the comp never researches that. i nearly always trade it away after i get philsophy.

 

[Aggie]

Scientific Method. And obviously Lit...

 

[sabo]

I would say literature too, which is strange since it gives you the ability to build the GL.

 

[Corkmaster]

Literature definitely; but in second place electronics with the awesome possibility of the Hoover Dam. Even at Deity I am surprised how often I can get the Dam which can be a game winner. This does involve a well-timed Palace pre-build of course.

 

[denyd]

I'll toss out a vote for Economics (just to be more obtuse than Scoutsout). Getting to Smith's first means zero support for markets, banks, etc. means lots of incoming generating improvements that don't have maintenance. Also all those corrupt cities give 2g instead of 1g when you set them to wealth. The AI seems to think Navigation and Democracy/Free Artistry are more important. I'd rank Literacy 2nd, Replaceable Parts 3rd and Scientific Method 4th.

 

[Corkmaster]

I would go for Economics in terms of its importance; especially if it also leads to a Golden age. But the AI do go for it; not as much as it merits perhaps but they do not ignore it. Also if you do not get it first it is useless; its a dead end and gives no advantage other than Smiths, so going for it is a big risk.

 

[El Loco]

scientif methods i also one major tech the ai ignores. Two free ind. era techs for free!!!

 

[bob rulz]

I'd say Sanitation in my experience...maybe I'm hallucinating, but the computer always gets literature before me. And El Loco, you only get the free techs if you actually manage to get Theory of Evolution...

 

[Lord Parkin]

Corkmaster - Along the same lines of thinking as bob, Economics is not necessarily useless if you don't get it first. It depends on how fast your city of choice can produce Smiths compared to the AI.