Not falling behind in the Regent level???

[mrlobber]

Well, I've carefully read many of the tips posted in this forum, but anyway...

I've tried several times to play in Regent level by choosing Huge maps and Pangea type continents (in order to be able to negotiate with as many other civs as possible) and the actual conclusion is that no matter what I'm doing, somehow AI manages to build settlers twice as quickly as I can, so by the time I have around 10 cities, most of AI's civs have 15 to 20 and there is no more land for me to expand in a peaceful manner. And AI then starts to accumulate science, no matter what I'm selling them or bying from them (if I'm trying to use a diplomatic strategy), and I see that the only subject where I'm leading is my culture. In all other areas, I'm a loser because. in the time I get 1 tech, most of AI civs get 2 - as a result when I'm entering the Middle Ages, I'm already some 5, 6 techs back. I build libraries (no tech for universities yet, right?), I've chosen Scientific Civilization... HOW CAN I KEEP UP in science?

or maybe just... WHAT'S WRONG?

And that's, as I already said, only the Regent level...

 

[Dragon2]

During Despotism, I keep up by using the minimum science that gives me any progress, accumulating cash, and using it to buy techs and contact with other civs. Once I get Republic I do my own research.

The 32-turn limit of research is a major loophole for the early game.

 

[dozenlong]

A group of us played Civ3 last weekend, and one of the more interesting strategies (at the level right below deity) was used by one of us. He basically became the world's stockbroker--he used explorers to get way technologically advanced, and then just traded techs and worldmaps for everything. He had three cities for the longest time. Eventually, he used military conflict to slowly migrate his civilization--he would take a city, then if one of his cities was about to be attacked he would just sell it off. He would pay other civs with techs and maps to attack people he was angry at...it was very interesting.

Of course, in terms of power his civilization was nothing, and he probably would not have won, but his method of survival was quite interesting and would be a fun game to play--

Heck--see how many points you can get with x number of cities at deity...(I see some one city challenges coming up in the future with some modified "victory" conditions).

As to the others of us--one friend watched his civilization get burned to the ground, while I expanded, was the most powerful civ, but not by a lot, and when the French sneak attacked me with the Greeks I got behind in city production and science and ended up fighting them to a stalemate.

Anyway, be a technology and map whore and see where it gets you...

 

[democomputer]

I used the whoring to great success. (Regent 15AIs)

Yes the AI will come up with tecnology befote you, but they usually develop "flat". They start with iron/ceremony/alphabet and so on. I instead did not discover these simple techs, but researched for more advanced techs.
I sold the techs to as many civs as possibly.

I am now in late midle ages, and earning 100+ gold/turn on my sold techs. This is enough to keep my tech spending at 100%

Some civs will gladly pau 15gold/turn and world map and cash and less adv techs for a good tech..

 

[Mikeweather]

I keep my science on 100%. There is not 32 turn limit. With 1 pop there is a 32 turn limit, but by the time 32 turns are up you have more than 1, usualy 3 or 4. Turn it up once you have more than 1 pop point and you can get the tech a few turns earlier, especially if you're a scientific civ.

 

[Ruffin]

Having the same problem except I can stay current until the gunpowder age (goody huts, trade, Great Library, etc.). Then I start to fall behind because the AI refuses to trade with me, even friendly AI. Eventually I end up 3-4 techs back as they trade with each other and enemy tanks come rolling over my infantry defenses. Suggestions welcome.

 

[Stuie]

This game definitely rewards extremes. Either:

1. Max out your science and sell techs to other civs to keep your economy afloat. I've found this works well right into the Modern Age. You can even influence conflicts without direct involvement by selling a good military tech to one side or the other (but not both...).

or

2. Set your science to ZERO and use all the cash to buy techs from other civs. Make sure you turn around and sell techs to other civs after buying them to get some return on your investment. Also, it seems that there are times when the AI won't sell to you until the associated wonder is built.

I guess you could also...

3. Max out your luxuries and PARTY! But that won't win you any games.