Problems keeping up in science

[brandonp911]

No matter what I do, the AI always outruns me pretty handily in science. I've tried building more cities closer together, that didn't work. I've tried using commercial/scientific civilizations, and that didn't work too well either.

Am I missing something or does the AI just flagrantly cheat?

 

[Peter Harris]

No cheating involved. The AI trades techs amongst themselves constantly. You need to also swap,buy/sell techs to have any hope of keeping up. There are some very good threads about tech trading in this forum.

Hope this helps.

EDIT. Found you a good article about trading, including tech trading (the bloke that wrote it really knows his stuff so you can rely on it):

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?threadid=24553

 

[Steffo]

If you're a warmonger, attack then sue for peace and get the tech.
Also make sure to get the great library.

 

[allhailIndia]

The best way to keep up with AI techs is to start a war with one of the weaker, but slightly more advanced civs and then sue for peace after razing/capturing 3-4 cities, while demanding all his techs. Works pretty well in Monarch and below, but don't know about Emperor.

 

[Zingo]

Originally posted by allhailIndia
The best way to keep up with AI techs is to start a war with one of the weaker, but slightly more advanced civs and then sue for peace after razing/capturing 3-4 cities, while demanding all his techs. Works pretty well in Monarch and below, but don't know about Emperor.

Works very well on emperor too, I do it all the time

 

[PCGeek]

What I usually do, I think I read this in an article somewhere, is first set my science to shoot for literature and fund it as high as I can. If I have a wonder available to build in my first or second city I start pre-building it. As soon as I get literture I switch to the Great Library and adjust that city for maximum production. This pretty much keeps me at pace. Other than that, I turn down funding for science and buy what I want or trade with other civs. It costs more but since I am making more money it works out.