Research - where should I be aiming?

[Kallikrates]

If you prioritize religious techs you can get theology around 1000 BC or maybe earlier on normal speed, even on monarch I guess, especially with the oracle, an early prophet from stonehenge or a not so early prophet from the oracle + temple.
I haven't tried; since I play monarch/emperor my first religion is usually either Confucianism or Taoism, because they are on the way to liberalism and the techs are usefull anyway. And for some reason the AI (at least on Warlords, I just got BtS and have only played one game) does not prioritize Philosophy, so I am very often the first. And if I try for the Oracle I will get CoL.
The religious nuts like Isabella, Brennus or Mansa always seem to go for the early three religions, then either CoL or Theology.

 

[AW Arcaeca]

I consider 1500 AD theology pretty good, just before I complete my spaceship ( I am trolling with exaggerations of course =P)

That would only work if you're as much of a land-devouring clown as every AI in every game I've ever played so you can get the 50+ cities needed to research rocketry.
you'd also have to only ever play on chieftain and you used worldbuilder to move every other civ into a cramped area in the arctic.

 

[s.bernbaum]

That would only work if you're as much of a land-devouring clown as every AI in every game I've ever played so you can get the 50+ cities needed to research rocketry.
you'd also have to only ever play on chieftain and you used worldbuilder to move every other civ into a cramped area in the arctic.

I frequently go the spaceship route because I like to play the long game. I have no problem with achieving the goal. I am mostly playing on Prince these days and have never used worldbuilder for anything. Playing on huge maps (my favorite) twenty some cities are more than enough. Perhaps your game play needs improving? No insult intended - just suggesting that if you are serious with your comment, you might want to visit the Strategy forum for advice.

 

[AW Arcaeca]

I frequently go the spaceship route because I like to play the long game. I have no problem with achieving the goal. I am mostly playing on Prince these days and have never used worldbuilder for anything. Playing on huge maps (my favorite) twenty some cities are more than enough. Perhaps your game play needs improving? No insult intended - just suggesting that if you are serious with your comment, you might want to visit the Strategy forum for advice.

It's mostly the fact that everyone decides to attack me, either for no apparent reason or the fact that I won't let them bully me into giving them all my most advanced techs in exchange for nothing.

I'll give them tribute if it's small, but I don't give them anything that will give them a significant advantage against me.

 

[strijder20]

That would only work if you're as much of a land-devouring clown as every AI in every game I've ever played so you can get the 50+ cities needed to research rocketry.
you'd also have to only ever play on chieftain and you used worldbuilder to move every other civ into a cramped area in the arctic.

There are people who have won space victory on Deity without moving the AI civs in the BCs, so no.

It's mostly the fact that everyone decides to attack me, either for no apparent reason or the fact that I won't let them bully me into giving them all my most advanced techs in exchange for nothing.

If they are asking your techs you have a tech advantage, and if you have a tech advantage just build some units and crush them.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

If you are small, you want a tech lead that helps you get a large empire.

If you are already above average or large, you want to find ways to stay roughly at parity until you explode.

 

[MilesBeyond]

I consider 1500 AD theology pretty good, just before I complete my spaceship ( I am trolling with exaggerations of course =P)

When I'm doing a hardcore peacemonger Space Race I sometimes like to pick up HBR once I get Fusion

 

[happyturtle]

It's mostly the fact that everyone decides to attack me, either for no apparent reason or the fact that I won't let them bully me into giving them all my most advanced techs in exchange for nothing.

I'll give them tribute if it's small, but I don't give them anything that will give them a significant advantage against me.

One of my earliest 'lightbulb moments' in getting better as a Civ player was when I realized that the AI will go to war with me if I look weak. Once I started keeping my 'soldier ranking' up (in the demographics screen), I stopped getting attacked by everybody, and I started playing better.

A later 'lightbulb moment' was learning that when the AI begs or demands a tech off me, they aren't getting it for free. I get positive diplomacy with them and a ten turn peace treaty. That might be enough to make an angry AI decide to attack the other guy instead of me, or might make a pleased AI up to friendly and help me in the next war I'm in. Sometimes, you really have to say no - giving away Education before you've scored Liberalism, or giving any war tech to an AI who might use it against you.