Science Specialists: Weak!

[Arkanin]

So far, I've had very little use for science specialists. They generate 3 testtubes. Now, correct me if I'm somehow mistaken, but why would you want one of those when you can build a cottage on any piece of land, and it will mature into a tile that generates at least three gold and other resources?

The end result is that science specialists seem very limited in their usefulness. Is there something I'm missing?

 

[DaveShack]

If I understand it correctly, specialists of all kinds generate great people points. You can never have too many great people.

 

[Arkanin]

That increases their usefulness. Mind you, I won't be likely to use them very much in the future, but that makes them at least worth experimenting with.

 

[Kolson]

There are 2 things that you arent seeing. For one there are certain builings/wonders that improve your specialists. I dont remember them offhand and I dont have a manual on me, but I know there is at least one.

Also, the scientists give 3 Great Person Points per turn (6 if philosophical). This is a big deal, since one GP can research an entire technology all by itself, or more importantly build an Academy.

 

[skeller]

Also consider that if you have representation, each specialist generates an extra three beakers. If you happen to be philosophical, the great people points are doubled. And if you have the pacificism civic, great people points are doubled again. So if you're geared for it, you can have them generating tons of people points while still doing good research. Like all the specialists, they're very situational.

 

[Good Omens]

Plus, you can have specialists AND have those cottages.

 

[Arkanin]

Also consider that if you have representation, each specialist generates an extra three beakers. If you happen to be philosophical, the great people points are doubled. And if you have the pacificism civic, great people points are doubled again. So if you're geared for it, you can have them generating tons of people points while still doing good research. Like all the specialists, they're very situational.

I'm going to make a monarch game right now and try doing this. Maybe I should change my perspective to 'Specialists are most useful when you're philosophical, a pacifist, or (most importantly, IMHO) under representation'.

Plus, you can have specialists AND have those cottages.

I should probably rephrase my topic to read 'converting citizens into specialists rather than using them as citizens', as that is what I meant.

 

[dh_epic]

The great people points make those specialists extra valuable. And if you're philosophical, or running pacifism, or running other civics like representation that offer a bonus for your city specialists... they're huge.