Space Race tech path for BtS

[futurehermit]

I have been more interested in domination wins in BtS, but have played out a few space race wins. I am playing monarch/normal/standard/hemispheres although the thread doesn't have to be limited to these settings, I just throw them out there as a starting point.

I am finding that I am usually teching the last 1/2 of the tech tree myself. So trade opportunities are at a premium. If we assume we're not playing on immortal/deity where we are going to be behind usually with a fair amount of trade opportunities, what are the best ways to self-research toward a space race victory and why?

I'm pretty sure I move too horizontally through the last 1/2 of the tech tree and am not beelining efficiently enough. Kind of too laid-back about it. I'd like to shave some decades off my finish time so am looking for some tips.

 

[Kennigit]

Well, for pretty much Warlords, Vanilla, and BtS, I usually go Genetics->Ecology at the end (stasis chamber is 1200 on normal speed and life support is 1000 w/ double for copper IIRC).

I've had good success with something like this tech path for BtS (just finished a game using this in Lonely Monty)

Rocketry (start on apollo)->Industrianalism(might or might not get aluminum, but doesn't really matter if apollo is slowed down)->Computers->Superconductors(laboratories and thrusters)->Fiber Optics (put cockpit somewhere)->Fusion->Satelites(dockinbgay somewhere)->Composites->Genetics->Ecology(stasis chamber finishing up in 2nd production city, last couple of casings roll in, dockingbay already has or is rolling in, and life support is speedy).

The main thing is that all the last parts come rolling in together and are doubled with copper or aluminum, plus a golden age using the fusion engineer accelerates you into atleast genetics or possibly ecology. Robotics is kind of a dead tech in BtS for me, since its better to get the engines earlier than save them for last (where some might have wasted time with the space elevator to get engines faster).

edit- this probably wouldn't work well if you were behind in tech on immortal/deity as you could lose the Fusion race. Still, you could recover because AI's often go for stealth before genetics or fusion

 

[obsolete]

I am finding that I am usually teching the last 1/2 of the tech tree myself. So trade opportunities are at a premium. If we assume we're not playing on immortal/deity where we are going to be behind usually with a fair amount of trade opportunities, what are the best ways to self-research toward a space race victory and why?

Hermit, the problem with this sort of opening, is that it parallels with the newbs that start off on Settler mode, and then try to customize a winning strategy for THAT level, then they never progress higher. The reason for this, is of course that the level is more horrible than the strategy itself, but the next level up isn't.

So now... if you want to postulate, (what if we are playing immortal/deity and are slighly behind in the tech race)... then you've got yourself one very interesting thesis emerging

 

[madscientist]

Not to go through the entire tree But a few techs I want before starting Apollo

Refridgeration (supermarket and Superconductors for labs)
Assembly Line and Industrialization (For factory/plant and Aluminum)
Flight rather than Artillery to unlock Rocketry.

 

[semirami]

Industrialism as first priority. You will know early is there aluminium or not. You may plan than to found Aluminium CO, or to choose another victory condition. You will have access to modern powerful units early in the game.

The next one is refrigeration+superconductors. I want to have laboratories, and the research bonus ASAP.

The next is Radio(try to build some wonders) and flight+rocketry. Yes you will delay Appolo Program, but you will build it whit all bonuses, so it's the same.

The next is Combustion(I may have it already, depends on my military needs) and Plastics+ TGD in my best production city+great engineer.

The next is Satellites. I want to start the Docking Bay early at some medium city. Composites- Computers- Fiber Optics- Fission- Fusion- Genetics- Ecology. With some civic changes, improvement tiles changed and chopping I will finish the both engines, stasis chamber and life support in 2-3 turns difference.

The last one. I never trade Assembly Line and Industrialism. Doesnt matter what the AI will offer. I never trade a space tech for non space tech, or something else. I never build The Space Elevator and The Internet. The both are useless and expensive wonders.

 

[Cookie Crumbs]

I find that you can keep trading all the way up until Rifling, a little further if you're Friendly with a tech fiend. On Prince/Monarch I normally trade for Feudalism/Guilds/Banking/Engineering, by which point I've gotten a golden age and left everyone else in the dust tech-wise.
I tend to go all the way to Railroad+Assembly Line before obsoleting my monasteries and Great Library, then going for Medicine if I want to found Sushi. Then it's all the way to Superconductors for Laboratories, then Industrialism for Aluminium then Rocketry.

After Rocketry there are two paths you can take. First is prioritising Composites, then Genetics (to give your production monster something to build while the others pump out casings), ending with Fusion. The other is beelining to Fusion, Composites, Ecology then Genetics which doesn't bottlenecl your production so much. If you have a bunch of GEs you can go for Plastics straight after Rocketry and go for the 3GD. Another advantage is that you get that 3rd great person for a golden age. I normally manage two GAs when I'm pursuing a space race victory.

What's everyone's earliest spaceship launch? The best I've managed is 1822 on Prince.

 

[Orion071]

I've updated my Space Race article for BtS. The first post is for vanilla and Warlords, but the BtS path is here. I think I need to go in and change it because The Laser is not required for Fusion (I think it's just optional). So you can drop that out of the list and follow the rest of it.

 

[Jet]

I think what you're asking is what order to research the industrial and early modern economic techs

Democracy
Liberalism
Astro
Econ/Corp
Bio
Superconductors
Assembly Line
Industrialism

I think the question is too general because the answer depends too much on the details of
- terrain, early empire development, pop growth situation
- empire size
- capital
- diplo situation and AI/continental layout

 

[sylvanllewelyn]

BTS or not, I make a point of going for labs. The +25% research helps you tech a lot faster. Then it's computers for internet, and fusion for engineers. Make sure it's as pointy-stick as possible, hopefully pulling as many techs as you can with the internet. I thought building the parts as they come is fast, but now I believe building the entire ship with your entire empire is more effective. Space race is a misnomer: it's a tech race.

 

[ungy]

Space race is a misnomer: it's a tech race.

Best piece of advice here.
Unless you are behind to multiple AI and catch up with internet, you will almost always have the production and be waiting on tech. So labs before rocketry, and ecology last.

 

[futurehermit]

Yes, I understand it is a tech race, but that is why I started this thread. Given that I am self-researching everything myself, what is the OPTIMAL way to tech through the tree. The advice so far has been very helpful.

 

[GeorgeF]

I almost never research Rocketry on my own. Just concentrate on getting Factories, then Labs, then the Internet. Internet gets you Rocketry, and other good pre-req techs, often including Fission, which gives you a boost towards Fusion. Concentrate on the obscure and more advanced techs, save Ecology/Genetics for the end, the AI will sometimes get them and you'll get them for free anyway. If you concentrate on Factories/Industrial Plans/Labs everywhere, and build the Elevator, you're often in a position to build most of the parts simultaneously with all production boosts, and finish no slower than it takes to build the Engines.