Strategy for Science Victory in 140 Turns or less

[Victoria]

The adjacency bonus is OP, the % one is not.

 

[chazzycat]

The adjacency bonus is OP, the % one is not.

yep that, along with the half cost campuses is mostly what I was referring to

although they are now saying those 5% stack as well, so it might be worth something

 

[Bebekija]

Hey guys,

I've been following this thread for the past few weeks and I'm still having a bit of trouble applying the guidelines given here in my actual games.

Since the current GOTM is a Science victory on Emperor, I was wondering if any one of the sub-150 players who post in this thread would do us the favor of a Let's Play series for this game, so we plebs can see the decision-making process and micromanagement that are needed to actually achieve those guidelines.

That would be greatly appreciated!!

Cheers.

 

[i_imperator]

Hey guys,

I've been following this thread for the past few weeks and I'm still having a bit of trouble applying the guidelines given here in my actual games.

Since the current GOTM is a Science victory on Emperor, I was wondering if any one of the sub-150 players who post in this thread would do us the favor of a Let's Play series for this game, so we plebs can see the decision-making process and micromanagement that are needed to actually achieve those guidelines.

That would be greatly appreciated!!

Cheers.

I second this, the written example is fantastic but some concepts would be better understood in video format

 

[civtrader6]

Hey guys,

I've been following this thread for the past few weeks and I'm still having a bit of trouble applying the guidelines given here in my actual games.

Since the current GOTM is a Science victory on Emperor, I was wondering if any one of the sub-150 players who post in this thread would do us the favor of a Let's Play series for this game, s
Mo we plebs can see the decision-making process and micromanagement that are needed to actually achieve those guidelines.

That would be greatly appreciated!!

Cheers.

Personally, my laptop can't handle recording (and has trouble handling the game too - especially once the empire grows to 20+ cities and bunch of suzerain city states). Secondly, with the current GoTM being the Aztecs - it would be one very boring video. I've finished the first game - and at one point I had more than 20 active builders
Aztecs are such an overpowered civ - that I never actually played before so I'll try to follow up with a bit of a write-up on how to make best use of Aztecs abilities - and other observations.

 

[stinkubus]

LOL the last time I played Aztecs (which was the first) the game kept freezing because there would already be a builder in whatever city I captured and then I'd get another for killing the unit garrisoned inside.

 

[i_imperator]

Personally, my laptop can't handle recording (and has trouble handling the game too - especially once the empire grows to 20+ cities and bunch of suzerain city states). Secondly, with the current GoTM being the Aztecs - it would be one very boring video. I've finished the first game - and at one point I had more than 20 active builders
Aztecs are such an overpowered civ - that I never actually played before so I'll try to follow up with a bit of a write-up on how to make best use of Aztecs abilities - and other observations.

I imagine Rome would be quite strong too wouldn't they? With the free monuments and the culture boost they get from that. Not to mention the legion rush.

Also I want to thank you for this thread. Since following your write-up I'm able to get PP by around T50 and feudalism around T70 in most of my games now. Was able to win a science victory with Rome yesterday on emperor, T261, late but considering its my first game since the patch i'm happy with it.

 

[Lily_Lancer]

Personally, my laptop can't handle recording (and has trouble handling the game too - especially once the empire grows to 20+ cities and bunch of suzerain city states). Secondly, with the current GoTM being the Aztecs - it would be one very boring video. I've finished the first game - and at one point I had more than 20 active builders
Aztecs are such an overpowered civ - that I never actually played before so I'll try to follow up with a bit of a write-up on how to make best use of Aztecs abilities - and other observations.

Don't try to make videos. The game itself is already making the computer run out of power. You just need to post a new record. (With Aztec, having a close neighbor, with these 2 keys I believe you can do it sub-130 at least, and sub-120 shall be quite normal for that map.)

 

[civtrader6]

Don't try to make videos. The game itself is already making the computer run out of power. You just need to post a new record. (With Aztec, having a close neighbor, with these 2 keys I believe you can do it sub-130 at least, and sub-120 shall be quite normal for that map.)

I've got exactly T120 with the first one.
But somehow it feels like an exploit win - as the civs spawned too close and I stole a settler on Turn 2.

 

[Lily_Lancer]

I've got exactly T120 with the first one.
But somehow it feels like an exploit win - as the civs spanned too close and I stole a settler on Turn 2.

I think that is the idea for that map. First you have the strongest CIV, then you quickly get a lot of settlers and workers in very early time. That makes maybe the quickest possible SV. I guess the map makers want to see a record of shortest SV(not using bugs, I saw a T62 SV when there was still money bug) this time, and you did that!

Congratulations!

 

[Sansa_Stark]

Hi guys, amazing thread, thanks everybody who is contributing. I read whole thread but still have couple of questions.

1. What do you do with those cities which are settled later and do not need to build CH? At what point you work citizens in library/university? Do you have some kind of rules for this? Do you just place campus, chop it, then build library/university when available, build couple of builders at right time, let it grow to 4/5 pop and then work specialists? Or do you build some more CHs?
2. At what point you start making Campus research grants? Immediately after university is built?
3. At what point you stop using money and just wait for the Big Ben? Right after Mercenaries when you upgrade your army? Do you buy science buildings or always hard build / chop them?
4. At what point you chop crabs (and other resources which give gold, which I don't remember... copper?)? I guess it should be right before Big Ben, correct? Any other tips how to make more (apart from trade routes and last minute deals for lump sums with AI)

SPACE
The usual. Capital must have at least 4 tiles to chop for all space-projects in one turn. Ideally, there should be at least 2 more to speed up the space-port. Same with big-ben city. Only these two cities get internal trade routes (1 to 3). All other trade routes go to merchant city states.
You will need at least 20+k saved before T140, cause you will have to buy at least 6-8 great scientists in 1-2 turns on lower difficulties.

5. Can you please elaborate this a little? Is there any point to delay GP buying once you hit Suffrage? What is the reason for chopping all space projects in one turn? If I understand it correctly, the only GP who make chops better are GI Goddard (which I assume you have to be lucky to get), and then GS Kwolek (and I am actually not sure how GP pools work, are you guaranteed that she shows up?). Is there a reason not to build space part once you use her? Or is it somehow tied with the fact that you buy them in one turn?

Sry if my last question doesn't make sense, I just didn't have time to play a lot recently, so I only played a couple of games till the end, and I obviously did everything wrong, so at these stage I miss these late game fundamentals. I would appreciate if you could expand a little bit on late game plan (i.e. after teching to spaceport). How do you buy GPs, which are mandatory, how do you chop space parts, what do you do in other cities, etc.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Lily_Lancer]

Hi guys, amazing thread, thanks everybody who is contributing. I read whole thread but still have couple of questions.

In fact this thread, I think, is for those who already can make a T160 SV, to advance to T140, or even T120.

Maybe you can open new thread to discuss about your problems.

 

[stinkubus]

I, for one, would not care if this simply became the new "catch all" science victory thread. One stop shopping for tips and assistance is nice, and one can simply scroll past any posts that won't help with their games.

 

[civtrader6]

All right - i think I've got a record - science victory in 128 turns with the 2nd (non-dlc) map for GoTM. Unlike the first one (which essentially starts with two settlers) this one feels good too.

Funny enough, there were quite a few things I've done wrong - and a few setbacks - so I believe it could have been done a few turns faster.
Plus I've recorded the whole game, but don't think I can post it due to GoTM rules.

Reflecting back - I don't think any other civ can rival Aztec in terms of Science Victory. On the other hand - neverending conquest and having 20+ builders finishing districts with constant switching in and out becomes very very tedious.

 

[Victoria]

science victory in 128 turns with the 2nd (non-dlc) map for GoTM

Well done....I would love to see how low you can get this one without mistakes

but don't think I can post it due to GoTM rules

Well you can after GOTM28 closes. That is permissible I believe as per the rules.
I would love to see one of your games for the finer points. I do not play enough SV to know for sure when to choose a monument over a warrior for example.
I would record one myself if no-one else had but it would be a poor comparison to one done by your good self or @Lily_Lancer... I would need to buy a mic though... I have a machine adequate to run 2 civ games at once.
@whacker did produce a screenshot game with a screenshot every 10 turns which gives a good idea.

still have couple of questions.

I am not sure your questions are that simple. I am not sure I am best to answer them but here goes.
1. Later cities just build a campus library and chop it in primarily. You should be able to assess if you have enough money and if not then if you need another CH then chop it in if there is wood to spare. Regardless chop in the science projects also, the further through that great scientist list you go the better but you may want to save the chops until near the end when they are stronger and your science era is unlikely to jump. Put your pop in the buildings when you do not want to grow anymore. A +2 library becomes +4 when done early so you do need to assess a few things.
2. Start your projects when there is nothing more vital to do. That simple. What is Vital? Monuments and culture to get you to democracy by the end of the game. Settlers, Campus & buildings, perhaps CH depending on income.
3&4. Once again you need to assess to some degree how you will get gold and when you have enough. For example I can happily place a one charge builder on a crab and say it equals roughly 1000 gold. Why? well because you want to finish Big Ben the tun you buy your scientists (change production so it sits at 1 turn).. and you should be buying your scientists when you have pretty much finished the tech tree so you are near 500 gold for a crab or copper. You should have a rough idea that a trade route will get you roughly 500 gold in the last 30 turns, maybe more and a lot more with great zimbabwe. You have all the other ways to get cash like Neighborhoods for farms and trading and the 25% for foreign cities, looting (a double loot card for pillaging horses gives 100 gold for example) .... making a deal not to attack someone anymore for all their money and then coming back later after they have repaired their lootable land and doing it all again can be a great money maker.
5.
While the likes of Goddard (20%*), Kwolek (+100%) , Von Braun (100%*) can be used thereafter
Sagan and Korolev* give a fixed amount in one turn which as it happens with democracy and Hong Kong to help can be an awful lot of production. Enough to in fact do all of the projects if you include the chops themselves. The trouble is you normally can only finish one project a turn but with chops it triggers another assessment and so yes you are right... you can wait 5 turns or chop them all in for 1 turn. That's really what its about... getting a lower turn score.

* doubled with mausoleum I believe

 

[DanaLea]

(I read the first 4 pages of posts, plus the last page)

Some great ideas here, but they don't align with my playstyle, so I'm wondering if anyone has some suggestions for getting science victory WITHOUT attacking anybody? I'll settle cities, but I don't attack any. I like peaceful games. Which civ is best for science in a peaceful game, with barb's turned off? I'm not too concerned about short vs long games. I haven't really found a civ that's set up for science.. Saladin is the closest with his +10 science with his worship building. Any other ideas?

EDIT: and help is still appreciated, but I did find this thread: https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/fastest-peaceful-science-victory.625110/

 

[stinkubus]

Try Rome. Those free monuments get you to Early Empire fast so you can claim all the good land around you, and the All Roads Lead to Rome bonus can help generate extra gold with a modest number of cities. If you are ok with wins in the T200-250 range Rome can get there will 10-15 good cities. Baths can really help you grow vertically, too, if you decide to go without conquest.

 

[dthompson32]

I've been trying to follow this and am testing out the various concepts. Turns out I have what is probably a very stupid question...

Why do I want to buy all the scientists? What do they actually DO?

I've got two extra scientists in my spaceport city (one in the city, one in the spaceport). I'm building the satellite project. I just switched to Democracy. There are no actions available to hurry the project.

I've read about 5 pages of this guide, and searched the online help file without finding any clues.

Help?

I guessing, unless I missed something, that I need to get the information age GSes, which is why I'm supposed to accumulate so much gold.

So I need to be picking up GSes along the way to get them "off the board" so to speak before I get to the point of buying them. I just spent 21K gold and wasn't able to get to the +100% space production GS, much less the others (I'm on Emperor).

Also there is clearly some trick everyone knows about chopping that I don't. I'm in the modern age and a jungle chop will yield 66 production. Not enough to hurry anything. When I see people say things like "4 chops to complete X" I'm not understanding where the multipliers are coming from to get those yields.

And I found Victoria's chopping example, which helps explain that part of it all.

So I think what I am getting out of all this is I want to chop campuses (at the right time), buy science buildings with faith, get as many GSes as possible along the way, then once the last tech for the SV is researched, build/chop the spaceport, buy the GSes until I have the ones that give the needed space project bonuses, then chop those projects to complete them?

 

[Victoria]

I just spent 21K gold and wasn't able to get to the +100% space production GS, much less the others

You need the great scientists... so you did not have enough money and in those cases you need to wait a few turns to get more money before you use Big Ben and also earn a scientists with projects.

buy science buildings with faith,

Save the fait for buying scientists also.

You are getting the idea now just fine. It takes practice to get to know what when, situations change so the jigsaw puzzle is not the same each time.

 

[i_imperator]

@civtrader6 I'm trying to play the Sumeria game in the first post but I cant figure out how you were able to attack Egypt through that terrain, im after loosing two warcarts after getting into the weat tile and being archered. I just went straight into warcarts, no 3 slingers/2 warriors. I tried that but I'm finding it too slow to do that, I cant get them out by turn 30. Have a save and an image here with my attack into Egypt for consideration.

This is the second time I have played this map, the first time I was able to get a T234 victory, my personal best, but I would like to improve on that.

And my pantheon in this game is divine spark, I got it on T17, goddess of the harvest was taken by then.