Tech requirements

[Felgar]

I find it kind of funny that in a game supposedly so streamlined and made simpler in so many ways, that the tech tree has so many complex rules built into it. Maybe they didn't expect people to sit down and try figuring out all the nuances??? But c'mon, these are Civ players we're talking about!!!

Anyways, really good job from everyone contributing to the knowledge base on this topic...

 

[donpost]

... I am working on the theory that any time you complete a tech, you get backfilled, for a cost of 0 beakers, any techs which are so cheap that you could research them in one turn. ...

Great work all - at this rate you'll have everything figured out before the game even comes out in the US

I don't think the idea I've quoted is true - when using the mega city tactic there are lots of techs that you can research in one turn, but I didn't notice them all backfilling.

 

[The_Tuck]

It's really not THAT difficult. And usually the numbers are simple to figure out.

For example, if you study pottery and have a choice between 5 turns to learn Masonry and 11 turns to learn Irrigation, then you can study Masonry and learn Irrigation 6 turns later. It makes the decision pretty clear if you want the population bonus from Irrigation, right? Assuming you look at the tech tree...

Also, it makes sense that certain technologies are barred until a later age. Who wants knights running over their basic warriors and archers 7 turns after their opponent learns horseback riding?

I'm sure most of this will be explained in the civilopedia and is only confusing because of the demo's limited version.

 

[sigmakan]

I'm sure most of this will be explained in the civilopedia and is only confusing because of the demo's limited version.

That statement is incorrect. Civ is notorious for having civilopedias that only explain half the game mechanics.

 

[PaperBeetle]

Great work all - at this rate you'll have everything figured out before the game even comes out in the US

I don't think the idea I've quoted is true - when using the mega city tactic there are lots of techs that you can research in one turn, but I didn't notice them all backfilling.

I'm afraid you are correct, and I am once again stumped as to what triggers backfilling. The game is currently stubbornly refusing to gift me Burial, even though I have now completed a couple of techs with 30-beaker turns. I have Pots, Burial's only prereq. I also have Feudalism, but neither Monarchy nor Religion. There is one civ who does have Burial, but whenever I speak to him about buying techs he claims to be proud but ignorant.

Edit update: I just got that free Burial I was after, finishing Construction with a 32-beaker turn, a 12 beaker over-run.

Also, it makes sense that certain technologies are barred until a later age. Who wants knights running over their basic warriors and archers 7 turns after their opponent learns horseback riding?

Errrmmmm.... that would be me. I want to be the guy with knights running over their basic warriors and archers 7 turns after I learn Riding.

 

[sigmakan]

Ok I think I figured out the backfill. I noticed that it only happens with techs that other civs have. So my guess is that there are two requirements:
1) Must be able to be research in 1 turn
2) Atleast 1 (maybe more) has to have it as well

The reason that HBR IW and CB happen so often is because the AI really likes those techs, but likes to avoid alphabet. You'll notice that you'll never get a backfill on a tech that still has a (1) on in it the tech tree cause that means no other civ has it.

Test it out just to make sure.

 

[KrikkitTwo]

One other question, does it actually give it to you for free?
or does it just 'autodeduct' the cost from your research. (or a cerain amount from your research)


The final thing is do you have a certain amount of research more than the cost (ie not just 1x (enough to do it in 1 turn) but say 3x

 

[sigmakan]

I'm not really sure. How it might even work is if you have 60 beakers of overflow it might give you irrigation instead of converting that to gold. But I'm 95% positive that it will never backfill a technology that other civs dont have.

 

[KrikkitTwo]

Wait... overflow gets converted to gold??? I'm almost certain beaker overflow was just applied to whatever your next tech was?

 

[sigmakan]

Pure gold. Its the only way I make it past the 250gold tier. I never work gold, I rely on overflow