The Tech Tree - Why Bother?

[Maxym]

I think an epic game at even slightly higher difficulty the the one you usually okay at will reveal how important tech tree focus is. It will also allow time to get most use out of every advantage you manage to achieve. I have never played a marathon game before but started one recently and was amazed how huge early construction turned out to be.

I thought I can take out my nearest neighbor Siam, don't want him around when he can get those elephants, but soon realized I can also get a 2nd one too (Hiawatha b4 he get Mohawks and trying to squeeze in a quick assault on Kyoto before the CBs are ineffective) and it's not like they were close, it's a huge emperor pangea.

 

[JohnYoga]

I can see that, Maxym. I doubt I would ever play on Epic. I am hotseating a Quick Game, and we are closing-in on 50 hours. I would guess Epic would take 500!

Regards,

Marc

 

[Buccaneer]

I did a beeline test on Deity, standard speed, getting to Machinery. What I found that, indeed, you can go to Medieval while ignoring part of Ancient and most of Classical. That's not my usual tech style but I do like the choices and the consequences to do so (i.e., it was a risk that didn't pan out).

 

[bison21]

What an interesting point to raise. I think it is one of these aspects of a game of which you think they are not providing any options, but actually they are, just in a more subtle way. The more you allow for teching one way with ignoring a different branch altogether, the more the game becomes city building rather than strategy. I also fail to see how this has happened in real life. Surely what CiV is undermining is the link between techs and type of governance (if one were to argue that the game should mimick real life).
As for spies, I find them wayyy too powerful. You can catch up with the tech leader so quickly especially in renaissance - to - industrial times when they don't have that many constabularies. Nothing is more annoying than having the backward civ you are at war with stealing it all and upgrading while you march into their territory. Ugh!

 

[JohnYoga]

Hello Bison,

Tech Stealing happens in real life; I am happy to see that spies have this stealing ability; I wish they were more powerful. Or, at least make the higher power a toggle in the game (like Raging Barbs).

I was thinking that, say, Scouts could act like spies in the early game? Don't know if this is s good idea in game play or not. If it may be, make it another toggle option.

At least at the speed (Quick) I play, you cannot get very far before you have to backtrack and "fill-in" the other techs, making my initial comment germane. I would guess the slower the game pace, the less subtle and more impactful tech windows of opportunity are and help to determine your winning or losing the game for you.

Thanks for your comments.

Marc

 

[Donaskme]

If u dont care which techs u tech just click at future tech one once at turn 0 and u r free from this silly micromanagment task.

Well said!

 

[JohnYoga]

Originally Posted by tommynt
If u dont care which techs u tech just click at future tech one once at turn 0 and u r free from this silly micromanagment task.

Well said!

I think I will do this while I am on the Quick setting. As I learned from the good folks here, I will need to not do this at slower speeds. Also, I read here that the Tech Tree matters increasingly so at higher difficulties.

Marc

 

[Fluffball]

Originally Posted by tommynt
If u dont care which techs u tech just click at future tech one once at turn 0 and u r free from this silly micromanagment task.

Well said!

I think I will do this while I am on the Quick setting. As I learned from the good folks here, I will need to not do this at slower speeds. Also, I read here that the Tech Tree matters increasingly so at higher difficulties.

Marc

I would shy away from doing that if you ever plan to progress up the levels especially and/or might start playing at slower speeds as learning to understand the tech tree while you are free to play with it a lot more and not find yourself in a hole will help you greatly when you do step up rather than moving up and finding yourself way out of your depth.

 

[JohnYoga]

I would shy away from doing that if you ever plan to progress up the levels especially and/or might start playing at slower speeds as learning to understand the tech tree while you are free to play with it a lot more and not find yourself in a hole will help you greatly when you do step up rather than moving up and finding yourself way out of your depth.

It doesn't matter at Quick. I don't know if it matters at Normal, either. To me its a distraction and means very little. It is as annoying as endless clicking your workers... Longer time spans, sure...

m

 

[Donaskme]

It doesn't matter at Quick.

I believe you could go into Advanced Settings, and set "Maximum Turns" to "1", and have some very rapid games with guaranteed points victory. Virtually no micromanagement of any sort.

 

[JohnYoga]

Don't understand your comment. Are you being a wise ass?

 

[Donaskme]

Are you being a wise ass?

Who, me? No, I'd never do that.

 

[manu-fan]

If u dont care which techs u tech just click at future tech one once at turn 0 and u r free from this silly micromanagment task.

Guess that should save u lots of time.

u r welcome btw

other solution might be to .. eh no you will be fine like this

One thing that has been bothering me. If you can't be bothered to type, why should we be bothered to read?

Cheers.

 

[JohnYoga]

Actually, you do bring up a good point, though. When playing with my daughter, if she doesn't want to sit through another 50 hour game, we can cut the turns down a bit. Cutting down the turns may help with some of the online MP games with family we'll go through, too.

Marc

 

[Moriarte]

One should expect silly answers if he asks silly questions. Were you expecting people defending variety and strategic importance of certain tech paths? You could ask a question or share your view regarding certain strategy (in strategy section, i might add) or just go: "Hey guys, i think tech tree is useless".

This discussion is pointless, you can see it from most answers to your question

 

[Donaskme]

When playing with my daughter, if she doesn't want to sit through another 50 hour game

I have a better idea. Let your daughter play her own game, and you play your own game, because she's a child and you're an adult.

Then, put the difficulty on "King" (normal difficulty), map size "Tiny", game speed "Standard", default number of turns. Choose anything you like for the rest. Now, on turn 1 open the Tech Tree, scroll all the way to the right, and click "Future Tech". You are now done with managing technology.

Go ahead and play out the game, pursuing any victory condition you desire, and let us know how it goes. Shouldn't take more than three or four hours.

 

[JohnYoga]

I think you're missing the point as to why I am playing with her...

 

[Donaskme]

I think you're missing the point as to why I am playing with her...

I don't care why you're playing with her.

 

[JohnYoga]

Moderator - close this thread.

I think good points were brought out, it's getting to the point of not adding value.

Marc

 

[Buccaneer]

The tech tree is one of the core pieces to strategy and winning of a Civilization game. There are, however, other games that doesn't have a tech tree or units to move around or opponents to play against and those might be better suited.