tips for rapid science rate and lots of gold?

[snazzyjoe]

I'm pretty new to Civ3, having only played it for a couple months. I've stayed on Chieftain so far, aside from a few moderately successful warlord games, trying to perfect my techniques before I plunge into anything too challenging. My question, then, is how does everyone else seem to do so much better with their science rate and gold income? I see screenshots where people have 20,000 gold and are building nukes in the 1500s... how is this possible, especially in harder levels, when I can't even reach it in Chieftain? I trade and sell techs and try to maximize my efforts and still hit the modern era no sooner than the 1800s. And my treasury doesn't start to take off until about then either. What is the magic formula or mode of operation to get things done so quickly?

 

[morkaphi]

At lower levels, the AI does not enjoy advantages at production and research, so you often find yourself the tech leader, that is, you do all the research without AI's help. With the bonuses AI has at higher levels, it's way easier for AI to build the infrastructure, thus the world moves faster. It's pretty common to reach modern times in the 1400s or 1500s, while the human player falls way behind.

By the way, IMHO, being peaceful and under democracy should be the key for rapid science advances and lots of $$$. Also, don't forget to build roads/railroads and improve your cities.

 

[Titan2018]

One method I've found quite useful is to sell tech in exchange for gold each turn. If the amount is large enough I can put the science slider up a notch or two while they are forced to cut back to pay my extortionate fee. Sometimes (usually late in the game) I can can manage to get a couple techs ahead of the pack.
Another crucial point to get a jump is during you Golden Age. Try to time your GA for after you've finished your peaceful expansion phase.

 

[cwood]

put the peoples happiness meter all the way down and science half way on the science meter. yu could mine .

 

[BillChin]

On lower levels the best idea is to expand fast. For novice players, learning to build granaries in every river city early will give a tremendous boost to their game. Pottery at 100% research with a granary prebuild (switching from a settler or barracks or temple) in the capital are a good way to boost production from the get go. Another tip for novices is to build lots of roads, because of the +1 gold bonus for roads.

On Regent, and Monarch, one trick for faster research is to give away techs so the AI can help research. This is for experienced players, not novices, as giving stuff away means a player has to have a decent lead in terms of empire size.

On higher levels (Emperor, Deity), many players set research to zero and trade for techs. The trick is to buy a new tech the first turn one of the AIs gets it and trade it to the other AIs. This usually involves checking every AI every turn, so can get tedious.
+ Bill

 

[Darkness]

Originally posted by BillChin
This usually involves checking every AI every turn, so can get tedious.

I'd say this qualifies as the understatement of the year....

Still, the advice is good...

 

[MajorFallout]

Another point, is that you should build quite a lot of workers, so that you can improve your cities' surroundings in a fairly short space of time.

Expansion & population is the name of the game in the early years.

 

[lord42]

Try playing as the Greeks. Their bonuses are for these things.

 

[amirsan]

I think playing as the Koreans is better than the Greek if you have PTW. Same charecteristics but a better UU.

 

[Titan2018]

Oh, one thing i forgot to add. As soon as the game starts I crank the science slider up to 90% (so I can still so cash). As the game goes on I only put it down if i'm losing money or I need more funds for happiness.

 

[Darkness]

Originally posted by amirsan
I think playing as the Koreans is better than the Greek if you have PTW. Same charecteristics but a better UU.

Please explain to me why an industrial age artillery UU is better than a cheap defensive UU, available from the start of the game, which is as strong as a pikeman and requires no resource?

 

[cwood]

i like the Americans myself. i winning i took out like 8 of 12 civs with them. 3 at the beginning.

 

[nyboy10128]

I don't think you'll ever get 20,000 gold on chieftain or warlord. The only way to do this is through trade. But at those levels, the other civs are small compared to what they would be on the higher levels so they don't have much to trade. Also the ai researchs very slowly at lower levels so you're stuck spending alot on research if you want to get anywhere. As you move up in difficulty you'll get more gold. The key strategy on monarch and higher is to set your research to zero. Sounds stupid but it works. you'll rapidly accumulate lots of gold. You can then buy the techs and turn around and sell them to other civs for gpt. Works great!

 

[amirsan]

Originally posted by Darkness


Please explain to me why an industrial age artillery UU is better than a cheap defensive UU, available from the start of the game, which is as strong as a pikeman and requires no resource?

It is way much better for Builders not Wormongers. An artillery is like the best battle modifier in the game!!! It's like an Industrialized Artillery!!! Personally I dont like niether one of them, I think Industrious and Scientific is better. Getting those roads early is vital for you cash flow.