Wanted: Tips to improve Science/Techs when playing Immortal/Diety

[josephrandall]

I recently got into the CBP, I am an experienced Civ player with about 850 hours played. I started playing CBP on Immortal, but I'm having difficulties keeping up in Techs.
I play a non aggressive style, focusing on protecting my borders rather than conquering the AI.
I try to focus on science buildings as early as possible, and try to work as many science specialists as possible.
I plant all scientists until roughly the industrial era.
I have used both Tradition and Process policy trees, depending on which Civ I choose.
I don't span settlers so my tech cost doesn't increase rapidly.
I adopt rationalism as my Renaissance policy tree.

I still find myself in last place in techs by the mid Industrial era. Usually 14 techs behind the leader.
I usually end up stopping my campaign by then because it feels like I'm falling further behind in techs, not catching up.

What are some tips to compete in Techs on Immortal/Diety ?, should these difficulty levels only really be used for conquering the AI?

 

[tu_79]

The key to research fast is... focus in culture! Surprised?
Then hear this: the key to win scientifically is to be good at everything and meddle in other's affairs so they cannot win and you get to launch the rocket.

EDIT. Oh, and a religion really helps. If only for faith buying GP.

 

[Horvath Broncos]

I don't know how much this will help but I try to settle near as much forest as possible and to chop as few of them as possible. Forest tile with Herbalist, workshop, lumberyard and university is a killer tile. And you can easily work a lot of those without sacrificing a lot of growth.

 

[tu_79]

I don't know how much this will help but I try to settle near as much forest as possible and to chop as few of them as possible. Forest tile with Herbalist, workshop, lumberyard and university is a killer tile. And you can easily work a lot of those without sacrificing a lot of growth.

Except that a triangle with farms in fresh water gives so much food, that you can feed more specialists that later help to build things like Academies, that villages gives lots of culture to help progress through policies and picking Rationalism makes villages too good, and that research comes easier with the correct policies.

Trees are good for a while after universities, but then you need the tile for something else (new resources, farm adjacent, villages). So yeah, don't chop trees if not necessary, but don't relay on them too much, unless your are Brazil or any other civ that benefits from trees (Shoshone? Celts?).

Also, there's a hidden scientific building: The Zoo. You need to build the previous happiness buildings, and may think that the zoo is also about happiness. Wrong. It has a science specialist slot.

 

[Horvath Broncos]

Except that a triangle with farms in fresh water gives so much food, that you can feed more specialists that later help to build things like Academies, that villages gives lots of culture to help progress through policies and picking Rationalism makes villages too good, and that research comes easier with the correct policies.

Trees are good for a while after universities, but then you need the tile for something else (new resources, farm adjacent, villages). So yeah, don't chop trees if not necessary, but don't relay on them too much, unless your are Brazil or any other civ that benefits from trees (Shoshone? Celts?).

Also, there's a hidden scientific building: The Zoo. You need to build the previous happiness buildings, and may think that the zoo is also about happiness. Wrong. It has a science specialist slot.

I have realized lately that you don't really need that many farms to be worked. In my latest game I have a kick ass capital and I work zero farms. Just forests and mines, villages and camp or two and still grow and have a huge production and plenty of specialists. One or two internal trade routes can give enough boost to your growth

 

[Stalker0]

I'm playing King and I have the exact same problem. I just can't seem to keep up with the AI in tech by Industrial, normally a good 6-8 techs behind.

 

[tu_79]

I have realized lately that you don't really need that many farms to be worked. In my latest game I have a kick ass capital and I work zero farms. Just forests and mines, villages and camp or two and still grow and have a huge production and plenty of specialists. One or two internal trade routes can give enough boost to your growth

That may be truth for your capital, but not for every city. If you are in the positive happiness numbers, you have room to grow.

 

[Stalker0]

I'm reaching out to get some help on this subject myself. Having heard some of the posts around here, its clear that I am doing something wrong when it comes to science.

I play on King, and by Industrial I am normally a good 6-8 techs behind everyone else....normally bottom of the tech pool. This occurs even when I build every science building, use scientists specialist, pick religion that boosts science, and go rationalism with villages.

So I'm really not sure what I am doing wrong. Maybe a better question is, for those of you able to get tech parity...what era that happen for you? Sometimes I wonder if I'm just not playing through enough because I feel so far behind.

 

[ExpiredReign]

I'm reaching out to get some help on this subject myself. Having heard some of the posts around here, its clear that I am doing something wrong when it comes to science.

I play on King, and by Industrial I am normally a good 6-8 techs behind everyone else....normally bottom of the tech pool. This occurs even when I build every science building, use scientists specialist, pick religion that boosts science, and go rationalism with villages.

So I'm really not sure what I am doing wrong. Maybe a better question is, for those of you able to get tech parity...what era that happen for you? Sometimes I wonder if I'm just not playing through enough because I feel so far behind.

One aspect of Science that I had trouble getting my head around at first was the way other AI contact plays in this.
Many times I found myself behind because I was on a landmass either alone or just one other and the rest of the world was "learning from each other".

I place myself in the same skill level as you, based on your description, and I usually am able to catch up, or surpass, the AI by the Renaissance.
Having come back to this mod only recently myself, only a few months ago, the learning curve was very steep but once you find the balance it is very good.

EDIT:
Just re-read your OP and the topic title and I should clarify: I don't play anything above Emperor, mostly King, so all I've said should be disregarded or at least tempered with that understanding.
BTW, the skill levels of VP are not analogous with Vanilla CivV.

 

[Stalker0]

EDIT:
Just re-read your OP and the topic title and I should clarify: I don't play anything above Emperor, mostly King, so all I've said should be disregarded or at least tempered with that understanding.
BTW, the skill levels of VP are not analogous with Vanilla CivV.

hehe I actually do play king I just piggy backed on this one. I guess I should make my own thread for king to avoid confusion.