Why is the Internet still here?

[KMadCandy]

i used it once in an SG, it was quite handy! that's the only time i have tho.

duel map, Asoka and I were the only civs that ever existed. so in order for him to get a tech from the internet, he and i would both have to know it first. and it was a future start game. Warlords version, where you start out knowing everything but future tech. doubly useless, and definitely not the most efficient use of hammers in that situation! i guess he just wanted to make sure i didn't get it or something

edit: i just did a silly test, to see whether the Internet would grant you techs you don't know the pre-reqs for. i figured it would just give it to you, the internet is an exemption from needing pre-reqs maybe, and turns out that's true. i don't know if that situation is possible where it actually comes in the tech tree, but it is in the early game where so many techs have options, like writing is "you need to know AH or the wheel".

i modded the .xml to make the net have no tech pre-req and cost one hammer (since you can't add projects in WB, waaaaah), and it was my first build. deity game so that they'd know everything, of course it gave me all the starting techs and archery. then i went into WB, and gave saladin the wheel and Writing. then i gave zara AH and Writing. so they both knew writing, but got there by different pre-reqs that only they knew.

the internet gave me writing like i thought it would *giggle*. and since writing is the only pre-req for alphabet, and the game doesn't care if you have the pre-reqs for what you have already, i think i'll beeline for alphabet for tech trades, since obviously i'll be the tech leader with a start like this . or maybe i'll go back to the game i was really playing.

Spoiler :

 

[djjeffmaddox]

I always thought Civ IV really missed the scope of the internet. In my personal opinion, the internet is the next step of writing and information distribution technology. The internet should be considered a technology and it should be the next logical step up from printing press.

 

[methane]

The issue is that there have to be two other AIs with relevant techs that you don't have. The most common late game scenarios are that you're either tech leader, or chasing a single runaway AI, and in both cases the internet is useless..

Maybe on small maps, but on huge maps I generally have at least 2 civs who are within a handful of techs with me. Sometimes a leading AI civ will be feeding its colony high level techs as well. So if I'm getting internet I'll target its tech, then focus on going up another branch as far as I can go (maybe targeting the Space Elevator, maybe fusion). Even if I started out with 3 or so techs more than my nearest opponent, I'll still get many techs from it, as the AI's go up all the branches I'm not targeting.


The tech tree has many branches; if you think because you're ahead you can't get many techs out of this wonder, you need to think more of targeting your research up one branch. First get this tech earlier than you normally would, then go all the way up one branch you want while the AIs get everything else.

If you have multiple AIs ahead of you, getting the Internet is problematic anyway, and it's position on a non required tech means you need to be seriously behind for it to be worth it.

ehh, if you target the tech you can get it while they're researching other stuff. Even if you're behind you can get it...neglect stuff that isn't on a direct line for the tech and you don't need immediately (flight, artillery, fission, rocketry, etc). All this stuff will be given to you once you complete the Internet. You seem to be waiting to get this tech about the same time the AI's do, in which case you likely have more or less the same techs. The internet won't benefit you much there. If you get it early, you'll have all the prereqs that the AIs won't have, then the internet will fill in lots of other techs the AIs have.

To sum up: if you don't target the internet early, of course it's not going to be a big benefit; if you do it can be huge boost.

 

[Quagga]

Those three wonders that go obsolete with Computers: I probably don't have them (unless I captured them) and so I'm not worried about that. I do worry about somebody invading me, so I am doing Computers -> Robotics.

I've had a couple games where I went for the Internet then picked up a bunch of military techs from it, while I concentrated on Space Ship techs. Is the Internet useful every time? No. Maybe mostly not. But it can be useful, which may be more than one can say about some of the other wonders.

I did have one game where I was so far ahead that I built the Internet just for denial. I got one tech from it: Divine Right.

 

[RockTheCazbah87]

I can't believe it survived 3 editions of this game.

If you were so far behind to get any benefit from it at such a late stage in the game you won't have the time or resources to devote to building it.

It is strange it doesn't deliver any cultural or economic benefit as it does in the real world. Or a more useful scientific benefit.

Meh.

Have a look at Sisiutil's ALC game, the one where he played as Hannibal. Then you'll see its uses.

 

[Swein Forkbeard]

I think I'm going to have to create a game where I beeline Computers and only research techs on the way. (Known as the "Al Gore" challenge) Who do you think would be the best leader for this? I'm thinking Darius.

 

[RockTheCazbah87]

^

Darius is a tech beast. I'd choose him if I were participating in your bizarre 'quest'.

Which I'm not. But hey!

 

[Gooblah]

Wow. I would read this.
Suggested Settings:
Map: Pangaea/Fractal
Size: Huge
Suggested Opponents: Mansa Musa, other tech fiends, some Aggressive leaders
Suggested Civ: Someone Financial to keep up to a point with other civs
Suggested Options:
No Tech Trading (that'll keep your beeline pure)
Aggressive AI (way more of a challenge; Computers beeline is tough)