Tech Race

SIV · August 7, 2003, 12:32

I started in an isolated Island (hate this...the editor even managed to put me on a small paninusula at the tip, away from the center), so I went for map making and the GL. I managed to build it only to find all the AI's (all 5 of them) together (as always the Americans are twice as large as anyone else, including me...).

3 of them were scientific and one had the other GL (library), so they were far ahead of me.
Luckily ny Wrold Maps were worth something and I got about 5 techs with them and jumped to the middle ages, but they all got monotheism (and maybe even theolagy and beyond).
I have nothing to sell anymore, except for GPT.

So my question is should I pay for tech only to boost the AI research. or should I try to learn myself?
(regent level, can't upload save - unpatched)

SpencerH · August 7, 2003, 13:06

On regent as a republic or democracy, you should be able to catch up with and out-research the others civs, providing you have sufficient resources for a good number of cities/pop.

SIV · August 7, 2003, 13:18

Actually, by looking at my misrable island I can tell it won't have saltpepper, coal, and rubber (probebly)...
I guess I'm just paranoic becuase of my first regent game - also isolated...out-researched only in modern times (after an invasion) by steeling and almost lost...

jshelr · August 7, 2003, 13:23

Hi Spencer -- Shaka still awaits a resumed match!

Let me take the opposite viewpoint. From a position where you are behind, if you select civs that are not the tech leader and buy tech, you can catch up more rapidly. Doing it this way keeps the leader from gaining on the pack. France and Korea, by the way, seem to be the Wal-Mart price leaders in the tech market.

I view the tech race as like a bicycle race over flat ground. It's very hard to get and maintain a lead until the industrial era and "drafting" behind the tech leader is so easy that it allows you to focus resources on military, happiness, and money -- marketplaces and banks.

SpencerH · August 7, 2003, 14:27

I'm hoping to try again after 1.27 is out since they fixed some more bugs

Otherwise I'll wait for conquests before starting any more PBEM.

Buying techs is certainly fine so long as the AI will deal with you. If it happens that the AI takes a dislike to you and wont trade, and you havent built up a research infrastucture, then it can be trouble.

SIV it sounds like you're doing fine if you pulled out a come from behind win in your first regent game, especially if you had a poor start position.

Theseus · August 7, 2003, 19:45

Follow jshelr's drafting advice (starting with the weakest AI civs) and you'll be fine.

Oh, also... can we "techstortion"?

WarpStorm · August 7, 2003, 20:06

Of course you could just go to war before these resources become critical. You might even get some techs out of the losers as they sue for peace.

Panag · August 10, 2003, 07:35

hi ,

as always SIV , do you have a save or screenshot , ......

have a nice day

SIV · August 10, 2003, 12:18

Quote:

Originally posted by panag
hi ,

as always SIV , do you have a save or screenshot , ......

have a nice day

Too late, couldn't help it and played on...doing not bad at all now.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

johncmcleod · August 11, 2003, 01:09

Quote:

I view the tech race as like a bicycle race over flat ground. It's very hard to get and maintain a lead until the industrial era and "drafting" behind the tech leader is so easy that it allows you to focus resources on military, happiness, and money -- marketplaces and banks.

That's a very good analogy.

Lord_Davinator · August 11, 2003, 09:52

I concur

johncmcleod · August 11, 2003, 12:45

Lord Davinator can you see Everest from Kathmandu?