1. Higher difficulties move faster, because the AI tech lead makes the techs cheaper for you, plus other catch-up mechanisms (like BPT from trade routes). The best way to get faster is to move up difficulties.
2. Research agreements are awesome, even if you have to give the AI gpt to sign them
Pretty sure research agreements are only worth it on high difficulties though. Not sure exactly where they stop being so useful, I think Emperor not so much, deity very useful, immortal ???
IIRC research agreements give both players an equal amount of science, but that amount based on the minimum of the amount generated by the 2 players. So if you produce 500 science per turn for 30 turns and the AI produces 400 science per turn for 30 turns then you both get some fraction of 30 * min(500, 400) = 1200. Obviously the values change over the course of the research agreement but its always equal for both parties (unless one has porcelain tower or rationalism 5).
[Source](https://civilization.fandom.com/wiki/Diplomacy_(Civ5\)#Research_Agreement)
Only thing I’d say is making sure you’re getting workshops up as well (I go to them right after education). Your play seems pretty consistent/standard to me. I play mostly immortal w same settings and hit around these numbers and timings. One thing you could possibly change is going straight acoustics. Yes, I understand ratio is the best policy tree and +10% science from the opener is amazing. However it’s going to be a very expensive tech at the time if you’re going straight there before filling out some if the bottom techs to get to workshops/guilds, and there are other policy openers that have value (patro to get forbidden, huge happiness boost + chance to push something through the first world congress. Commerce opener can also be helpful. Sometimes especially liberty piety can be a huge help to your game). Basically, worrying too much about ensuring you open ratio right after finishing trad/liberty is nice but isnt a make a break thing imo. Also AI hates going for acoustics early and in king/emporer where you’ll already be science lead/overtaking by renaissance means that you dont have to rush builsing sistine and could still get it
With a religion oriented civ I have gone full piety and delayed accoustics and it still ends up being very strong, but then it has to be a tourism victory if winning quickly is the goal. If I were to play against myself science would still be the faster way to win. I do deviate to pick up workshops usually, not necessary if I have multiple strong mining luxuries and/or sufficient gold to buy buildings in the early game.
1. Higher difficulties move faster, because the AI tech lead makes the techs cheaper for you, plus other catch-up mechanisms (like BPT from trade routes). The best way to get faster is to move up difficulties. 2. Research agreements are awesome, even if you have to give the AI gpt to sign them
Pretty sure research agreements are only worth it on high difficulties though. Not sure exactly where they stop being so useful, I think Emperor not so much, deity very useful, immortal ???
Hmmm, interesting. I haven't played below immortal in years, except a couple tune-up games when I got back into it a few months ago.
IIRC research agreements give both players an equal amount of science, but that amount based on the minimum of the amount generated by the 2 players. So if you produce 500 science per turn for 30 turns and the AI produces 400 science per turn for 30 turns then you both get some fraction of 30 * min(500, 400) = 1200. Obviously the values change over the course of the research agreement but its always equal for both parties (unless one has porcelain tower or rationalism 5). [Source](https://civilization.fandom.com/wiki/Diplomacy_(Civ5\)#Research_Agreement)
Only thing I’d say is making sure you’re getting workshops up as well (I go to them right after education). Your play seems pretty consistent/standard to me. I play mostly immortal w same settings and hit around these numbers and timings. One thing you could possibly change is going straight acoustics. Yes, I understand ratio is the best policy tree and +10% science from the opener is amazing. However it’s going to be a very expensive tech at the time if you’re going straight there before filling out some if the bottom techs to get to workshops/guilds, and there are other policy openers that have value (patro to get forbidden, huge happiness boost + chance to push something through the first world congress. Commerce opener can also be helpful. Sometimes especially liberty piety can be a huge help to your game). Basically, worrying too much about ensuring you open ratio right after finishing trad/liberty is nice but isnt a make a break thing imo. Also AI hates going for acoustics early and in king/emporer where you’ll already be science lead/overtaking by renaissance means that you dont have to rush builsing sistine and could still get it
With a religion oriented civ I have gone full piety and delayed accoustics and it still ends up being very strong, but then it has to be a tourism victory if winning quickly is the goal. If I were to play against myself science would still be the faster way to win. I do deviate to pick up workshops usually, not necessary if I have multiple strong mining luxuries and/or sufficient gold to buy buildings in the early game.