after a long time, I'm back

[rah]

The research rate is really not important. What is important is who many science beakers you're cranking a turn. If I'm running the civic REP for +3 beakers per specialist, I may run as low as 30%. When not in rep, I like to run around 70% with a + cash flow. Once I'm at +9 or a better, I figure I can afford a new city. But remember, this is not written in stone. I may have just got 400 gold for no longer being able to produce a wonder so I have plenty of excess gold and be willing to run in the red or just build another city. If working on a tech critical for weapons or wonders, I'll run in the red if I have to. Or If I'm collecting continual dollars trashing enemy cities, I may keep a few or build a new one. It all depends.

If I'm on the march, my % may drop as low as 20 or 10% temporarily. Of course after each wave of expansion I'll usually pause while my economy catches up. (whipping courthouses in cities captured and other buildings to help)

Each circumstance is different and people apply different strats.

But in summary, the % doesn't matter as long as you're cranking beakers or momentarily expanding.

[Blaupanzer]

So, FB, what do you think of Civ 4 BTS?

[Theben]

If you can get the Pyramids and switch to Representation, build libraries and have enough food to support 2 scientists. That's +15 per city and early game you can lower your science rate to 0% and still out tech the AI easily... especially with more cities. Then monasteries will help a lot. I've got an MP game going with my friend and he had a great start as a FIN civ, while my land is resource-poor (all deer, corn, sheep, and seafood). But I did also have stone, and I got 2 religions +1 more from an AI. I figure 12 with a +55% bonus per city will help me catch up to him quickly.

[rah]

you should join us on Friday or saturday nights.

[Theben]

Why, running out of easy targets for early rushes?

[rah]

Why is your primary build worker, settler, warrior?

[Theben]

Warrior, work boat, or worker 1st, depending.

[rah]

So much for the super early rush. We have players that go worker first and then complain when a single warrior comes in and takes their cap.

Of course there should be a priority in connecting metal or horses early.

[Theben]

In that case I'd probably explore with my 1st warrior but keep him close to home for the 1st few turns.

[Ming]

In SP, it's easy to get away with building a worker or work boat first. In MP, unless I'm buried in the corner of the board and I can see something coming from miles away, I will almost always build a warrior first. There is nothing worse than having a great start and being knocked out of the game early by a wondering warrior.

[Theben]

Probably wondering so much that he wandered into your capital by accident.

[rah]

Especially if you settled on a hill, so the warrior can see into your cap from the angle and know it's empty.

[Theben]

If the angle is a hill, you get the same thing.

[rah]

Dat true.