The Cost of Research Explained

[SlowThinker]

A couple of questions:
Is there a way how to find the power rating of an AI civ? (I have MPE and want to help to speed up the research of an AI that works on a tech that I want.)
Is there a way how to find out my power rating before any contact?

[solo]

When invoking the foreign advisor, your power rating along with your reputation is displayed. The left hand side of AI diplomacy screens give a clue to their power ratings. Count the number of weapons displayed there:

0 - pathetic
1 - weak
etc.

[SlowThinker]

Thank you.

Is there a way how to find out my power rating before any contact?

'before any contact' - I meant the beginning of the game when the F3 key answers 'we have not made any contact with another civ yet'.

[Scouse Gits]

ST - You can gain some indication but it may be considered a cheat.

Retire from the game and one of the screens which follow will show your position on the Powergraph.

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SG(2)

[SlowThinker]

I consider it a cheat.

[solo]

Yes, retiring would be a cheat, but sometimes the game will announce a comparison of some sort, i.e. richest, most powerful, etc., and these rankings are apt to be fairly close to the power ratings.

[RGBVideo]

Hmmh... somehow, It feels like I would've seen this thread before...

[SlowThinker]

Tuomerehu, I admit I don't undestand

[SlowThinker]

Originally posted by solo
Yes, retiring would be a cheat, but sometimes the game will announce a comparison of some sort, i.e. richest, most powerful, etc., and these rankings are apt to be fairly close to the power ratings.

I think only the most powerful refers to the Power ranking...
Info: Statistic

[Elephant]

Originally posted by SlowThinker
A couple of questions:
Is there a way how to find the power rating of an AI civ? (I have MPE and want to help to speed up the research of an AI that works on a tech that I want.)
Is there a way how to find out my power rating before any contact?

ST - you can improve the AI's speed of research by tech-gifting ITS KeyCiv (not your own) if you can figure it out. If you have MarcoPolo you are set. Visit the AI and note their PowerRating from the left hand panel. Then use the KeyCiv list to find their KeyCiv and tech-bomb them. This should drive the number of beakers they need down. You could also try gifting them Writing and University, although this is not guaranteed. What usually works wonders is gifting them Republic. Also seems to calm them down a bit too, even the Mongols. If you are allied you can move a Settler or Engineer to their territory and improve the terrain around their cities, but be warned that the AI loves food and so may change a Silk back to Wheat! In the first Early Landing game I was quite frustrated by the Mongols irrigating the Gems into grassland...

I do not know of any power ratings before first contact beyond guessing from the Demographics screen and interpreting the occasional "Pliny says..." pop-ups. Early first contact is crucial. Black-click if possible, and send a city's first Warrior out to explore while keeping the 2nd home for martial law. The average city should be able to pump out two Warriors before increasing to size 2. If you can have 4 cities in Despo before unrest you can have Warriors exploring in 4 directions. If huts are on, whenever you get a mercenary unit check whether it is supported by one of your cities. If not, there is an AI city nearby. Disband the Warrior and look around...

[SlowThinker]

Originally posted by solo
When invoking the foreign advisor, your power rating along with your reputation is displayed. The left hand side of AI diplomacy screens give a clue to their power ratings. Count the number of weapons displayed there:
0 - pathetic 1 - weak etc.

Originally posted by Elephant
Visit the AI and note their PowerRating from the left hand panel.

I can't find anything. Do you mean the area where pictures of cities are shown? Each civ has some strange number - 0, 0, 3, 3, 3, 4 ...

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Elephant,
up to 4 cities I use warriors only for exploring city placements. I think everything must go to speed up founding new cities.

[Bloody Monk]

up to 4 cities I use warriors only for exploring city placements. I think everything must go to speed up founding new cities.

Slow, founding new cities is important, yes indeed. When you begin to actually play full games, I think you will discover the value of early exploration, meet and greet, making alliances and getting maps. Both are necessary, especially in early landing games, though, I agree that MPE is very helpful.

Monk

[TimTheEnchanter]

Originally posted by SlowThinker
I can't find anything. Do you mean the area where pictures of cities are shown? Each civ has some strange number - 0, 0, 3, 3, 3, 4 ...

I think he's referring to when you actually meet with the "emissary". There is a box on the left of the screen with 0 to 6 "spears". Zero Spears means you are talking to the pathetic civ, 6 spears means you are talking to the Supreme civ. Everything else falls inbetween accordingly.

[solo]

Right, when you contact an AI, their diplomacy screen appears, where the spears can be seen in the box on the left. Before choosing which AI to contact, the top of Foreign Advisor screen displays your own power rating and reputation.

[Elephant]

...But not on First Contact...

ST- There is also a checkbox under Game-Graphic Options that says Diplomacy Screen. Could this be off?