Era speed / scientific researching & resources/improvements

[[PCP] Ardygon]

I feel like the end-game eras just fly by. There's no time to build up your cities/armies up to the standard of the era. Another thing i question is, why does it take the same amount of time to build a building as it does to finish a science research?

I feel that the whole science part of the game has been neglected. The first era's just feel longer because there's more things to discover. For example, let's say i have 8 cities and i want to upgrade them all with up-to-date improvements while keeping my army updated., then i won't even be able to finish 1 city before the era is over.

This makes the nations that are focused on late game totally useless.

IMO, the eras and scientific research needs to be overhauled.

PS. Also, the micromanagement is INSANE. There's just too many resources to think about.

[Brakiros]

Era 3 has plenty of balance issues. I had already won the game by the Machine Age it just makes everything in Era 3 feel irrelevant like it's not going to be used, I did manage to fully build out all 8 of my cities but I had no armies my loyal level 4 swordsmen mixed in with my level two lancers. Along with my cities that are powered by fusion reactors lol

[Akadai]

I have to agree with this. I'm going through research so fast, I'm constantly playing catchup in my empire. I barely even have time to build new military units, because it distracts from upgrading buildings. By the time I'm ready to deploy a new formation, the units have already become outdated (or will be shortly), and with no way to upgrade current units, this makes the whole thing even worse. I've finished research faster than some cities even upgrades/builds a single building

I honestly don't see my self playing another round of this game till it gets more patches and balance passes

[Wylding]

This is just 1 of many QoL we need.

[Bulldog]

The problem is that discoveries do not take long enough, resulting in the time periods
moving too fast

[SmlehliW]

Originally posted by Bulldog:

The problem is that discoveries do not take long enough, resulting in the time periods
moving too fast

... but i invest much in research to keep it high as possible ...

[alexleshok]

Originally posted by Bulldog:

The problem is that discoveries do not take long enough, resulting in the time periods
moving too fast

The problem is also in tech cost progression - a big difference between acts, but only slight increase within acts. And the last era of an act has less technologies and less incentive to all-in research since many things are unlocked earlier.

So the first era of a given act lasts long but the last era of a given act is short due to roughly the same tech cost. And if let's say any Early Medieval Tech takes 7-9 turns to research, any Enlightenment Tech (considering I'm investing into Science moderately) is completed in just 3-5 turns. A first era of the next Act will provide significant tech cost increase though, but not in it the succeeding eras. A continous at least linear (mebbe even exponential) tech cost is required. And to let the tall empire keep up with the wide ones - offsetting infinite growth a la Civ III or Civ VI a negative scientific modifier is required basing on city numbers (Civ V BNW style - each city increases tech cost).

So my suggestions are:
1. A tech slider/game speed setting. I find Millennia slow speed style a perfect solution - double tech costs but increase production costs by 50%. The exact xml values do require balancing though (Millennia is "a bit different" game)
2. Make tech costs scale upon number of cities (each city makes techs more expensive by X%). X should scale with map size, game length, anything else of importance.
3. Make tech costs increase not between acts but within acts (between eras) so number of turns per tech remains constant ONLY IF A PLAYER actually pays attention to his scientific investments (buildings, amenities, experts).

[Arctuhris]

Agreed.

Having military unit and infrastructure in the same build queue is always a mistake. Army size is already limited by Force Limit. It's crazy to think a civilization can't train soldiers and build a granary (or whatever) at the same time.

[archonsod]

Originally posted by PCP Ardygon:

The first era's just feel longer because there's more things to discover. For example, let's say i have 8 cities and i want to upgrade them all with up-to-date improvements while keeping my army updated., then i won't even be able to finish 1 city before the era is over.

What's the research output of those cities versus their city build production and city craft production? To an extent you're always going to bump into the issue for the simple fact that there's no one tech that advances an era, and if the last tech you pick in an era unlocks a unit then you're obviously not going to have time to build any before the end of the era. How long it takes your city to build something though is entirely down to it's production value, and how quickly you research comes down to research output. If your 8 cities are all putting out high research but have low production values then obviously you're going to be learning tech quicker than they can build it. Focus on boosting build production and less knowledge/research and the opposite will become true.

[[PCP] Ardygon]

Originally posted by archonsod:

Originally posted by PCP Ardygon:

The first era's just feel longer because there's more things to discover. For example, let's say i have 8 cities and i want to upgrade them all with up-to-date improvements while keeping my army updated., then i won't even be able to finish 1 city before the era is over.

What's the research output of those cities versus their city build production and city craft production? To an extent you're always going to bump into the issue for the simple fact that there's no one tech that advances an era, and if the last tech you pick in an era unlocks a unit then you're obviously not going to have time to build any before the end of the era. How long it takes your city to build something though is entirely down to it's production value, and how quickly you research comes down to research output. If your 8 cities are all putting out high research but have low production values then obviously you're going to be learning tech quicker than they can build it. Focus on boosting build production and less knowledge/research and the opposite will become true.

I've purposely stopped caring about knowledge and researching boosts cause my nations always discover new researches too fast no matter what i do. I've even tried going out of my way to have really ♥♥♥♥♥♥ knowledge and research values.. Still the same issues.