need tips on Vaulters or just in general

[Ry]

Just started the game recently, really liked Vaulter as a race or the aesthetics of it. Need some tips on science victory. Played a game and tried to go for science victory, got to the final Era and realize each perk requires at least 50+ turns even though I put 80% of the workers in cities on science production. Am I missing something or is it supposed to be like that?

I built most of the science city improvements and has been burning holy resource/other resources for bonuses since almost the beginning of the game.

Also, how many cities are ideal for Vaulter science path? Tried 3, it worked alright but don't know if it was optimal. Any tips are appreciated!!

[ElPrezCBF]

Vaulters is the right choice to play because it's a science focused faction though you can also win by other means. Relying heavily on worker allocations to the science slot is a very inefficient way to accummulate research points every turn. You may do that late game for cities that have naturally high science tile output, but otherwise it's a bad trade off with other fids resources if you do the same for naturally low science output cities. I haven't played Vaulters for a very long time, but think a combination of the right luxury boosters can increase research speed.

I also believe there are 2 science techs in each era that unlock science buildings. If you really want to speed research up, you'll have to max out on both of them all the way to the last era. If you can trade for them with other factions for a good deal, go ahead to save on their research time.

It's not the number of cities although in general more cities obviously means more science output. But what's more important is that the tiles you settle on/expand into for every city should preferably be on anomalies that give high science bonuses. The more of such tiles you cover, the greater your science output. This, together with the suggestions above, is a multipronged approach that's more efficient in boosting science output.

Edit: Forgot to mention you can also build science stockpiles and activate them for a research boost. Note however, that they will have a smaller effect on more advanced techs that require more research points to complete.

[Balkoth]

Play Mezari instead of Vaulters if possible. Starting hero is better.

The ideal number of cities for Vaulter science is...as many as possible. The ideal number of cities to FOUND yourself...well, that depends on the difficulty. On higher difficulties the AI expands so fast and has so many bonuses I find it more efficient to simply let the AI do the work of making the cities and then conquer them later on. On lower difficulties it's probably worth settling some extra cities early on, 3 is a good early game number.

All that said...Mezari can win a Science Victory on ONE city by about turn 150ish if you know what you're doing. You need a high level science governor (Mezari starting hero works well throughout the entire game) and a well developed high population city (more districts gives massively more science).

I wouldn't put any workers on Science until late game -- Industry is far more valuable early on. Your Industry shouldn't even be able to keep up with your Science rate for a while.

Do you want me to make a tutorial video of sorts?