Science Victory - Has anyone done it?

[Dani]

I love this game to death. It is the best 4x game for me. But, I've noticed that by the time I reach the third tier of technology, most of the races become bloodthirsty warmongers who force me to wipe them out less risk being murdered myself.

This of course does not include the Drakken, who are the nicest people around. Except for when they refuse my research pacts.

Usually the game reaches a closing point by tier 3-4 of technology. There hasn't been a single game yet where I've proceeded past this point in technology. Has anyone succeeded in winning by a tech victory, and if so, how was it achieved?

I guess I could sit there and deliberately wait it out, but destroying everyone is so much easier.

[Lady Crimson (RIP)]

In fairness it is a lot easier usually to destroy everyone else by the time you get to that point.. so.. unless you're fighting a player who has far superior units, or is fighting you to a draw.. having the higher technologies is usually a sign of being farther ahead, if done right.

[SleetSdf93]

From my personal Expirence, a Diplomacy Victory or even in some cases an Economic Victory is far more likey to get then a Science Victory. By the time you get to the last tier, one of those other two victory types are likey within grasp and easier to achieve. Going for a Science victory means you have a Custom faction ENTIRLY revolved around it and even so still might find your self at a point where you could just get a army and kill them with your vastly superior Weapons and Armor. That or you could "sell" your tech for other various objects the other players have to consume Diplomacy points (A common strat that I do).

TLDR: Every time I (personally) get close to a Science Victory, another victory type becomes easier and quicker to achieve.

[Varivox]

I think it is the easiest of the victory types in terms of simply being passive, but the hardest in terms of how long it will take (aside from a score victory).

I did it by going Vaulters, going to war when I needed to, but mostly just focusing on science and defense. It works well for me since the playstyle fits me, I'm not a huge fan of the other victory types (in this or any other 4x game tbh).

[Dani]

Yeah, the later techs look incredibly powerful. Hell, I think you'd have to deliberately tip toe around the other victory conditions somehow to get science!

But, all in all, it's an awesome game. Been playing multiplayer with a friend against bots, and we're having a blast with it. I've been addicted to making custom factions.

[foetus sub mundi]

I've done science victory. Just to get a sense of the timing.

Against AI, a military victory will always be faster.

In multiplayer, tech trading can make it much more practical.

Science victories are the only kind of victories that don't scale with map size. So they become increasingly practical as the map size increases.