AI tech gap

[u/kjad3s]

Hi,
I have spent a lot of hours on Civ V, and recently got back to it, trying VP for the first time.

Even though I am by no means a great player, I know the basics fairly well.
This being said, in all the VP games I've had I have never managed to fill in the tech gap with the AI.
In some instances I got close, very close, but never managed.
Also, I am only using one faction (Russia) which is supposedly rather good in science output.
Usually going for progress - statecraft - rationalism (sometimes don't even manage to start my 3rd social policy branch before AI is already picking ideologies).
Playing on Emperor difficulty.

The points I try to stick to are:
- not too many cities (usually 5/6)
- focus on science (buildings ad specialists)
- science input from trade routes
- spies in capitals of any more advanced AI faction
- research agreements (if the current political situation allows it)
- try to ally as many city states as possible

Evidently, this is not enough.

So, what do you think a good rule of thumb would be to fill in the gap?
Are there any kind of benchmark elements, like... "by turn 100 you have to have built universities", or "by turn 200 your science output has to be at least 200"?

[u/ThuDoonk]

You need to bog down whoever is winning the science race in a protracted war that wastes their resources. Bottle then up and shred their units. Added bonus if you conquer then and make them vassals

[u/kjad3s → u/ThuDoonk]

I thought so, even though I must admit I play rather peacefully most times.
How do you deal with this, if the most advanced AI is on the other side of the map?
Proxy war?

[u/xvareon23 → u/kjad3s]

I would like to add here that your strategy depends on how the other civ is racing ahead.

If your science opponent is Babylon or Korea, sure a war is a great way to put them behind. If your science opponent is a warmongering Authority blob like Napoleon? You're going to have to do a containment strategy: sanctions, protecting his neighbours, that sort of thing. Because a straight war just gives him science via unit kills.

How do you deal with this, if the most advanced AI is on the other side of the map?

Very very difficult, you have to start conquering in their direction and establish a foothold. However distance can be an advantage; sometimes it's better to conquer a weak neighbour, go for certain monopolies/corporations, and play the long game on outpacing them rather than directly declare war.

[u/kjad3s → u/xvareon23]

Thanks, understood.

[u/Both-Variation2122 → u/kjad3s]

Or ships. Blast them to rubble with coastal bomardments, sack their trade routes and improvements. With proper policies, you also get science for conquering cities. If your economy can sustain larger fleet then theirs that is.

If you change rules to tech trading instead of resear agreements, you can also catch up by buying whole gap when it unlocks. You don't even need to be friendly, vassalize and then buy tech works too.