Science & Technology

Unlock the secrets of Science and Technology in Humankind! Learn how to leverage early-game AI bonuses and scale your empire for victory.

Hey there! So you're diving into Humankind and want to get a handle on Science and Technology, huh? It's a crucial part of the game, especially when you're aiming for the highest difficulty, 'Humankind' mode. Let's break down how the game's tech tree and AI bonuses work, and how you can use them to your advantage.

Understanding the AI's Edge on Humankind Difficulty

First off, on the highest difficulty, the AI gets some pretty sweet bonuses. Don't let it scare you; it's actually designed to make the early game tough but give you an advantage later on. Here's what the AI gets:

• +3 Food per Farmer in all Cities
• +3 Industry per Worker in all Cities
• +3 Money per Trader in all Cities
• +3 Science per Researcher in all Cities
• +60 Stability on all Cities
• +2 Combat Strength on all Units

See those FIMS (Food, Industry, Money, Science) bonuses? They're flat numbers. This means early on, with fewer workers, these bonuses are a big deal. For example, an early AI city with 3 workers gets +9 Industry. That's a lot to overcome early on! But as the game progresses and cities grow, these flat bonuses become less impactful. A big late-game city might have 15 workers, giving it +45 Industry. That's still good, but much easier to counter with a well-placed Industry District or a specific wonder.

That +2 Combat Strength bonus is also no joke. It's like giving every AI unit a small upgrade. Trying to fight them head-on in the early eras (Neolithic and Ancient) is usually a losing battle. You'll want to avoid direct conflict until you're a bit further along.

The stability bonus is a bit harder to quantify, but it likely means the AI will have an easier time keeping their cities happy early on. Your best bet to counter this is to focus on trading for luxury resources to keep your own stability high.

Your Strategy for Success

So, knowing all this, here's the game plan:

1. Avoid Early Wars: Seriously, don't pick fights in the first two eras (Neolithic and Ancient). Focus on building your economy and tech. Wait until at least the Classical or Medieval era before you start thinking about conquering.
2. Master Trade: Luxury resources are your best friend. Trade for them aggressively to boost your stability and keep your empire humming.
3. Go Wide, Not Tall: To best take advantage of the AI's scaling FIMS bonuses falling off, it's generally better to expand your empire (build wide) rather than focusing on making a few cities super powerful (building tall).
4. Culture is Key: Grab Agrarian and Builder cultures early on. They help you establish a strong foundation. As you move into the later game, you'll want to lean into cultures that help you scale your economy and military.
5. Fame is the Goal: Remember, the ultimate goal is to win by accumulating the most stars/fame. Keep an eye on your objectives and make sure your actions contribute to earning those stars.

By understanding these mechanics and playing smart, you'll be well on your way to conquering Humankind, even on the hardest difficulty!