<p>I actually fell into this trap in a game, and was surprised at the rules.  If the other civilization can't pay, you can't develop.</p>

<p>The question was <a href="http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/426786/scientific-cooperation-pact" rel="noreferrer">asked on BGG</a>, and the rule that covered it was also discussed there- it's on the last page of the rules, i.e. on pg. 20 under <code>Scientific Cooperation</code>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>If one civilization has no science points, neither civilization can
  play a technology.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-11-26T03:48:38.240Z
2011-11-26T03:48:38.240Z
Chuck Dee
<p>The text for the Scientific Cooperation <em>Pact</em> reads:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Every time one of the civilizations plays a technology, it pays 2
  science less and the other civilization pays 1 science.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>What happens if the other civilization has zero accumulated science? Does the tech-playing civilization still get the 2 science discount, or does the pact have no effect?</p>

<through-the-ages>
Can Scientific Cooperation happen when there's no science to share?
ire_and_curses
# Can Scientific Cooperation happen when there's no science to share?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-11-26)

The text for the Scientific Cooperation *Pact* reads:

> Every time one of the civilizations plays a technology, it pays 2
> science less and the other civilization pays 1 science.

What happens if the other civilization has zero accumulated science? Does the tech-playing civilization still get the 2 science discount, or does the pact have no effect?

**Tags:** through-the-ages


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2011-11-26. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

I actually fell into this trap in a game, and was surprised at the rules. If the other civilization can't pay, you can't develop.

The question was [asked on BGG](http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/426786/scientific-cooperation-pact), and the rule that covered it was also discussed there- it's on the last page of the rules, i.e. on pg. 20 under `Scientific Cooperation`:

> If one civilization has no science points, neither civilization can
> play a technology.


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