The next tech to research is currently set for Philosophy. Is that the direction we want to go? The Byzantines have had it available to research for one turn more than we have, but I don't know if they will research it or focus on something else.

yeah, let's go philosophy.

Do we have CoL? If we want the Republic slingshot, we need CoL first.

That's what I was thinking, TO. But I believe we're worried about the Byzantines beating us to it. Free CoL is not so bad, as long as we don't trade it. :eek:

At Emperor, I would be worried alot about that, but I usually can still go CoL first. We should be able to win that race at Monarch.

Tech Minister is finally sober and suggests Philosophy -> Code of Laws -> Republic.

We need COL first and with little chance to trade for it looks like we need to research it ourselves.

My take on the Republic slingshot is that its better to try and fail than to not try. I would risk it in a solo game. If we don't try, then we should take Literature as our freebie. Lit gives us Libraries and the GLib. CoL in itself is a nothing tech, and is mostly valuable as trade bait and a precursor to Republic. I guess we will be okay whatever way we go.