I noticed when I posted my list of tech breakdowns by era that the Medieval era is the shortest on current technologies. I would like to propose two changes to help remedy this.
First, split Invention into two technologies. One is Alchemy, the other is Invention. For those of you who don't look at the XML, Invention is actually TECH_ALCHEMY. TECH_ALCHEMY would become Alchemy, and a new TECH_INVENTION would be created.
The new techs would be:
Alchemy
Location: X37 Y9 (moving Engineering back to X35 Y17)
Cost: 800
Req Techs: Drug Trade AND Glass Blowing AND Philosophy AND (Engineering OR Theology)
Leads to: Invention, Optics, Paper, Stained Glass
Allows: Alchemist's Lab, Ancient Hand Cannon, Yusuf ibn Tashfin, Reveals Rubber, Obsoletes Belladonna, Obsoletes Curare, Obsoletes Death Cap Mushroom, Obsoletes Poison Crafter
Invention
Location: X37 Y13
Cost: 1050
Req Techs: Alchemy AND Civil Service AND (Agricultural Tools OR Guilds)
Leads to: Armored Cavalry, Clockworks, Gunpowder, Mountaineering, Perspective, Printing Press
Allows: Artesian Well, Ice Cream Parlor, +1 gold from Furniture Workshop, Heavy Cavalry, Reveals Ice Cream, Leonardo's Workshop
(These are what would have to be changed to TECH_INVENTION. Everything else could stay at TECH_ALCHEMY)
I would also suggest moving Engineering back to X35 Y17. It's at the very beginning of the Medieval era, and so moving it back gives a little extra room. The X35 column has only Feudalism and Theology.
Changed Techs
Engineering
Location: X35 Y17
Optics
Required Techs: Alchemy
Paper
Required Techs: Guilds AND (Civil Service OR Theology OR Alchemy)
Stained Glass
Required Techs: Alchemy AND Architecture
Education
Required Techs: Paper AND Stained Glass
(Adding Alchemy to Stained Glass puts Philosophy in the chain)
Second, move Gunpowder back into the Medieval era. It can stay where it is or be moved back to X41 Y5. The invention of gunpowder itself is very late Medieval, and firearms (the Matchlock technology) is Renaissance.
What do you think?