Science department - Research after Iron Working.

Iron Working is only 15 turns away, at most. If I can convince the Domestic Leader Noldodan that research is currently getting way too few attention, sliderwise, being at only 90% and should be no less than 100%, we might get it in 13 turns, max.

So let's focus on what to research after that.

Options:
1: Masonry - The smart stacking of stone. This allows defensive construction on a city-surrounding wall. It is believed that it can also be used to build a large grain-storage for the entire landmass we are on. Civ-value 4.

2: Alphabet - the calligraphy of pictures on paper. This is very useful for the Domestic department as an aid to city-planning. For the Military to give scouting-orders and ranks and to create designs for pants ( @ Babbler) . For the Foreign Affairs department for putting down on paper the agreements with foreign nations. For the Trade Department for the recording of trades. It can be an expression of culture. Etcetra, etcetra, etcetra... Civ-value 5

3: Horseback riding - If we can tame the great animals to our south and north-east we can go quickly exploring; have a possible new quick unit and they taste good as well ! Civ-value 5

4: Mysticism - Doing strange things for the good of all. Very often the greatest scientific breakthroughs are made by doing something stange. Remeber that my great-great-great-grandfather Riko Meleta smashed 2 stones together after he broke his axe in an effort to sharpen it? That gave us fire. Strange things will benefit us. Civ-value 4.

The science department advises a speedy research to this tech:



Libraries are great places for research and education. The first moment of glory in Science is the construction of Libraries. But this cannot be studied immediately. We need some other techs first; and the one leading to this is Alphabet.

Discuss !

"The best fortress is an army, and the best rampart is a rampart of men"

The Ministry of War wants to research Horseback riding for rapid exploration plans. We will also have a very capable and fast military unit that will upgrade to the Samurai. We need such a force of these horsemen prepared as soon as possble, and possible is now.

For those of you who it is appropriate to present me as a humble citizen, I do so, for those of you that dispense with formalities, may either remember my Foreign Affairs background or simply call me Provolution. At least I have an opinion on research.

With present situation, we are about to have settled horses within 20-40 turns, which means we may safely research two techs before horseworking. Since we are going to have very small cities, continuously migrating on this vast continent, we would not be in the position to pursue intellectualism, as neither naval expansion, philosopphy, libraries or legal coedes are necessary now. Now we need to choose between two routes, upon getting to know the locations of iron, we can decide to get iron into our arsenal and go directly for Monarchy, through mysticism and polytheism.
Monarchy has many advantages with so many enemies on a vast continent like this.
The other option is construction, so we can fortify and wait for better times if there is no iron. we will know that in 13-15 turns. At this state, we should go for Mysticism.

I believe we should do our best to trade for alphabet and start research (after Iron Working) on writing and then continue on to Lit after that. You have to remember that Monarchy is one of the paths the AI goes after most often, and horseback riding is acquired by almost every civ VERY early in the game. Lit offers a nice solid trading technology and also the GL.

I agree with our FA Minister's call for Mysticism. Not only does that tech lead us on our way to Monarchy, it also will be a good tech to trade if we discover it early enough.

If I remember correctly, the Zulu already have Alphabet AND Mysticism.

Now, there is a caution since if Iron is not close to our Capital, we might want to hold IW close to the chest. But, if we're the first ones to get it, AND all the Iron is in the North, AND the Zulu and the Babs trade off some techs, then maybe we can broker for what they have, researching what they don't.

But once again, I caution all applicable Ministries to use caution when considering this route.

Well, I guess we aren't gonna trade monopolistic techs this game if we research what the AI is already researching... Go for currency.

Science Poll What to research after Iron Working posted.