I’ve been playing a bit of NTT isolation, inspired by the map. I’m by no means an expert…but my thoughts on tech path.
I generally think that the Astro beeline is still the best play in NTT. I’m not sold on code of laws pre Astro, it’s a lot a techs you have to get, particularly if also skipping monarchy. Monarchy also for me only if there’s literally no other happiness (bear in mind NTT brings into play an early calendar, normally traded for in tech trading, but on the Astro path). This map I would say is an exception where monarchy is needed, but I still wouldn’t go code of laws.
Currency as well…I dunno. It’s a cheap tech: you have to go maths and alphabet anyway, but because you have to go alphabet the benefit is limited to basically the trade routes (5-6 commerce). Whilst nice, I have been teching it whilst caravels are on their way. The extra trade route gets its true value post Astro (and harbours).
As for aesthetics / literature…maybe I’m wrong but these just don’t seem worth it to me. There’s really no issue getting out the first wave of great people required with libraries. If you have marble, build the MoM, NTT makes this wonder a lot more feasible to shoot for!
I generally think that the Astro beeline is still the best play in NTT. I’m not sold on code of laws pre Astro, it’s a lot a techs you have to get, particularly if also skipping monarchy. Monarchy also for me only if there’s literally no other happiness (bear in mind NTT brings into play an early calendar, normally traded for in tech trading, but on the Astro path). This map I would say is an exception where monarchy is needed, but I still wouldn’t go code of laws.
Currency as well…I dunno. It’s a cheap tech: you have to go maths and alphabet anyway, but because you have to go alphabet the benefit is limited to basically the trade routes (5-6 commerce). Whilst nice, I have been teching it whilst caravels are on their way. The extra trade route gets its true value post Astro (and harbours).
As for aesthetics / literature…maybe I’m wrong but these just don’t seem worth it to me. There’s really no issue getting out the first wave of great people required with libraries. If you have marble, build the MoM, NTT makes this wonder a lot more feasible to shoot for!