For you, what would be the most important technology in the game?

[pspboy7]

Obviously, everyone has an opinion of what THE TECH actually is! Honestly though, games are smoother when they start out researching bronze working, probably the most important early tech to go for bar none. So I pick bronze working as the most important tech. Cheers...

 

[simishag]

Obviously, everyone has an opinion of what THE TECH actually is! Honestly though, games are smoother when they start out researching bronze working, probably the most important early tech to go for bar none. So I pick bronze working as the most important tech. Cheers...

Honestly, this kind of gets to the heart of the matter. I don't think it's really possible to pick 1 single tech over an entire game. There are too many techs and the game is too long.

HOWEVER, if we focus on each era, this question might be much easier to answer. Not to hijack the thread or anything, because the discussion is interesting, but the question as posed is simply too broad. It's like asking what the best unit is, and that question also depends on the era.

 

[plastiqe]

If you think of the question like this: Which one tech could you not do without? Disregarding prerequisites, like pretend you were allowed the entire tech tree minus just one tech.

There are a couple options but I would have to agree on Bronze Working as the most essential tech in the game. Lol @ that "avoid BW" strategy thread. : P

 

[Manco Capac]

If the food bin wasn't allowing such an advantage ratio /, slavery wouldn't be as great.
Some mod I have tried recently and it was weird to see a case where slavery is rather weak. It is the same function as regular BTS, but food bins are so huge that it makes slavery a no-no compared simply growing.

 

[iggymnrr]

I guess I'd pick pottery for the ubiquitous granary. There are other good ones too. Mid-game I might pick liberalism purely for the option of choice. Games go off in different directions and the element of choice can be useful.

 

[VSarius]

Assuming the rest of the tree behind it isn't blocked? Hmm, Agriculture.

 

[Raphs_Sai]

Civil Service is one of my favourites. I'm a huge fan of Bureaucracy and chaining irrigation can be really useful. Also leads to Paper so it gives you a start on Education -> Liberalism. Half way to Macemen is just gravy.

Another bonus is that it can be bulbed with either a Great Prophet or Great Merchant. I always try to make sure my first GP is one of these so I can save him for a bulb.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

HOWEVER, if we focus on each era, this question might be much easier to answer. Not to hijack the thread or anything, because the discussion is interesting, but the question as posed is simply too broad. It's like asking what the best unit is, and that question also depends on the era.

Nope. Tactical nuke is the best unit. Unparalleled utility. Make any AI you want win its war, win any war you want by building a decent number of them, even permanently cripple enemies by launching missiles from open border AIs near your target. What's not to like?

1 turn kills vs 10+ city targets is one of the best feelings ever.

 

[noto2]

BW first is not a good idea if you have no food techs. If I start with some crap like mysticism/hunting (looking at you, Charles) and I have wheat in the BFC, I'm going agriculture before I go BW...

 

[drewisfat]

Nope. Tactical nuke is the best unit. Unparalleled utility. Make any AI you want win its war, win any war you want by building a decent number of them, even permanently cripple enemies by launching missiles from open border AIs near your target. What's not to like?

1 turn kills vs 10+ city targets is one of the best feelings ever.

Nope. Worker is the best unit.

 

[Manco Capac]

Stolen workers are the best units.

 

[plastiqe]

Your first settler > all.

 

[noto2]

^^ well, pretty much

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Nukes are still better. Even if you lose the following turn, you can still launch it and that's delicious.

 

[VSarius]

Your first settler > all.

I'll trade you a settler for 3 Quechas.

 

[plastiqe]

Without your first settler, how do you build the Quechas, mitosis?

 

[lymond]

Without your first settler, how do you build the Quechas, mitosis?

Spontaneous Quecha Generation

 

[VSarius]

Without your first settler, how do you build the Quechas, mitosis?

Simple. I pray to the RNG Gods that my Quecha can take out multiple Archers, this way I acquire my capitol. In fact, this could be a fun variant.