Liberalism vs the Lower Half of the Tech Tree

[Unconquered Sun]

Why would you just assume to go for liberalism? I would go for that tech path in certain situations...but often I stick to the bottom route, through engineering, and towards grenadiers and cannons.

Because Liberalism is the fastest path to Chemistry.

 

[Bandobras Took]

Assuming the necessary trades beforehand.

 

[Unconquered Sun]

If the AIs have Machinery/Engineering, they'll trade them for Lib path higher beaker techs.

If the AIs don't have them, you're either playing below your level or you're playing MP

 

[Yesod]

There are others who may quit when they lose the free tech in frustration but it's not the end of the world to me. I do it to SLOW down the AI, a concept many players are un-aware of.

Not sure what you mean by slowing down. Is it that the tech leader can't jump even further ahead?

And I don't mean to knock liberalism entirely, just the fact that people think it's absurd to not beeline it.

 

[Yesod]

For what it's worth... I used to give Liberalism a miss on Deity and claw my way up with trebuchet-driven wars instead. Medieval war may be slow as hell, but it depends heavily on the correct balance between siege, cleanup and counter units as well as the right tactical decisions. This gives the AIs great opportunities to throw their bonuses away, and I find medieval war on tech parity fairly safe and not too costly.

On Normal speed I find myself on a fairly tight clock though, since being too slow in seizing enough land to catch up techwise means someone else will have the edge in guns AND butter come the Renaissance. Not good.
These days I feel slightly safer taking the beaten path to Liberalism as a tool to get a Renaissance unit more quickly, and get my conquest done then. I can't say I win all that more often though.

I'd be interested in seeing one of your games, that is if you have the time for that kind of thing. I assumed it wasn't possible to beat deity without lightbulbing great scientists/grabbing liberalism, etc. All my attempts were pretty much failures, though I think if I try normal speed and use slavery more I could at least pull of liberalism.

 

[noto2]

Because Liberalism is the fastest path to Chemistry.

Chemistry? And what would I do with that? I want cannons and grenadiers, which means I need engineering and iron working

 

[Unconquered Sun]

Chemistry? And what would I do with that? I want cannons and grenadiers, which means I need engineering and iron working

Good luck getting Chemistry without Engineering.

 

[noto2]

that's what I mean. Well, whatever. Sometimes I go for liberalism if I'm going a peaceful tech route, sometimes if I'm bent on warfare I go a different path. Either way works and I can win without going for liberalism.