most important technology?

[JuicyCivNewbie]

Well, althought that's not quite true, I was thinking more of 2x2x/1x1x etc and the map size. But as for difficulty level - for example monarchy is a much more valuable tech on deity than it is on king (where it's almost useless). A government is very important on deity actually because of riot factor, so I'd almost be inclined to say monarchy is the most important deity tech (no one researches trade first, and try playing a whole game in despo, then try playing a whole game without trade. Tell me which one is more difficult).

As for the 2x2x/1x1x and map size difference - on small map king 2x2x you will die if you go for trade before horseback riding, for example. Horseback riding is the most important tech on that setting. But on 1x1x is next to useless. On medium maps you either go monarchy or republic depending on the landmass sizes. Trade is important on these levels, but you will die if you are on a small island and don't go for mapmaking. The list goes on and on. Sure trade may be the best overall, but it depends on the settings as to what techs to go for and which is most important.

 

[Leowind]

Originally posted by duke o' york
What do you mean? The difficulty level has nothing to do with the most important tech. The only thing I can think of that would change the order is that you are wise to research Mapmaking when you have an archipelago map. Otherwise, it's still the same order. And Trade's vital, regardless of whether you're on an island or continent.

Montheism becomes much more important on higher difficulty settings, as might Theology, to give an example.

My most important techs, in no particular order off the top of my head:

Monarchy
Astronomy
Monotheism
Theory of Gravity (that's Newton's college, right?)
Invention

Haven't played into the modern age in awhile, so hard to say there. Left some others out that are also important, but these are the ones I really go after.

 

[sethos]

Irrigation.

 

[seb144]

(Deleted)

 

[seb144]

Originally posted by unknown_spirit
...It's not like units, where you can simply not build a unit you hate (e.g. Warriors, Fanatics, Partisans, Ironclad). ...

How can you posibly hate ironclad??!! At that point in the game, they are usually the only good attacking ship unit! Just keep ironclads by enemy cities to monitor and to keep their units down, even if the ship's attack could be a little higher.

 

[starlifter]

Monarchy, Writing, Trade, Explosives, Democracy, Radio, Espionage.

Monarchy - Very important for expansion and science.

Writing - Most of the world is taken with Diplomats; Dips are a Barb's worst nightmare.

Trade - A caravan is more powerful than any contemporary unit except settler. Marco Polo's is a stunningly powerful wonder.

Explosives - Roads, go forth and multiply, and let the transforms begin...
Democracy - Most powerful Gov't in the game, and the SoL allows early Fundy for war mongers.

Radio - Beware the secret killer trade improvement - the mighty airport which belongs in every single city, bar none.

Espionage - The most powerful unit in the game, bar none. Absurdly powerful, if deftly used.

 

[philippe]

i think massproduction:it opens the way to many things and also invention
leonardos workshop:best wonder
(ps:starlifter check the off-topic forum please )

 

[starlifter]

Thanks Phillipe (just made a 12,000 char post there, LOL).

I really like the MP advance because it is the key (with the Hoover Dam) to allowing my big cities to churn out huge amounts of shields without choking pollution. In fact, I time it so that all critical cities will either do a switch and complete the MT on the next turn, or I buy it. Ditto for SHs and Airports, BTW.

 

[gonzo_for_civ]

I'd have to say the most important tech is roads. What would we do without them! Transportation and trade would suck!

 

[Ren]

Without reading any of the comments, my favourite is Alphabet.

This is a pretty silly question really.



Edit 1: I'll read the comments and make an evaluation when i'm not so tired and out of it

 

[seb144]

Originally posted by philippe
i think massproduction:it opens the way to many things...

I agree. So many of the great late-game techs come from mass production. I haven't checked civlopedia in a long time, but combined arms is one example. (I think.)

 

[jtb]

back to original question but quite the opposite of the origanal...
what do all you people think the LEAST important technology is? all this arguing i am wondering what in the world you would think the least important is?

i personaly say fundamentalism because who cares about fanatics i mean who would be a fundamentalist and that technology does not bring a new technology in the screen.

 

[moof]

jbt,

no offense, but there is little or no dispute here,

Trade is the most important tech & without it & the knowledge to use it properly, you simply are not playing Civ.

Starlifter has summed it up very well & Monarchy is the tech that needs to be acquired as fast as possible, but over the course of the game the proper use of trade is what is going to make your game more enjoyable & interesting.

 

[KingWilly]

I'd have to say Alphabet is the most important tech. All other important techs lead from Alphabet, therefore if alphabet is not discovered, neither will the other important techs.

 

[ElephantU]

I'd say there is no perfect answer to the question of what are "most important" techs, as the settings of the game (difficulty level, barbs, island or continent, wet or dry, small or large map), SP vs MP, quick game vs long game, conquest vs spaceship - they all change the things I am trying to research quickest.

What are my "favorite" techs?
Monarchy - get out of Despotism ASAP!
Trade - trade routes, transfer shields, MPE
Writing - Diplomats & Libraries
Mapmaking - map trading
Philosophy - getting the "first" announcement!
Polytheism - vet Elephants for early conquest! plus last step to:
Monotheism - Mikes Chapel and Crusaders
Navigation - Magellans
Democracy - no waste, no bribe, extra trade govmt plus Statue of Liberty
Economics - ASTC
Electricity - kill the Great Library!
Electronics - Hoover Dam
Space Flight - almost there!
Fusion Power - (if only we could get this for real!)
Future Tech 1 - got all the techs!

 

[Ohwell]

Irrigation, Mining and Roads

 

[AnarchyBoy]

Steam Engine: It's so easy to take over enemy cities when I have Iron Clads and they don't.
Mobile Warfare: Tanks are my best bet to attack cities that aren't on the water.
Economics: When I get Adam Smith's Trading Company, all my money woes are finally over.
Refrigeration: Suddenly my size 11 cities become size 24 cities.
Masonry: My favorite WOW is the Pyramids.
Engineering: If I build King Richard's, I usually manage to build 3 or 4 more wonders in the same city before someone discovers Industrialization.
My least favorite is probably Industrialization. Suddenly I have this new problem to deal with: pollution.

 

[duke o' york]

You still get pollution with KR'sC by the way: it just depends on how many shields you produce each turn. Even if you didn't have either KR'sC or a factory but had managed to produce a size 20 city with food caravans such that each square was a mined hill with railroad then you'd find yourself with an enormous pollution problem.
The tech that causes the most pollution hassle is Automobile because you start to get population pollution as well as production pollution. For absolutely all the information on pollution have a look at this thread by starlifter. Have a look at his list of common terms and abbreviations a little way down this page to find out what it all means. (CP is city population by the way )

 

[AnarchyBoy]

Thanks for the link. I realize that King Richard causes pollution, but at least then it's contained in one city. Once I industrialize, for some reason I get pollution all over the map and cleaning it up turns into a full time job. I build the Mass Transit and the Recycling plants, which costs me hundreds of gold per turn, and still get bad pollution. I've never built solar plants, though. I usually take the Hoover Dam route to clean power, and maybe that's where I'm going wrong.

 

[duke o' york]

No! The Hoover Dam is not "going wrong" at all as hydro plants will deal with the pollution from production in the vast majority of your cities and you will only need to top up the effects in a few cities with recycling centres or solar plants. It is a very high production city indeed that will require a solar plant after you've built a recycling centre, but don't forget to sell the recycling centre afterwards because it will do nothing but cost you money!
The mass transits will save you from pollution for most cities without factories, and Hoover will help most of those but certain (hardly any) will still require RCs or SPs. You needn't build them everywhere though - that is a huge waste of cash and shields.