JonathanStrange
PrinceWithA1000Enemies
Regarding the OP, my 2 cents, playing at the Immortal/Deity level. These are what I tell myself to do:
* Research in stages, rather than deciding to follow one lengthy research path at the start. Rather than pursue one lengthy research path, research basic economic and military techs first. The opportunity costs of an early focused economic, religious or military goal can be too costly or just not appropriate for the current situation on the ground.
Example: focusing on an early religion when you're next-door neighbors are clearly itchin' for a fight.
* Research early techs with dual purposes and goals. For example, Agriculture and Ancient Chants gives you early growth and culture but also allows Education which gives up the Apprenticeship civic and cottages too. So sequentially researching Ag and A.C. instantly allows a tech that can help new military units (+2 XPs) and economic growth (cottages).
* Give priority to early techs you'll actually use right then and there. Fishing is a useful tech, leading to some good stuff, but if you have only one coastal city... Animal Husbandry is valuable and leads to Horseback Riding but if you've haven't any pastures, it can wait.
Avoid early researching a tech just because it will be useful later on; make use of it now. I use to just research any old thing - they all sound interesting - and then having finished the research, I wouldn't make use of it for dozens of turns. That's a luxury for the very powerful or the very masochistic.
* Focus research after considering the your civ's likely needs and after meeting its early "must haves". Not only considering the start position, resources, and neighbors, I start with an outline of a long-term research plan. For the Ljosalfars, I try for an early Fellowship of the Leaves. The Elves have decent archers and Archery is conveniently along a branch of the path leading to the FoL. So I can start a long-term research goal that conveniently includes basic economic and military strengths while not overly neglecting any tech line for too long.
P.S. I rarely use Hunters unless forced to by circumstances such as going for an early FoL which by chance requires Hunting - and at that point, I've only warriors/scouts, so Hunters can come in handy. Sometimes I use 'em for carrying recon hawks, but frankly since Hunter can't pillage (being Recon troops), I j usually don't bother with more than one or two Hunters. They're not useless, but fhe Ljosalfars (and other civs) have better city defenders and cheaper ones to boot. When I add the Elves 2MP in woods, I can't say Hunters have much (besides the Woodsman I bonus) to recommend them. Useless is a bit rough; I'd just say mostly unnecessary...
* Research in stages, rather than deciding to follow one lengthy research path at the start. Rather than pursue one lengthy research path, research basic economic and military techs first. The opportunity costs of an early focused economic, religious or military goal can be too costly or just not appropriate for the current situation on the ground.
Example: focusing on an early religion when you're next-door neighbors are clearly itchin' for a fight.
* Research early techs with dual purposes and goals. For example, Agriculture and Ancient Chants gives you early growth and culture but also allows Education which gives up the Apprenticeship civic and cottages too. So sequentially researching Ag and A.C. instantly allows a tech that can help new military units (+2 XPs) and economic growth (cottages).
* Give priority to early techs you'll actually use right then and there. Fishing is a useful tech, leading to some good stuff, but if you have only one coastal city... Animal Husbandry is valuable and leads to Horseback Riding but if you've haven't any pastures, it can wait.
Avoid early researching a tech just because it will be useful later on; make use of it now. I use to just research any old thing - they all sound interesting - and then having finished the research, I wouldn't make use of it for dozens of turns. That's a luxury for the very powerful or the very masochistic.
* Focus research after considering the your civ's likely needs and after meeting its early "must haves". Not only considering the start position, resources, and neighbors, I start with an outline of a long-term research plan. For the Ljosalfars, I try for an early Fellowship of the Leaves. The Elves have decent archers and Archery is conveniently along a branch of the path leading to the FoL. So I can start a long-term research goal that conveniently includes basic economic and military strengths while not overly neglecting any tech line for too long.
P.S. I rarely use Hunters unless forced to by circumstances such as going for an early FoL which by chance requires Hunting - and at that point, I've only warriors/scouts, so Hunters can come in handy. Sometimes I use 'em for carrying recon hawks, but frankly since Hunter can't pillage (being Recon troops), I j usually don't bother with more than one or two Hunters. They're not useless, but fhe Ljosalfars (and other civs) have better city defenders and cheaper ones to boot. When I add the Elves 2MP in woods, I can't say Hunters have much (besides the Woodsman I bonus) to recommend them. Useless is a bit rough; I'd just say mostly unnecessary...
