Research Lab

[Whomp]

SGL=Pyramids. They would be overpowering for us as an ag civ.

Remember some teams (I'd guess Iroquois and Greeks) are going for the philo sling. My guess is they won't go for a republic sling because to research CoL and not philo would be a huge gamble. They will likely take mapmaking (or pottery if they don't have it) so they can get some galleys up and running.

Teams also must research pottery (my guess that's where Persia went unless they went straight to IW as well). Personally pottery is next to alpha as to importance in this game. I think the F11 analysis will prove this out soon enough whether teams have pottery or not.

One other thing for consideration. The cost of some techs by following the others will be cheaper hence could allow us to save some cash for our GS.

 

[Whomp]

But what if the other teams are figuring the same thing, so one or more head for Republic in a hope to trade? Or maybe they are planning on being peaceful or not having many wars too early (Greece may be thinking this because of their Hoplites).

My answer to that would be "attack them like there's no tomorrow" in fact I think we should warn the other teams that they better not use republic or they will pay a hefty price and we may consider it a declaration of war. There will be much greater losses in war with humans and the WW will be unbearable in republic for everyone but us. Think about the times when you've had 50% lux after a long war with the AI. It will be much faster with humans.

 

[IroquoisPlisken]

My answer to that would be "attack them like there's no tomorrow" in fact I think we should warn the other teams that they better not use republic or they will pay a hefty price and we may consider it a declaration of war. There will be much greater losses in war with humans and the WW will be unbearable in republic for everyone but us. Think about the times when you've had 50% lux after a long war with the AI. It will be much faster with humans.

Actually, I usually use Monarchy the whole game in SP games, so I wouldn't know how that feels.

If anyone DOES research Republic before us we could make the following deal:

Give us Republic and we won't attack you for 100 turns.

 

[Tubby Rower]

I'll get to work noodling on the granary bit. I have to think a while on how that affects things. It might just go directly to Life expectancy but not sure though. One thing is for sure the Iroquois (Team Doug H. Nuts) doesn't have one. There is no way that they could have gotten a settler & a granary in there.

 

[Tubby Rower]

Oh and my vote is head to Monarchy & use any SGL for a big pointy thing with 4 sides.

If we have iron, we don't need any of the horse techs. We will have a 3.2 2 movement giddyup man ....yee haw. only drawback is that they are 50 shields.

 

[Whomp]

Actually, I usually use Monarchy the whole game in SP games, so I wouldn't know how that feels.

If anyone DOES research Republic before us we could make the following deal:

Give us Republic and we won't attack you for 100 turns.

I like you're thinking. You must be some sort of Idiot Civant or something.
I'm sure Bede can think of a good way to let them know they really should be kings since republics should only be used by a bunch of religious anarchic loser idiots who are grumpy old farmers and know some redheaded sword guys who may get a little nutty if they try becoming a republic.

 

[RegentMan]

only drawback is that they are 50 shields.

In , the cost has been reduced to 40 shields.

 

[soul_warrior]

Well, one thing I DO know is that Scientific Golden Ages are bugged and don't work.


But what if the other teams are figuring the same thing, so one or more head for Republic in a hope to trade? Or maybe they are planning on being peaceful or not having many wars too early (Greece may be thinking this because of their Hoplites).

now were starting to double guess everybody, which will end up with us overly confused.
i would go for what WE think is our most needed tech route.
i agree with a run at monarchy, and just hope we get a SGL.
the chance is rather slim (5% right?)
i would use it for the GARDENS?

so my tech advace route would be IW > up to MONARCHY

 

[Crakie]

I am not so sure the other teams will go for monarchy, but even if they do, we have a decent chance of staying ahead of them. If the free philo tech proved not too tempting for the Iro, they will still want to know where the horsies are and research the wheel first. The Persians will go for IW early on. The Greeks do not need a resource for their UU unfortunately.

Also, I really think we should be researching towards a government tech and not count on being able to trade easily, although striking a deal with a civ on another continent seems viable. We WILL need monarchy, it's too much of a gamble not to go for it.

 

[Sir Bugsy]

I can see the argument for a government tech. If we are going for a government, I think we need republic.

SGL=pyramids

 

[Kickbooti]

Let me preface by saying that I am radically undecided, but I have been studying/thinking

I might be leaning toward a run on the Republic road. My thoughts are as follows...

The Monarchy path is a lot of techs with no benefit to us. We would have to research warior code, but our offensive unit will already be secure with IW. Mysticism/Plytheism don't do a thing for us except get us to Monarcy.

If we head for Republic, Alphabet will give us teh Curragh to start exploring. We move to writing, though I don't know what an embassy will do in a multi-team PBEM. Anyway, at that point, depending on the terrain or our contact with others, we could split off and head to Map Making if that seemed prudent (If we get a SGL I would even consider going to Literature to get the Great Library - keeping up with two of three opponents techs in this small game would be nice - pump up the gold!)

At any rate, once we are close to having writing we can make a judgment, Philosophy or Courthouses first (I'm assuming depending on what we think people are working toward).

As the only Religous civ, Republic is a viable option for us, and I think that we could have Monarchy in our back pocket via trade.

This is my thinking currently, though I am used to AI opponents and not human.

As I say, I am radically undecided at this point, but the course of my thinking heads down this road...

 

[Tubby Rower]

Kickbooti does have a point about the techs leading to Republic have a "side" purpose where as the ones to Monarchy really just get you to the MA.

There is something in the rules about staying at war "just for war-weariness". Which takes all of the fun out of threatening the non-REL civs with war if they become a republic.

 

[Whomp]

I can make a pretty strong case that no one went for the Philo sling.

These are the 4 most important things in this game.
1. REXing--Requires Persians and Greeks research pottery first. My guess is they both started down this path.
2. Military--Iroquois have none so going philo doesn't seem to be in their best interest. It would leave them extremely vulnerable. So they'd have to research BW, WC or go for their UU wheel and HBR the way I see it. The other two are probably set in this area starting with spears and hoplites. Persians may go IW after Pottery and I think Greeks may have gone writing after pottery since they are less concerned about attackers.
3. Contacts--Greeks and Iroquois have the edge with early curraghs possibly going out right now. Let's hope they are on different continents.
4. Governments--I don't see anyone wanting to research CB so it's our monopoly. However it is still required by everyone along with the other two to get out of the AA so it's more valuable than we may think.
Also our edge because we can change governments anytime we want and they can't. The other teams must research the bottom half of the path at some point but I don't think it's a priority right now. Maybe after they have filled in some of the other requirements they will so maybe we can wait on the myst research until we make contacts.

Alpha makes more sense right now unless we make contact during our IW research. We will know a lot based on F11.

 

[Sir Bugsy]

Well put Whomp.

BW=>IW=>Alpha seems to be our best course right now.

 

[soul_warrior]

whomp, youi sold me on the Alpha path.
IW > ALPHA it is then,
and well see later

 

[Daghdha]

If curraghs are out already, which is possible, they will find us way before we're done with alpha. My guess is we're better of spending beakers on something we're likely not to be able to trade, thus, I'd like to stick to original plan. Having said that, I'm all for anything that helps early contacts I just don't think researching alpha will make that bif a difference.

 

[Crakie]

I agree with Daghda, sending out curraghs is a waste. We have to a) research alphabet and b) make a coastal city, because our capitol will be busy pumping settlers and c) wait until production finishes and d) travel along the coastlines. By that time we can anticipate contact.

Although Whomp makes some good points, it's based on assumptions and no more than that. I'd rather go for something we will need no matter what, while having a decent chance of getting trade value.

EDIT: you know, curraghs have one thing going for them. If we send one out and stay near our continent at first, we might be able to trick our neighbours into thinking we're actually on the other continent

 

[Tubby Rower]

I'm torn on which way to go. So I'll leave it to you guys to decide.

 

[Pentium]

BW=>IW=>Alpha seems to be our best course right now.

I agree with Bugs.

 

[Kickbooti]

Soul Warior is right, we don't want to second guessing of the competition to be our ultimate guiding prinicple, but I think Whomp may prove to be our Delphic Oracle regarding the paths our opponents take (any of the mind-readers who are mapping our opponents are welcome to chime in).

I am coming around to thinking that Alphabet may be best for the tech after IW with a 'Republic Run' as the long-range goal. Assuming we can trade for Monarchy Techs, having Republic will give us pious religous types a lot of strategic flexibility.

I'll throw this in here as well, while it is not a guarantee, I would argue form placing a city near GoddyHut Hill as our next settling move - who knows, we may get a tech that changes our approach a bit.

So, BW-IW-Alphabet

KB