remconius
Deity
good point actually! Academy on the long term can be of great benefit. It will decrease the time to Astronomy, but not as much as lightbulbing. Much better for G though.
Well, I think using 3 GS for the beeline is the right approach:
1 for optics and 2 for astronomy; or
1 for an academy, 1 for optics and 1 for astronomy.
Compass won't take that long to research so it's a bit of a waste of a scientist considering we're not philosophical or pacifists.
I'm not averse to using one for an academy in Uppsala (long-term that'd be great for Gandhi). If we research compass ourselves, GS1 will be sat around until GS2 arrives before being popped for Optics, so he could be effectively used for an academy during that window. GS3 could then lightbulb half of astronomy, but there would probably be a bit of a gap before GS4 appears so we'd end up researching the rest of it ourselves (after picking up CS).
This would get us early optics for exploration and allow us to build up an army of Berzerkers to take down Khan while finishing the beeline. We could subsequently load our veterans onto galleons and set sail for pastures new.
As we'd be doing a bit more self-directed research before completing astronomy, it also makes the colossus slightly more valuable. The issue then is where to build it. If Nidaros is chosen, we'll get it fastest (and thus benefit most), but compromise development in other areas. GPP contamination wouldn't be an issue as we'll complete GS1 there, can generate GS2 in Uppsala and GS3 in Avar, working mines in Nidaros in place of scientists for improved production generally. The alternative is to build it in Ironclam. That'd involve a border pop and a forge being built there before construction could begin, but there are several forests available to chop and speed things along subsequently. Our existing scouting workboat and trireme can fish and guard the clams there to help speed things along.
Revised plan for my turns (awaiting ratification)
Found Ironclam and prepare for chopping the Colossus there
Use GS1 for an academy in Uppsala
Build military in Nidaros in preparation of capturing Avar and Phyrgian
Try to get another worker or two out there.
Tech path
Make a minor detour to pick up mysticism, polytheism, priesthood (opening monarchy for trade and getting us easy border pops) and archery, then research machinery ourselves (machinery before compass gets us earlier access to xbows).
Revised plan for my turns (awaiting ratification)
Technically goldmines and trade route generate commerce; its the science slider that determines the base beaker rate multiplied by library and academy so unless we're running 100% science (unlikely) the beaker rate is lower than 56. Its lower still before we build the library and allocate the two scientists. Without library and scientists base commerce would be 24 max; running at 80%science that's 19 beakers, academy adds extra 9 or 10. Our options for whipping Uppsala are limited if we want to carry on working goldmines so a library is several turns away.
I'm not disputing that in the longer term academy in Uppsala is a good investment. What I'm arguing is that saving GS1 for optics will get us optics c 15 turns earlier (slightly faster if we went compass, machinery, (burn GS on optics), archery) which means we resume exploring 15 turns earlier.
I'd forgotten we need maths before we can lightbulb optics.I suggest going mathematics (chopping!), archery, machinery, compass then check how many turns optics requires. If it's more than 20, it's worth bulbing it and sending caravels around the world.
If we need to wait a bit for our next GS, we can start researching polytheism> priesthood towards CoL.
It would be great if we managed to trade for currency and CoL and alphabet.
CoL is vital for us! It's on the way to Berserkers!