carl corey
Deity
While reading Mad Scientist's RPC summary I wondered which of the first level techs are really necessary in the long run, and what would happen if you didn't research one of them. By first level techs I mean Fishing, Wheel, Agriculture, Hunting, Mysticism and Mining.
As it turns out missing either Hunting or Agriculture would not be the end of the world, however missing one of the others is going to block lots of techs. Hunting only blocks Archery, while having only one of Agriculture and Hunting is enough to get Animal Husbandry, and Pottery can be obtained with Fishing instead of Agriculture.
On the other hand, without Fishing you don't get Sailing, so no Compass, no Optics, no Astronomy, no Physics and then you're in trouble for a good part of the late game techs. Missing the Wheel means no Pottery, so no Metal Casting, no Machinery, no Printing Press, etc. Missing Mysticism might seem ok, until you get to Monarchy, Feudalism, Guilds, Banking, Replaceable Parts, etc. Missing Mining leads to the horror: no Bronze Working; no Iron Working, Metal Casting and so on to follow.
Well, if you've read so far you probably have an idea where this is going. How about a series of six games, and in each of them we'll have to skip one of those first level techs? Level, leaders and maps to be decided; they will of course vary based on which tech we skip.
As it turns out missing either Hunting or Agriculture would not be the end of the world, however missing one of the others is going to block lots of techs. Hunting only blocks Archery, while having only one of Agriculture and Hunting is enough to get Animal Husbandry, and Pottery can be obtained with Fishing instead of Agriculture.
On the other hand, without Fishing you don't get Sailing, so no Compass, no Optics, no Astronomy, no Physics and then you're in trouble for a good part of the late game techs. Missing the Wheel means no Pottery, so no Metal Casting, no Machinery, no Printing Press, etc. Missing Mysticism might seem ok, until you get to Monarchy, Feudalism, Guilds, Banking, Replaceable Parts, etc. Missing Mining leads to the horror: no Bronze Working; no Iron Working, Metal Casting and so on to follow.
Well, if you've read so far you probably have an idea where this is going. How about a series of six games, and in each of them we'll have to skip one of those first level techs? Level, leaders and maps to be decided; they will of course vary based on which tech we skip.