Tech Tree Question

[Leventis]

I was playing a game today and after being the first to alphabet I then started researching Pottery. When I looked around for trades, I gave Mysticism to Alexander for Fishing. I noticed that this took the time to research Pottery from 4 turns down to 3. Can someone explain to me why this happened? Is it because fishing is a pre-req for Pottery or something else? I'm pretty sure all my trade routes were unchanged after the trade and so had nothing to do with it.

Cheers.

 

[Sjaramei]

Yes. Researching prerequisites cuts down the research time for the tech.

 

[JackOfClubs]

More precisely, if a tech has two optional prerequisites, having both of them gives a discount. Pottery requires Wheel and either Agriculture or Fishing. If you have both Agriculture and Fishing, Pottery will be cheaper.

 

[Leventis]

Cool, thanks guys. I had a feeling this was the case but didn't know for sure.

 

[Ecofarm]

It's +20% beaker production per extra prereq. I'm not sure if you get +20% on techs with more than 1 prereq (like construction requiring writing and masonry).

 

[cabert]

it's +20% for every optionnal prereq.
So for construction you get 0 bonus .
But for writing, you can get 60% bonus with priesthood + AH + pottery.

 

[Nacht]

No you get 20% for construction. Mathematics is 'optional' even while that doesn't make sense. Just as a max 40% bonus for writing would be more logical.

 

[cabert]

No you get 20% for construction. Mathematics is 'optional' even while that doesn't make sense. Just as a max 40% bonus for writing would be more logical.

you're right
I cannot get rid of the idea that a mandatory option isn't really optionnal , but there are other examples in the tech tree.