THE best optional tech

[The Omega]

Military Tradition. My whole game strategy pivotes on me getting cavalry while my enemies still have musketmen, or if I'm really lucky, pikemen. If I fail in this goal (Which rarely seems to happen, even now that I've moved to monarch), I go for some-sorta-peaceful-builder-win-thingy.

 

[Tomoyo]

Isn't your whole game strategy to get tanks before everyone else? :insert my naa smilie:

 

[Tatran]

Republic.
You need to get out of Despotism and
the only non optional government tech
is Feudalism and that government is not
a real good option.

 

[bmlb]

Republic, as Tatran said, to get out of Despotism.
I also always get Sanitation.

I normally skip most other optional techs, and trade with AI. Make them waste their time researching them. If I'm far enough ahead, I'll research Music Theory and then trade it to AI after I build Bach's Cathederal, so it's worthless. Sometimes AI is sooooo dumb!

 

[mastertyguy]

I'm not sure, but I think no body but me said DEMOCRACY. It is the best governement in civ3. In civ2, it's different, with all those penalties I don't remember, but now, it is great. And I didn't mean one choose one optional tech in your game, but which is the most necessary. I already won twice diplomatic without republic, and, once, domination without chivalry but MT. The only victory that needs almost all optional techs is cultural. Especially in OCC, you need literacy (GL especially for the culture, 6 at the beginning, 12 later in the game, library) and music and free artistry and sanitation (you only have one city, better it has 100% def bonus and most tiles worked), but you don't necessarly need cavs or rifles or knights.

 

[Tomoyo]

I never research Democracy. I never use it. Too much WW and comes way too late.

 

[The Omega]

Isn't your whole game strategy to get tanks before everyone else? :insert my naa smilie:

That's Plan B. I want to control at least half the world before I get tanks, and after I get the tanks, I'm unstoppable. *Evil laugh*

 

[Rohili]

I never research Democracy. I never use it. Too much WW and comes way too late.

You end your games too early... I always start dominating the world after getting Democracy (not to say I don't wage war and conquer civs beforehand).

This is a tough choice. I normally build all optional techs except ironclads, advanced flight and fascism (all of which I normally always get through trade through suing for peace etc). I say Monarchy/Republic since it is vital to get out of Despotism fast.

 

[DBear]

It's easier to list which optional techs are not essential.

Demo/Free Art
Fascism
Ironclads
Adv. Flight
Recycling

 

[Drakan]

I agree with Tomoyo: Republic.

 

[Tomoyo]

You end your games too early... I always start dominating the world after getting Democracy (not to say I don't wage war and conquer civs beforehand).

This is a tough choice. I normally build all optional techs except ironclads, advanced flight and fascism (all of which I normally always get through trade through suing for peace etc). I say Monarchy/Republic since it is vital to get out of Despotism fast.

I don't end my games too fast. I usually play for a Space Race. It's just that the extra two techs needed for Democracy + the anarchy time + screwed if war starts and I can't make peace makes Democracy not worth it.

Remember, Democracy is hidden behind another useless optional tech.

 

[k-a-bob]

I don't end my games too fast. I usually play for a Space Race. It's just that the extra two techs needed for Democracy + the anarchy time + screwed if war starts and I can't make peace makes Democracy not worth it.

Remember, Democracy is hidden behind another useless optional tech.

I sometimes research it just to sell it to the others - they pay a lot for a govt tech!

 

[Grohan]

Republic is the best.
I also like economics, military tradition and communism

 

[thetrooper]

Republic and Economics.

 

[Bartleby]

ironclads

 

[NINJABOO]

For me it would probally be Literature. I tend to play peaceful games with maybe only two or three wars, so I like them librarys.

 

[mastertyguy]

Hey, this would be good as a poll. When I'll have some time, I'll add this to my website.
btw, still no body says DEMOCRACY. Hey, with that I changed a desparatly corrupted island into a rich shield mine. Hey got another idea : the worst optional tech!!

 

[thetrooper]

Worst optional tech? Bartleby gave us a hint...

 

[mastertyguy]

I never research Democracy. I never use it. Too much WW and comes way too late.

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW CAN YOU WINWITHOUT DEMOCRACY (in capitals so you hear my well )
IN SOME ESCEPTIONS' YOU CAN SURVIVE' BUT IT IS THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN POSSIBLY OVER PRODUCE THE AI IN IONDUSTRIAL. THIS IS WHY I, SOMETIMES, AM ABLE TO LAUNCH BEFORE THE AI AS A SINGLE PART. ABOUT WW, YOU EARN SO MUCH MORE GPT YOU CAN JUST GIVE SOME ENT. IT IS SO MUCH SUPERIOR TO REPUBLIC. I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU.
btw, if you have seen it, I used this "smiley combo" ( ) now twice.
PS: I just started the worst optionnal tech, like now, you know

 

[vmxa]

I never use demo either. I may research it on occassions to sell/trade. Even if I had it, I would not switch to it. I make only one switch per game, either Rep or Monarchy. Well I did once play in despotism all the way to the end in a sid game, just to see if could be done.

If non religious, I just do not see making more than one switch.