What is your best breakthrough technology?

[Fanatic Noob]

Question as in topic. I mean about technologies, which not give you direct possibility to build building, unit or wonder, but leads you to better future, as giving possibility to other invent more new technologies.

For me one of such is The Corporation, as it needs only banking and industrialization (and both of those are very good to have as fast as possible, so you have then The Corporation open to research),

and leads you to:

- mass production (with automobile) - which is maybe not so much useful (only submarines and mass transit, but leads to nuclear fission also)
- refining with (with chemistry) - gives you power plant also, but most important that it leads to combustion and automobile then
- and genetic engineering (with medicine) - I think it is what makes The Corporation the most useful tech as breakthrough, as it makes you able to build Cure for Cancer Wonder, and it is mostly the first tech to get after The Corporation for me (If I have medicine already), because advantages from having of Cure for Cancer are very big and it never expires. Also it makes me think that Tech Tree of Civ1 is way not realistic, as it allows you to have Cure for Cancer very early in the game (you even not need Computers, sic!)

 

[Whelkman]

Though it and the immediately following techs seemingly do little, Ceremonial Burial is a great starter tech for "builder" civilizations. Just one hop to Monarchy for an early game production boost, and it's also required to get more the advanced Republic and Democracy. It also helps out sea exploration by leading to Navigation.

 

[Fanatic Noob]

Well, but I had on mind techs which by itself not give any benefits, while ceremonial burial already allows you to build temples, so it does not fit the needs. Techs I like to compare to like: alphabet, atomic theory, or feudalism, etc... (any of them gives no direct benefits)

 

[Whelkman]

You should have listed them for clarity's sake. There are only 11:

• Alphabet
• Atomic Theory
• Chemistry
• The Corporation
• Electricity
• Engineering
• Explosives
• Feudalism
• Invention
• Philosophy
• Physics

Alphabet is a given, but I guess if you're looking for a good mid-game do-nothing tech, I'd go with Explosives for warriors and Physics for builders. You could also go with Invention as it changes the look of the advisers.

 

[Fanatic Noob]

Well, that's the whole list I think. I though also a bit about bridge building, but it makes possible to build bridges, so does not count as "do nothing tech". Invention does only cosmetic change of advisors, so should be counted. I also like Invention, but only when I have no hanging gardens, as it stop them working. Philosophy is also strong one.

 

[Valen]

For me. it has to be invention.
It leads to gunpowder which ends the era of the long-standing phalanx.
More importantly, it is just 2 steps away from the crucial technology of railroad which ushers in the modern age.

 

[jpciv]

1. Philosophy means Religion (Bach) and Democracy soon

2. Invention means RR soon

3. Electricity means Hoover soon

4. Corp means Cancer soon

5. Explosives means Armor soon

 

[blessern]

Philosophy also means Medicine (Sheakespeare) (witch you also need for the CfCancer) an Theory of Gravity (I.Ns College) and Democracy ass well as Religion.

Electricity on the other hand means the end of the Colossus, so I tend to discover that as late as possible. Sometimes I wait too long though...

 

[blessern]

Great thread by the way