What techs to research?

[Ando]

Ive just got civ4 recently so ive only played a couple of games. Ive read a few topics here regarding strats and what you should research early on. Ive got an early game research order but once i get past that ive found myself getting a bit lost as to what i should research.

Im playing as the English just now, so i start with Fishing and Mining. Ive been going for Bronzeworking first to find copper and to let workers chop. Then ive been going the wheel -> pottery to let me build cottages. After that ive been going for Masonry for the Pyramid or Iron Working if i dont have copper. Then ive been going Mysticism -> Polytheism -> Priesthood for the oracle (i know meditation is quicker but i go for monotheism later so i need polytheism eventually anyway). After priesthood i go writing -> alphabet to let me trade techs with the AI for the early techs i missed (like agriculture, animal husbandry, hunting, archery and sailing).

After tech trading i go for monotheism for organised religion; mathematics for hanging gardens; code of laws for couthouses; metal casting -> machinery for watermills; construction for cats/elephants; literature -> music for free great artist; currency for markets and then calendar for plantations if i have sugar, silk etc.

But after that i get a bit lost as to what path to follow.

If anyone has any comments on my above strategy or any ideas about what i should go for next it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Petrucci]

alot of it depends on how you want the game to go and the particular leader you choose. Playing the the strengths of your leader will give you an edge right out of the gate. That is what I looove about this game, kinda like a choose your own adventure. I kinda took predetermined paths to begin, but once you start getting the hang of how the tech tree goes alot more things start "clicking". Thoughts like ut oh ive been negleting my army, better get theocracy so I can get those extra xp, and get those techs for them maces. Or you want that free Tech hit up priesthood, liberlism. Can't forget the other free great people if you like doing that.

Its so open at times its frustrating, so I could never over state the fact that you may want to take a moment when you get to the, "what now?" question, and think about it a bit, open up the civilopedia and see what you can beeline to to get the edge of the AI. Taking over their land? Hit up the techs that will give you military might, Stuck on an island by yourself? In that situation is go for the techs to get my ships over to their island. Just reassess the situation you are in at any time you are feeling lost and prioritize your plan and reaffirm your actions in your mind.

Hope this isn't general or stating the obvious, but making that plan and altering if situations swing against you are the name of the game.

 

[VoiceOfUnreason]

Im playing as the English just now, so i start with Fishing and Mining....

But after that i get a bit lost as to what path to follow.

I think you are a bit lost before that.

From what you describe, you aren't basing your research on strategy, but are instead collecting a sequence of tokens... and then you get stuck because the path that gets collects these prizes for you doesn't actually make coherent progress toward a goal.

Consider this question: if you play Victoria, instead of Elizabeth, how does your research path change?

 

[Sisiutil]

The overall point of the responses thus far is that you need to adjust your initial research strategy out of the gate based upon the techs you start with, the traits of your leader, and the surroundings in which you find yourself.

For example, if you're playing as Hatshepsut of Egypt, you won't want to wait until Alphabet to get Animal Husbandry. If I play as Hatty, I want AH ASAP because it reveals horses, which are needed for her very useful Unique Unit, the War Chariot.

If you start a war with that unit and find yourself up against a lot of heavily defended cities with big cultural bonuses sitting on hills, you'll probably prioritize Construction so you can build Catapults.

Your research priorities need to adjust in each game based upon these sorts of factors.

 

[DaveMcW]

After you collect all the mini-goals you want, it's time to start thinking about how you plan to win the game. If you're going for conquest, research military units and civics. If you're going for space, research buildings and civics that boost science. (Emancipation is the single best science civic).

Don't forget to throw some science into a military game, and vice versa.

 

[ownedbyakorat]

Bah, techs are for wussies. Conquer the world with warriors, you know you want to.

 

[Demartus]

As others have said, it will depend a lot on your leader. I play usually as Washington, and typically I research The Wheel and Pottery first, for cottages. It is important to get those up and running quickly.

You said you research Fishing first. That should only hold true if you start on water, and then if there's a special resource available, or perhaps on a lake. Animal Husbandry or Agriculture would be more important if you had Pigs/Cows/etc. or flood plains/Corn/Wheat/etc. nearby.

Later on, two things to prioritize. Techs that give a bonus to the first person to researching it (religion, free GP, free techs), and what goal are you going for (and how you want to attain that goal). Also don't forget to consider what your civ needs right then.

Are you going for a cultural win? Aim for Drama. Military conquest/domination? Head for new units and industry techs. But my economy is hurting? Hit up econ techs like Currency, Banking, or Economics.

Mostly it's going to be situational what you need to research next, so blanket statements that you should research X->Y->Z aren't really very helpful. Why research the tech for Calvary if you don't have horses?

Have fun!