Which is the first technology you usually research?

[JaGarLo]

I think the title says it all. Which is usually the first tech you research?

In my opinion, I often go for Animal Husbandry first, so I get to know where the horses are, and also it leads to The Wheel, so I can build Chariots if someone decides to rush me... And finally, after The Wheel, I can get Mathematics (with Archery?) and try to get the HG as soon as possible.

What about you?

 

[builer680]

I've been playing as Russia lately, so Animal Husbandry (extra early hammer helps if Horse is nearby). Otherwise it's usually Pottery. I answered AH (1 current vote) for the poll. Currently there's only one vote for that, so I'm assuming you must have voted Pottery (2 current votes), as it's the only other tech with votes right now.

 

[Becomedeath]

Depends really, most of my games I'll go for AH so I can decide where to place my next city but pottery is also a useful way to go as it opens up a lot more options, particularly if you're playing a science game.

 

[Lunchmoney]

Depends on my starting location. I like to get the 'henge up, so Pottery and Calender usually. But if there are lots of gold/silver/gems sitting around, I'll hit up mining and a worker to get the coins quicker. If the area is crowded with Cows, then Animal Husbandry... You get the idea

 

[Sir Lunchalot]

If I have mining-related luxuries nearby my capital then mining, if not then pottery.

 

[peddroelm]

Mining most of the time. (enables chopping and hill mines which are essential for cranking production early)...Pottery is usually second for granary ...

 

[Camikaze]

Pottery's my pick, to open up Calendar and Writing (although this isn't as attractive now the National College opening isn't there).

 

[Supr49er]

Depends of course, but I like to find the horses early.

 

[TPQ]

Like other's say, it depends, but usually mining as it boosts early production with chopping and hammers and a good 50% of the time I'll get a luxury that requires mining, or requires having to go through mining to get to masonry.

Also, mining leads to bronze working (after masonry) and from there iron working and I like to know where the iron is as soon as possible so I can plan my third city location to get as much of it as possible.

 

[pxpdoo]

I always check to see what's in my immediate Capital radius and decide from there. (I almost always produce Scout-Scout-Worker-Wonder at first (I use $$ to buy my first couple of Settlers).) The important thing is to give that Worker something to be doing when it finally pops. The other important thing (imho) is to have a Wonder ready to start once that Worker is built. (Masonry and/or Calendar.)
But I voted for Husbandry here, as it is my slight favorite.

 

[Optional]

It depends on a lot of factors. Which techs I need to hook up a luxury is important to know.
If I'm on grass or plains I would be very interested to know if I have horses, but if I have Calendar resources in forest I will need 3 other techs to hook that up, so then I'll probably not go for Animal Husbandry first.
Also if I'm on terrain that makes it unlikely for horses to show up I won't research that tech first.

Of all 4 starting techs it's only Archery that I'll never research first. After that I think also Mining will often be not so interesting, because if I have a resource that requires just Mining I still have time to research something else before a worker is available.
That would leave Pottery and Animal Husbandry as my favourites. In the back of my mind is always that Writing could make it easier to bag some money from selling Open Borders, but selling a lux will often be more profitable than selling Open Borders or horses, so I'll probably not beeline straight to Writing, unless I'm China or Korea.

Also being coastal can be a factor for me, as Pottery opens up the route to Sailing. Depending on the map, a single trireme can open up interesting possibilities.

 

[chazzycat]

All else equal, pottery. Writing still gives open borders and calendar is usually important (either for luxes or stoneworks) Mining is probably the 2nd most common for when I have gold/silver/gems.

 

[Steelyglint]

Mining is generally the most useful in my mind. If your first worker has no open fields to improve then he can chop shi.t down and build mines. Pottery is cool 'cause it gets you to writing and stuff but 7 turns delay doesn't make too much difference. Archery speaks for itself. Normally acquired from a ruin. Animal Husbandry is meh, there's more important thing and if I'm rushing to HG then getting mining first is wise as HG is often quite late-built if you leave it alone.

 

[Strategist83]

Anecdote of interest: Shortly before game release, in a video presentation, the guy who was employed to work on Civ5 following Firaxis' impression with what he did I believe in the modding community for Civ4 - I forgot his name - said that he always went with Animal Husbandry first and could see no possible situation where it wouldn't be the optimal opening. Obviously, though, he was wrong.

 

[Kerosene31]

Am I the only one who goes archery? Unless I need sailing for a sea map and go pottery, I want a few early archers to protect from barbs and early rushes. I figure by the time I have a worker I will have a 2nd tech researched anyway.

 

[chazzycat]

Am I the only one who goes archery? Unless I need sailing for a sea map and go pottery, I want a few early archers to protect from barbs and early rushes. I figure by the time I have a worker I will have a 2nd tech researched anyway.

Depending on the difficulty and map, early archery can be necessary for defense. Early, but not first. Generally I think it's more common to circle back the starting warrior to defend your 1st worker from barbs.

 

[Supr49er]

Or get lucky and get a Scout promoted to an Archer.

 

[budweiser]

I've been opening with Pottery first lately so I can build a granary asap.

 

[Martin Alvito]

A fun question that is deeper than it looks. Most of the time, you should take Pottery. Doing so opens up three second-tier techs that you can hut luck, two of which are on the critical pathway to Education. It also unlocks a building that you'll want quickly if you plan to stay at just two cities (capital and Collective Rule Settler): the Granary. However, this is not always best.

If you are in a large expanse of Forest, you almost certainly need to take Mining and chop a Settler. Hit the Deer tiles first. If you settled a Mining luxury, you will also want Mining first. In any other scenario, Mining is probably a bad idea. It can wait until the second tech, which is usually when you have the first Worker on the ground.

If you are playing Catherine, you need to take Animal Husbandry. Otherwise, you will make errors in early Settler placement.

There is no good reason to take Archery first. Even on Deity, that can and should wait until the more critical early techs are cleared.

 

[Windsor]

I go straight for archery. Just warriors will usually not hold against the AI. At deity you have to be prepared for war from at least T20 so getting early military units is crucial.