Which is the first technology you usually research?

[bhavv]

Depends on the start.

If I'm surrounded by stone / marble I'll want to open with Mining > Masonry > Pottery > Calendar so I can get the stones improved and rush buy a Stone works.

If I'm surrounded by wheat / deer / bananas I'll want Pottery first to build a granary before a worker, and if theres no need for mining or calendar to improve resources I'll take Writing asap.

After worker techs + Writing are done, I want AH to reveal horses, and then Archery to build a couple of Archers, followed up with rushing to mathematics.

Playing as Korea or Babylon really makes bulbing Civil Service and still being able to reach Mathematics quick enough to build the HG really easy.

 

[krc]

Since the question asked about "usually", I answered pottery. Second most common choice is mining (but that depends on the resources near the starting location).

But for some reason I've recently been playing civs that have an archer-based UU (Babylon, China, England) and exploring the unusual tactic of archery first and taking Temple of Artemis. On King, you often get both the Temple of Artemis and the great Library before the AI.

I don't think I've ever started with Animal Husbandry.

 

[Muskie]

I voted pottery and then after reading arguments against I tried other options. I'm all for mining and quarrying but I don't have a worker that quick.

I often build a monument first and without pottery my city has nothing to build except more warriors and scouts.

I'm a believer in Liberty and get my free worker and then a free settler that way.

So for my suddenly post patch more effective tactics, pottery unless there is just too many resources to resist.

Which Civ I am affects my plans but generally I'm a top of the tree guy until I need lawyers, guns, and money.

 

[fmlizard2]

Unless I am absolutely lousy with mining luxuries (like a gold/marble start), I open with Pottery. I love to build a granary before a worker in many starts, and the subsequent techs are just plain better.

On occasion I will open with Animal Husbandry, but I only do that when rushing Hanging Gardens and a super population strategy.

 

[Adjuvant]

This depends on available luxury resources.

 

[muhtesem insan]

Depends on the map and civ but after Wonders of the ancient world i have a tendency to archery.