"Liberalism" Slingshot?

[andyman287]

Is there any preferred tech choice for your free shot from "Liberalism"? I always shoot to get liberalism first, but draw a blank on which tech is the best to snag... and wonder if there's a smart way to set up my tech tree so when I hit liberalism the free tech is as good as it can be.

I'm sure it depends on what strategy you've adopted by that point, since Liberalsim is late-mid game, but any ideas most welcome.

[Blake]

Usually Nationalism.
Astronomy and Chemistry can also be viable choices. I tend to grab one of them if I'm mad keen on going commie ASAP, astronomy is for terra maps, chemistry otherwise. Astronomy has the advantage of Physics after sci.method (and free great scientist), chemistry lets you get steel and kick ass.

I think that with the latest patch all 3 of those techs cost exactly the same beakers, altough I think Nat is the easiest to get, Chemistry requires Engineering I think, and Astronomy requires Optics. But these aren't expensive techs so if you're somewhat confident in your lead it's quite okay to research the appropriate one.

[xxFlukexx]

I call it the Liberalism Economics two-step. Liberalism grants me a free tech and Economics grants me a free Great Merchant.

I usually get astronomy if I can though, it's an expensive tech and grants you the ability to build observatories (+25% science) so that'll slingshot yor science even further. Astronomy is probably the best choice unless you want chemistry or nationalism to get greandiers/cavalry. I like to hold off trading Education until I am 1 turn away from Liberalism then trading it for Optics and other stuff.

[poiuyt00]

Almost always Nationalism for me, then I am Gunpowder and Mil Tradition away from Calvary.

[Yuufo]

At Monarch, I have enough time to get first Nationalism, then go Paper Education Liberalism. Then, Constitution is my freebie.

If I'm really advanced, I research first Printing Press and Constitution, and get Democracy (far more expensive tech).

I don't like picking Chemistry or Astronomy, since the AI seem to research these techs quite early (so that I can trade them, or at least research with less beakers needed).

I never research military tradition, preferring to go to Riflemen not so long later. This tech is near my favourite tech progression: Replaceable Parts (for lumbermills) Steam Engine (reveals Coal - tells me where to attack) Assembly Line (gives me troops to attack).

[gus_smedstad]

Almost always I get Nationalism, followed by Military Tradition for gunpowder and Military Tradition for Cavalry. By preference I would go for Riflemen over Cavalry, but Replaceable Parts requires Banking, Guilds, and Feudalism, which I usually don't have when I research Liberalism. Sometimes I don't have Machinery either, depending on how hard I've pushed for Liberalism. Often a focused push for Cavalry will get you them when you're facing nothing but Longbows and Knights, and you can steamroller right over an enemy civ without catapults.

- Gus

[Arrian]

Playing on Prince, I've used it to snag Democracy. But that requires a hefty tech lead. More often I use it on Astronomy or Constitution (I generally pick the most expensive tech available).

-Arrian

[Quillan]

I grab the most expensive tech available, which is typically Nationalism or Astronomy. In the choice between those two, I get Nationalism unless I'm playing on a Terra map.

[byrath]

Astronomy usually. If I am in a hurry to get the Wall Street I will grab Economics. Most often though I am more concerned about opening up those overseas trade routes for health or happiness resources.

[Fried-Psitalon]

Liberalism for Economics, Great Merchant for Printing Press or Replaceable Parts, putting me one step closer to stomping cavalry when the dead-end-techers appear.

[OzzyKP]

I agree with Fried, I like using it to get Econ, then I can get another freebee with the Great Merch.

[Crossfire]

I usually go Nationalism or Astronomy (probably the later more often) and then I research Economics for the GM. If I have avoided trading Education (and I have a good tech lead) then I still have time for this. If I needed to trade Education then I will take Economics for my freebie. I often use the GM for a caravan though so I have that $1,500 or so to upgrade troops.

[Shaka II]

Originally posted by xxFlukexx
I call it the Liberalism Economics two-step. Liberalism grants me a free tech and Economics grants me a free Great Merchant.

I usually get astronomy if I can though, it's an expensive tech and grants you the ability to build observatories (+25% science) so that'll slingshot yor science even further. Astronomy is probably the best choice unless you want chemistry or nationalism to get greandiers/cavalry. I like to hold off trading Education until I am 1 turn away from Liberalism then trading it for Optics and other stuff.

That's sounds about the same as what I did in current game (emperor/highlands/standard size) playing as Elizabeth with strong financial. I chose (from memory) liberalism (free tech) --> astronomy --> economics (free merchant) --> nationalism --> military tradition (for defensive pact survival insurance) --> scientific method --> physics (free scientist) --> electricity, trading for the other techs. I'm researching medicine now for environmentalism (after trading for biology with my pact partner), as my short term survival is guaranteed, planning to trade for steam power, and proceed to industrialism. I think it depends who's in the game, what techs will be available for trading, etc.

[Blake]

I don't like picking Chemistry or Astronomy, since the AI seem to research these techs quite early (so that I can trade them, or at least research with less beakers needed).

That's an odd thing to say, because people often complain about the AI refusing to research Astronomy on Terra maps, and I don't think they behaivour is different on other maps.

One thing I should say about the Astronomy path. It's fun to go Astronomy -> Sci Method -> Physics, and prehaps Electricty -> Radio -> Computers (yes, this is all one big long tech line).
The problem though, is the deeper you go the worser your military gets. The payoff is huge in terms of getting the free GS, Broadway and several more happy/culture wonders, along with highly tradable techs, but you're neglecting the military research to an extrme. As such I consider it only viable in peaceful games on an Island, or prehaps with a buffer of staunch religious allys.

[JackRudd]

Originally posted by Blake
One thing I should say about the Astronomy path. It's fun to go Astronomy -> Sci Method -> Physics, and prehaps Electricty -> Radio -> Computers (yes, this is all one big long tech line).

This is then followed by the other long tech line that takes you to Assembly Line, and then Industralism -> Plastics -> Fiber Optics, and then you build the Internet and let the AI pick up the rest of the techs for you.