Theory of Evolution: what's the deal?

[MyOlde]

I've built the Theory of Evolution a few times now and try as I do, I can't make it give me the two free science discoveries I want; namely, the next two I'm researching. I've highlighted both but the TofE just chooses two others -- seemingly randomly.

Is this how it's supposed to work? Or is there some way to force it to give me what I want?

Thanks for any help.

[jrvandy]

I believe it will never choose the one you are currently working on. Also i beleve it pickes the lowest two.

[MyOlde]

Thanks. Not sure what you mean by the "lowest two". In what way "lowest"?

[muppet]

I thought the wonder was suppose to give you two free SECONDARY techs?

SECONDARY = techs with the "no-entry" sign on the top right corner.

[jrvandy]

"lowest" tech meaning the ones that are most easy to reach. As for the "secondary" techs, I never heard of that.

[MyOlde]

Thanks. What I was hoping for was to use TofE to get one or two of the really hard ones -- 22 turns to get, sort of thing.

The "no-entry" sign means optional, I think. You don't need it to progress to the next level.

[muppet]

My english vocabulary is weaker than my typing skills.

Yes. I used "secondary" because I could not remember the word "optional". My vocabulary is very sporadic (sp?).

I seems to me the TofE always gives me two of the optional techs. Maybe it will provide a main tech enroute to an optional tech if there are no optionals immediately available?

[solo]

It gives the oldest techs first. To get newer techs, make the rounds just before it is built, acquiring all techs you don't already have. It would be better, of course, if it worked as in CivII, allowing the player to choose the two techs.

[ZiAH]

I'm almost positive it gives you the two techs that would take you the shortest time to research, which almost always end up being "optional" ones that you skipped an age ago or so. Definitely decreases the effectiveness of this wonder.