Science 1640 AD

[ixnay]

With the recent sucesses that we've had, we now have more techs to plan for and work with. In the last session, we researched:

Feudalism
Navigation
Physics

and we are currently half done with University. Other civs techs that we don't have are:

Bridge Building (Egypt, India, Rome, America)
Economics (Egypt, America)
Medicine (Egypt, America)

Following university our possible techs will be:

Magnetism (Galleon, Frigate, Electricity (w/metallurgy))
Steam Engine (Ironclad, Eiffel Tower, Railroad (w/bridges))
Chivalry (Knights, Leadership)
Metallurgy (Cannon, Coastal Fortress, Conscription)
Medicine (sanitation)
Theory of Gravity (Newton's, Atomic Theory)
Theology (Bach's)

So, with that in mind, here are some possible tech paths that I've laid out:

Metallurgy -> Conscription

Metallurgy will net us Cannons (8.1.1) which would be very useful against the walled Egyptian and American cities. Conscription would then give us Riflemen (5.4.1), which all 54 of our Musketeers (3.3.1) would upgrade to thanks to Leo's. Conscription is also a prereq for Tactics (Alpine troops, cavalry)

Chivalry -> Leadership -> (Conscription) -> Tactics

This path would greatly upgrade our attacking forces. Chivalry will give Knights (4.2.2) which are slightly weaker offensively than the Crusaders (5.1.2) that we already have. Leadership gives Dragoons (5.2.2) that any existing Knights and Crusaders will upgrade to. Tactics is big - with it, we can get Cavalry (8.3.2) and our dragoons would upgrade to them.

Steam Engine -> (Bridge Building) -> Railroad

Steam Engine will give us Ironclads (4.4.4), and since we have both the Lighthouse and Magellan's, they will have stats of (4.4.7) and would let us easily dominate the seas. The Eiffel tower is a relatively useless wonder as we currently have a reputation of Excellent. Railroad will give us, well, railroads, as well as Darwin's Voyage (2 free techs).

Magnetism -> Metallurgy -> Electricity

Magnetism will give us Galleons (0.2.4) and Frigates (4.2.4). Our caravels will upgrade to one of these (but I'm not exactly sure which one. Military advisor?) However, it will also obsolete the advantages we have from the Lighthouse. Electricity will give us Destroyers (4.4.6), which Frigates upgrade to. It will also negate the American's Great Library.

Medicine -> Sanitation

Um, no. Medicine gives Shakespeare's, which the Americans already have, and none of our cities are in need of the sewer systems that Sanitation provides.

Theory of Gravity -> Atomic Theory

The only benefits this path would provide is Newton's College. I believe we can wait on this for a while.

Whew! Well, if you have your own suggestions for variations of these paths, go ahead and post them. You'll have 2 days to vote.

[civman2000]

Why are there choices for both techs and the paths that result from a few of them?

[ixnay]

Gramphos did them like this back in the first few months - if you want to research a certain tech but not go along one of the paths I've put in the poll, vote for a single tech.

[Kuciwalker]

We have Iron Working and Construction, right? So why can't we choose Bridge Building?

[cavebear]

Great description of the effects of the various tech paths, Science Advisor ixnay37! I heartily support your candidacy for the next term. These kinds of posts are invaluable to all of us in understanding what we should research and the benefits of the different techs available to us!

[shade]

wow...how long did it take to make this (gazes in aw)



Shade

[Bigcash]

I say we advance as fast as possible for railroad, while building several engineers. Then we build continental railroads on the continents we share with other civilizations. Then, when we've passed them in military, our military can conquer each continent in a matter of turns.
Turning them into railroads shouldn't be hard, since most of the continents already have extensive railroad systems.

[Kropotkin]

I second Bigcash. Railroads is the fastest way to achieve increased productivity. At the same time ironclads will be able to help defend out coast lines and the railroads will enable us to cut down on defensive forces as reinforcements can be transported over the Apolyton island and eliminate all beachheads.

[Marquis de Sodaq]

Steam Engine!!!

Ironclads will allow us to sidestep those pesky city walls for most AI cities. Look at the map, few cities are not coastal. We can easily dominate the enemy with ironclads!

[cavebear]

Originally posted by Bigcash
I say we advance as fast as possible for railroad, while building several engineers. Then we build continental railroads on the continents we share with other civilizations. Then, when we've passed them in military, our military can conquer each continent in a matter of turns.
Turning them into railroads shouldn't be hard, since most of the continents already have extensive railroad systems.

You mean "road systems"? I don't see a single RR track anywhere.

[-Jrabbit]

IRONCLADS!!!!!!!!!

Vote Steam Engine!

(and steal bridge building so we don't have to waste research time on it)

[cavebear]

Right On, Comrade!

[MrWhereItsAt]

Yea for Ironclads (Steam Engine). I would want Cannons and Riflemen, but I fear for our sailors and the troops they ferry across the oceans in our lieration project. Remember that Caravel that killed one of our own off the coast of Egypt?

[Kropotkin]

At this very moment: Ironclads or bust! 5 votes and Steam Engine-->(bridge building)-->RR 4 votes. Does this mean that the later is winning as well or what?

[Hywel Dda]

Originally posted by Kropotkin
At this very moment: Ironclads or bust! 5 votes and Steam Engine-->(bridge building)-->RR 4 votes. Does this mean that the later is winning as well or what?

This is true, but then at this time 9 people have also voted for the two options that involve Conscription/Leo upgrades, and 7 have voted for paths involving Metallurgy!

Unless this is just seen as a straight win for the option that polls the most, there could be endless arguments as to which results should be added to which!