Research Strategy

[Asmodeus]

While we are eagerly awaiting the start of the new Demo Game and now we have at least a small glimpse of our location and neighbours, I thought it would be a good idea to think about our research strategy.

Please post any ideas you have for our Viking Research.

I am currently at work and cant browse the Civilapaedia but I'm guessing as Militaristic & Expansionist we will start with Bronze Working and Pottery. Please correct me if I'm wrong here.

That gives us Granaries and Spearmen and more importantly Colossus. What should we research first?
(Im assuming we wont do zero research and trade for it!)

Warrior Code of course would be useful. Archers would allow us to force Spain on the defensive maybe even take their lands off them.

But our illiterate Vikings will not be able to do much in the way of diplomacy plus we will need to be literate for Map Making for our Longships!! So maybe Alphabet would benefit us better in the longrun?

[Panzer32]

Iron Working in 40 turns

First level techs are easily traded for; we might be able to get IW before some AIs get is...

edit: never mind; can't do it

[Cort Haus]

Doesn't Mil/Exp give Warrior Code and Pottery?

[joncnunn]

I vote to reserach IW in 40 turns.

[Rhothaerill]

Research? What mean research? We illiterate viking who take what we want when we want it. Ugh-Ook-Ack!

Yes vikings start with warrior code and pottery. We'll have archer capability and a good chance at popping some 1st level tech from a hut very quickly withour scout. But there is also the fact that we can trade for both alphabet and ceremonial burial from those spaniards on the other side of that lake. Iron Working would be nice to have, but we have to get bronze working first, and we'll probably get that from AI contacts or a hut. I would almost want to start with the Wheel at 40 turns as it is usually the last 1st level tech researched by the AI.

[UnOrthOdOx]

You will have Warrior Code and Pottery.


Those can be traded right away to Spain, though.

I would beeline for Map and/or Lit, personally.

[GodKing]

Depends on how close the other civs are. If there are lots of contacts, the AI will have all the first tier and most of the second tier in no time. If that is the case, probably the only tech we can research and have a chance of getting prior to the AI will be monarchy. As has been hinted that the FAM office will have a lot to do this term, I suspect that this is the case and we should therefore start right a way.

[Rhothaerill]

Originally posted by GodKing
Depends on how close the other civs are. If there are lots of contacts, the AI will have all the first tier and most of the second tier in no time. If that is the case, probably the only tech we can research and have a chance of getting prior to the AI will be monarchy. As has been hinted that the FAM office will have a lot to do this term, I suspect that this is the case and we should therefore start right a way.

Good point. Perhaps another strategy is to get ceremonial burial from Spain and shoot for mysticism for the polytheism/monarchy tree. Polytheism is another tech the AI doesn't prioritize for the most part and is often excellent trade bait. The rest of our strategy will depend heavily on contacts and the possibilities from huts. The expansionist trait will serve us well if we can get those contacts quickly and use them judiciously.

[G'Kar]

I say, put our faith in the scouts.

Go to 0% research (for a while). Trade with Spain for alphabet and burial. Use two scouts to pop huts and get tech. We continue trading for tech as needed.

[Kloreep]

Hold off on tech for now, but research BW fairly soon if we can't trade for it.

While at 0%, research should be set to CB so we don't get it from a hut.

[OPD]

get burial from a hut then do 40 turns mysticism

[Rhothaerill]

Originally posted by OPD
get burial from a hut then do 40 turns mysticism

Why from a hut when we can trade with Spain for it right off the bat? Save the huts for more useful and expensive techs.

[MattH]

I'd say go for Literature, or maybe the northbridge.

[Jonny]

I say we first trade with Spain for what we can get. We probably won't get both Alphabet and Ceremonial Burial, as Alphabet is one of the most expensive 1st tier techs, and Pottery is the least valuable of them.

Then, we research Bronze Working -> Iron Working, and then make a beeline for a well tradeable tech(s), such as the polytheism/monarchy line. Then, given enough nearby neighbor civs, we should be able to maintain technical parity through tech trades, goody huts, and (of course) peace treaties, as our sword-armed armies rape and pillage their way through enemy lands.

[Beta]

Hmmm - I like the 0% idea - fingres crossed we get BW early, and then go for IW.

Regardless of the map and our neighbours - we know we will be bonking heads soon. At least let's bonk heads with swordsmen.