What should be the first tech we research in the Modern Age?

[realpolitic]

I nominate Medicine. We'll probably be beaten to the punch with Steam Engine & some scientific civ will probably get Nationalism before we can. Since Medicine is nessarsary for TOE, we get the ablity to techwhore Medicine, and a technology that will be useful soon, and we'll deprive funds to advanced civs that would be selling Steam Engine and Nationalism.

[Togas]

My top two are Steam and Nationalism, but I agree with the "techwhore" option. One tech that no one has can net us 2-3 other techs in exchange. Medicine would get my vote.

--Togas

[joncnunn]

Modern Age??? Isn't that two or three months away?

For the Modern Age, I usally start with Fission so that I can start building the UN so I can start a filibuster (unless the game is already down to me and 1 AI which my last game was and my current game is.)

Next is Computers (SETI & Mech Inf)

Then Ecology for the Mass Transists.

After that it veries.

As for the Industrial age that it right around the corner:

1. Medicine. I think we get beaten out to Steam Power. We will need to large amout of cash though. Tie Medicine and a luxary into the tech deal that gets Steam Power to minimize the GPT payments we have to make.

2. Sanititation. The sooner we can start geting Metropolises the better we will be for both reserach and building.

For the remainder of the Middle Ages.
After aquiring Democracy by any means, Free Artistry.

[Spiffor]

For the industrial age, I aslo think medicine is good : nationalism is auto-discovered by scientific Civs, and steam power (while an astounding tech) takes too long to discover.

[Thud]

Medicine is the choice choice here.

[E_T]

I normally go for Steam Engine, for the added benifits of Railroads (and knowing where coal is) and then I go for Industrialization for Factories (Sufferage & possible Iron Works). I then go for Medicine and trade for Nationalism. By that time, I have factories built in some of my top cities and can complete the hospitals and Mil units much faster.

With Railroad, I work to get my cities connected together first and then work on getting RR to the rest of the infrastructure. This way, If I need to move Mil Units "FAST", I can. With RR, you have the shield benifit of a GA, without the GA.

E_T

[Arnelos]

I agree about Medicine... it's the least popular choice for the AIs, which is precisely what may allow us to get it first and then techwhore it.

[Kloreep]

I think we need to wait and see how our research is doing after the GA. Remember, we got beaten to Democracy despite our Golden Age boost; once we're in the Industrial Age, I wouldn't count on being able to research techs in under 20 turns - 30, if we aren't serious about it and don't put much of the slider into it.

[Shiber]

Medicine is the cheapest of the three, and the AIs tend to research it last so we can techwhore it for some money and the rest of the early industrial techs.

[Sean]

Gee, everyone agreeing...it feels weird...I'm tempted to arge for anything else...just for the sake of the diversity of opinion.

Then again, maybe it is just a good idea.

[Skanky Burns]

Yeah, its probably just a good idea.

[zeit]

We were probably beaten to Democracy because the AI had a huge headstart, since we weren't investing on research for a long time, and when we started with Democracy- one of those civs was probably few turns into it, So i see no reason for pessimism, despite the fact we were shamefuly beaten to Dem.
I forsee a great period of scientific development coming- hopefully more resources will be turned towards commerce and less towards mlitary.

[Kloreep]

I agree we will see a major boost once the FP is completed and we have Libraries & some Universities up and running, and I think we could even become the tech leader if we are willing to invest a large part of the slider in science. I just don't feel confident we'll be at that position right at the start of the Industrial Age.

[E_T]

I don't think that we'll be the tech leader in the first of the Industrual age without taking Germany down by a notch or two first.

We also have Banks in the works, which will give us Wall Street (may be in Contagion) and we'll need to build up our cash reserve to take full advantage of it. With the Banks, we can also afford to move the slider up (or keep it the same after the GA is finished).

We also still have a large WC force that needs to be upgraded to Cavalry (at 120 Lytons per) and other defencive units that should be upgraded.

E_T

[GodKing]

I like steam engine. RR and coal, which we should have lots of, will offer more in our trades than any one single tech whore with medicin will IMO. We have most of the former jungle, with large areas of mountains and hills. I suspect we will probably get 3 or more coal. Any civ that does not have it will pay dearly to get it, along with RR. Another civ might, just might beet us there, but any research into it will reduce our costs in purchasing it. Also, we need it prior to industrialization, which IMO is probably one of the most important techs in this game. A tech which the AI does NOT take advantage of.