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

[E_T]

I agree with GK, I've gotten Industrialization way before the AI ever has and that's while still playing catchup. The advent of Factories way before the AI has allowed me to get ALL of the Industrial Wonders, with no real problems. I was able to techwhore Industrialization, shortly before getting Sufferage, and the same with Sci Method & Electronics, but only when I was assured of a proper lead and that the AI wouldn't be able to switch to the next Wonder.

Normally, around that time, the MPP wars are erupting. These are most likely caused by the AI using an Intelligence Agency and missing the dice roll.

E_T

[star mouse]

Steam engine
then make a beeline for Refining to get a good tradeable tech

[E_T]

UI usually go for steam, Ind, then Electricity and Medicine, while trding for Nat. I then get Sci Meth, Atomic & Electronic, then trade for Corp, Com & Espianage. By this time I'm even with the AI and just a bit ahead and I'm really starting to make money off of them. I then get Darwins & Hoover tohelp cinch the deal and I then own the AI.

E_T

[Vlad Antlerkov]

Steam Power for rails, then Medicine, on a beeline to SciMeth. As most AIs go for Steam Power when the Industrial Age starts, we can probably sell Medicine at high prices. (It'd be VERY nice for other civs to pay through the nose for our techs, and not vice versa.)

[roadcage]

My usual approach is Steam, Indu, Med, then San. I never bother with Nat, it is always available at the peace table. And if not, who cares. I don't really want to go Commie, and my luck with espionage is so pittiful that I no longer bother. All of this branch are non required for advancement. Why waste so many turns?

Steam starts the RR buildout. RR bonuses make Indu's factories feasible, so that San's hospitals don't take forever. Considering our position, many of our cities cannot utilize hospitals due to jungle, but some can and hopefully more will by that time.

Once this is done, it's cherrypick the wonders.

[ruby_maser]

I don't care what tech it is, as long as we get parity or better with the other civs in science soon. With the bonuses they have on emperor level, that will be success enough to achieve it and maintain it... and profit from it

[joncnunn]

Definately Medicine.

But we really need to enter tje IA right away.

[joncnunn]

Athough, if we don't buy ourselves out of the Middle Ages soon, even Medicine will be discovered.

Maybe we should buy Nationalism as soon as possible after entering the Industrail Age.

We would then have two additional techs that the AI is slow to research. (And it would also give us the ability to mobilize the economy if needed.)

[realpolitic]

Originally posted by joncnunn
Athough, if we don't buy ourselves out of the Middle Ages soon, even Medicine will be discovered.

Maybe we should buy Nationalism as soon as possible after entering the Industrail Age.

(And it would also give us the ability to mobilize the economy if needed.)

1.Yes, the best way into the IA is to set the science slider to 0% and buy all the MA techs, then maximize the slider to get Medicine.
2. Not a good idea, our mobilized Cavalry would be fighting mainly Riflemen, but embargoes are effective at slowing down advanced civs, and causing friction between them & others

[Arnelos]

Originally posted by realpolitic
1.Yes, the best way into the IA is to set the science slider to 0% and buy all the MA techs, then maximize the slider to get Medicine.

I like this idea and IS my plan if elected FAM under 0% conditions. I have a different plan if 60% if obtained (go see my campaign thread).

2. Not a good idea, our mobilized Cavalry would be fighting mainly Riflemen, but embargoes are effective at slowing down advanced civs, and causing friction between them & others

As I've stated in the war declaration thread, the SMC will require a sizable artillery corps with plenty of cannon units. Such an artillery corps will need to be augmented by a sizable for of mobile riflemen stacks able to defend the cannon stacks in enemy territory. This might even make up the bulk of our military for such a war, with the cavalry only serving to take down 1-2 enemy cities at at time while they're being bombarded by our cannon stacks.

Wars in the early industrial age are paralizingly slow compared to other periods... let us recall that this is the same time period as the American Civil War and the First World War .... casualties will be high and ground will be gained very slowly... the advantage in wars has gone to the defense...

[joncnunn]

Once the AIs have Rifle Men everyhere we'll be in about US Civil War and the German wars of unification.

After we start seeing infentry, then we are in WWI. That would be a great time to simply stop the wars in place.

Any gueses on most likely locations for Rubber? If we can take those areas first, we can prevent having to fight WWI and keep ourselves in the US Civil War / German War of reunification era against them.