Tech Discussion

[regoarrarr]

What is your reasoning that neither of the 2 teams that we have met has Math?

[Sullla]

From C&D, we can see when the teams on the other continent research techs based on when their score increases. Classical era techs are worth 12 points, which makes them easy to distinguish from Ancient ones, which are only worth 6 points. Of course, we can't determine what those techs are unless there is a corresponding military point increase.

Based on what we know, both Rabbits and Banana have Iron Working. I don't think either one has researched any other Classical era techs yet... Our best bet upon meeting one of these teams is probably to negotiate a deal whereby we get them to research Monarchy for us. (Or, if we're really lucky, one of them will be just on the verge of discovering it!)

[Dreylin]

We are due to complete Literature next turn, and I don't recall having seen any discussion of next Tech yet ... so here's a start!

Obviously, what is available next does depend vastly on whether we can swing the proposed trade with Imperio; however it seems like the key barrier we currently have is Happiness.

There has been a lot of talk about Drama recently (particularly with PAL's trade offer), but that provides us no Happiness benefits unless we either: a) already have Calendar, or b) build culture.

What we really need is Monarchy, right? But we seem to have taken it off the table at the moment with Imperio, preferring Mathematics' immediate GL benefits. We could try Aest, Lit & Mono for Math & Monarchy; but with Imperio's language barrier & generally slow response time, it seems unlikely. So it's looking like we may have to research Monarchy for ourselves if we want it soon.

However if we do manage to swing Maths from Imperio, that opens up Calendar as an option ... probably one we want to pursue instead.

[mostly-harmless]

At 60% tech rate we are breaking even. At that rate it takes us 6 turns for HBR and 6 turns for Monarchy.

With Imperios shift to Serfdom, I think the threat has been reduced.

I would like us to go for Monarchy after Literature, but are easily moved by a good argument for another choice.

mh

[regoarrarr]

m-h: Can the C&D dept post a list of what techs the other teams have already (along with any info we have about where they might be heading)?

[Zeviz]

Monarchy is the most critical tech for us and would only take 5 or 6 turns to research, so we should go for it, instead of delaying it further by continuing to negotiate with Imperio.

[Sullla]

m-h: Can the C&D dept post a list of what techs the other teams have already (along with any info we have about where they might be heading)?

Templars
- Techs we have over them: Aesthetics*
- Techs they have over us: none

Imperio
- Techs we have over them: Aesthetics*, Monotheism*
- Techs they have over us: Monarchy, Mathematics, Construction, Feudalism

PAL
- Techs we have over them: Aesthetics*
- Techs they have over us: Monarchy, Mathematics
- They have told us they are researching Civil Service (8t)

Rabbits
- Techs we have over them: Aesthetics*, Alphabet, Iron Working*, Code of Laws, Polytheism, Priesthood, Monotheism*
- Techs they have over us: none

* denotes a tech we researched ourselves, and can trade to other teams

It's a little hard to say what tech we should research next, as it depends on what PAL and Imperio agree upon. I think our best course is to run zero science for a turn or two while awaiting their answers.

[Dreylin]

However, even at 0% Science we are producing beakers from the Scientific community at China Beach ... we should try to avoid them going to waste...

[Swiss Pauli]

Rabbits
- Techs we have over them: Aesthetics*, Alphabet, Iron Working*, Code of Laws, Polytheism, Priesthood, Monotheism*
- Techs they have over us: none

That's even more lame of Rabbits than I thought it would be I'm almost pleased that we gave PAL horses to get rid of these clowns.

If we go to zero research, then why not select Drama as the placeholder?

[sooooo]

I proposed this in the PAL thread, but why not go full speed for monarchy. Then we can research whatever we need to give to PAL. We don't need to research PAL's tech straightaway, right? They are 8 turns away from CS, which may become longer when they take more cities or have to slave a new army to finish the rabbits off.

[T-hawk]

I agree full speed on Monarchy. We need HR, and don't forget our wines too. Monarchy is a considerably bigger and easier happy fix than any of the other options (Calendar).

[Zeviz]

Yes, full speed on Monarchy and timing our cities to grow at the same time we get the tech.

[mostly-harmless]

I believe we can get Monarchy in no more than 4 turns.
Now the question is whether we wait for the PAL deal (getting CS) to go ahead before making the civic switch?

We can afford to delay the switch to Hereditary Rule if we are quick with a couple of workers to connect up the wine (or possible two wines to trade for another happy resource, gems from PAL or gold from Imperio (I prefer the last)). The risk we are running is, that we cannot rely on PAL's estimate of 8 turns to CS.

mh

[T-hawk]

No need to wait for Civil Service to double up with HR on a civics switch. We have Org Rel available now.

[mostly-harmless]

ok, but would we not prefer Bureaucracy over Org Religion, right now?

mh