Civ 4 - Must-have technologies?

[Paul Hyett]

Are there any particular technologies you always research, ASAP?

I try to get Hunting ASAP, for the Scouts - with luck they can get you
several other techs from goody huts!

[><(((°>]

On Fri, 06 Aug 2010 07:28:56 +0100, Paul Hyett

Post by Paul Hyett
Are there any particular technologies you always research, ASAP?
I try to get Hunting ASAP, for the Scouts - with luck they can get you
several other techs from goody huts!

My 5 important early techs:

Bronze working
shows copper - leads to iron working - allows worker to chop forest
allows better units : note if Native American civ, allows Dog Soldier even
without copper

Animal Husbandry
shows horse - allows pasture on cows, sheep, horse & pig.

Iron working
shows iron - can build swords and later crossbows, maceman knights etc
NOTE: I find if I don't get an iron source I usually loose the game.

Wheel & pottery
If you don't cottage up early enough your economy & research will lag.

but however:
a) if you start with Mysticism: then get an early religion if you can -
Buddhism or Hinduism
b) if you start near coast with fish, crab or clam then get Fishing and
your fishing boats out there.

I usually aim to have iron & horse available asap
If marble, stone or ivory are near I'll get them too.

Once these resources are secure I go Writing, Mathematics then Calendar so
with plantations I can grow cities with happy faces :)

[David Littlewood]

Post by Paul Hyett
Are there any particular technologies you always research, ASAP?
I try to get Hunting ASAP, for the Scouts - with luck they can get you
several other techs from goody huts!

I find it is very important to found at least one religion - then if you
convert all your cities, and get your first great prophet, you get a
huge income advantage. The AI civs mostly go for Buddhism, so I go for
Hinduism and usually get there first.

David

[unknown]

On Fri, 6 Aug 2010 07:28:56 +0100, Paul Hyett

Post by Paul Hyett
Are there any particular technologies you always research, ASAP?
I try to get Hunting ASAP, for the Scouts - with luck they can get you
several other techs from goody huts!

I agree with all "must haves" mentioned so far including establishing
a religion.
Another thing I always try and get a soon as I can is the civic
Serfdom followed by Theology as a tech and then build the Hagia
Sophia wonder which has an effect until you discover steam power
Serfdom speeds up your workers by 50% but if you have the Hagia Sophia
as well it speeds up the workers even more
I also like to circumnavigate the world first a it gives your ships an
extra turn which can come in handy in a sea battle

[><(((°>]

Post by unknown
On Fri, 6 Aug 2010 07:28:56 +0100, Paul Hyett

Post by Paul Hyett
Are there any particular technologies you always research, ASAP?
I try to get Hunting ASAP, for the Scouts - with luck they can get you
several other techs from goody huts!

I agree with all "must haves" mentioned so far including establishing
a religion.
Another thing I always try and get a soon as I can is the civic
Serfdom followed by Theology as a tech and then build the Hagia
Sophia wonder which has an effect until you discover steam power
Serfdom speeds up your workers by 50% but if you have the Hagia Sophia
as well it speeds up the workers even more
I also like to circumnavigate the world first a it gives your ships an
extra turn which can come in handy in a sea battle

Theology is a tech. I too get asap.
The HS wonder is great but IMO the Apostolic Palace wonder is even better.

If you build the AP wonder and your state religion is say Christianity,
then for each Christian religious building in any city you get a
production bonus.
Temples, Monasteries & Cathedrals etc
So too does any other player

I often use a great person prophet to get Theology rather than have it
build a shrine then immediately start building the HS and AP wonders.

Theology also allows the Theocracy civic which like Vassalage, gives
military units produced in city with state religion present, an extra 2
experience points.
Run both civics and mil. units get 4 extra experience points!

With circumnavigating the world I find it helps a lot to have your scout -
explorer - knight (whatever) do as much as possible on land so that when
you do get Optics and a caravel it has less to do.

[unknown]

Post by ><(((°>

Post by unknown
On Fri, 6 Aug 2010 07:28:56 +0100, Paul Hyett

Post by Paul Hyett
Are there any particular technologies you always research, ASAP?
I try to get Hunting ASAP, for the Scouts - with luck they can get you
several other techs from goody huts!

I agree with all "must haves" mentioned so far including establishing
a religion.
Another thing I always try and get a soon as I can is the civic
Serfdom followed by Theology as a tech and then build the Hagia
Sophia wonder which has an effect until you discover steam power
Serfdom speeds up your workers by 50% but if you have the Hagia Sophia
as well it speeds up the workers even more
I also like to circumnavigate the world first a it gives your ships an
extra turn which can come in handy in a sea battle

Theology is a tech. I too get asap.
The HS wonder is great but IMO the Apostolic Palace wonder is even better.
If you build the AP wonder and your state religion is say Christianity,
then for each Christian religious building in any city you get a
production bonus.
Temples, Monasteries & Cathedrals etc
So too does any other player
I often use a great person prophet to get Theology rather than have it
build a shrine then immediately start building the HS and AP wonders.
Theology also allows the Theocracy civic which like Vassalage, gives
military units produced in city with state religion present, an extra 2
experience points.
Run both civics and mil. units get 4 extra experience points!
With circumnavigating the world I find it helps a lot to have your scout -
explorer - knight (whatever) do as much as possible on land so that when
you do get Optics and a caravel it has less to do.

Those are good points I must admit I had not given the Apostolic
Palace advantages much thought although I do try a build it

Thanks for that

[Paul Hyett]

Post by unknown

Post by ><(((°>
With circumnavigating the world I find it helps a lot to have your scout -
explorer - knight (whatever) do as much as possible on land so that when
you do get Optics and a caravel it has less to do.

Those are good points I must admit I had not given the Apostolic
Palace advantages much thought although I do try a build it

Also, when you find other Civs, I offer them some obsolete tech for
their world map, which can often save a lot of exploring.