Early game research targets
 

As a newbie I find it difficult to decide what school to research.

So far I figured out that Astral 2 is nice early on for site searching spells, then there is construction for items of course (level 4 seems good , lots of boasting path items).

So this thread is for you guys to help me. What are your early (Say up to level 4) targets like?

Of course you need to say why and what setups.. What spells combo with what units etc.

Re: Early game research targets
 

I usually like to bang out thaumaturgy 2, evocation 2, then do construction for a while.
But the thing is, there is no best order really. It really depends on the nation you're playing, what mages you have access to, if you're being attacked or not, etc.

Re: Early game research targets
 

I'm no expert, but I usually grab evocation 2 right off the bat, then conjuration 2, and construction 3. Normally I'm playing with death magic as a focus, so the conjuration generally helps boost my forces and keep my mages alive during the early stages of the game (when a few mages reanimating dead in combat can stave off armies).

Re: Early game research targets
 

As always, it depends on the nation you are playing and how you are playing it.

IF I have mages who will be in battle then Evocation 2 (for attacks) followed by Alteration 1 (for defense).

If my mages will mostly stay home and research/construct then I go for Thaumaturgy 2 (for searching) and Construct 4 (for magic-boosting items) then I shift to Conjuration for awhile to get summonings. Remember that search for Death sites and search for Water sites is in Conjuration 2 so if those are important to you then you might want to go there before Thaumaturgy.

Of course being high in Blood magic means I need to get Blood research in fairly quick. And being high in Death means Enchantment needs to be soon. Also Enchantment has some nice special use spells for any magic path which might make it a higher priority.

Re: Early game research targets
 

Bigdis, I know there is no best order, but I hope to get a feel of typical research orders taking into account various factors.

Like what's the point of going evocation 2? There are some battlefield spells, but they don't seem to be worth it. I mean my mages tend to be researching earlier on anyway not going into battle.

Conjuration 2? I suppose so it makes sense if we talking death magic.

Re: Early game research targets
 

As Gandalf says, should definitely pay attention to the nation you are playing in terms of research priorities...

However, something also need to keep in mind is what nations are around you... this most certainly effects your research priorities.

As an example, in a recent game where I was playing Vanheim, I learned early on that Helheim was a neighbor of mine... I began researching evocation to get Blade Wind, which is helpful against massed Helhirdings. Later, Niefelheim became a threat, and I shifted research to get Destruction, which helps bust up the giants' armor, making them vulnerable.

Your research priorities should be strongly influenced by the nations around you.

Re: Early game research targets
 

Well if I am playing early arcos then I will definetly want Evocation 2 as early as I can get it. Oeriads need lightning bolt.

Oh and I forgot, searching for astral gems is in Evocation 2 which is a primary search. When I have all of the searches I tend to search for earth, astral, and fire first.

Oh and against the Heim nations, poison area affect (by spell, unit, or equipment) can be very handy.

Re: Early game research targets
 

>However, something also need to keep in mind is what nations are around you... this most certainly effects your research priorities.

You guys are good. I don't even have a sense what nations are what. There are so many!!! Much less their weaknesses and strengths.

P, ah yes evocation 2 has astral site search. Why is astral search a primary search? cos astral gems can be easily alchemized to other types?

Re: Early game research targets
 

You got it Gandalf, astral gem search along with a little bit of utility just in case you gotta send those mages out there early.
If I'm not being rushed and have secure borders, I normally prefer to get thaumaturgy, conjuration, and evocation all to 2 to start site searching. Then get construction up to 6, maybe even 8 if there's nothing I immediately need out of the other schools.

Site searching is key I think. The earlier you find a magic site, the more gems you make of it. And if you happen upon a really good one, it can change your whole game or strategy. Namely if it has a good recruitable, has a nice magic school bonus, or if it can summon troops when you send a mage into it.

Re: Early game research targets
 

That's it in a nutshell. And it's nice to start stockpiling for the sorcery and wizardry rings, or a dispel.

Re: Early game research targets
 

Yeah, I agree with the race toward site-searching spells. But then Construction is my next big target. I beeline to my nearest research-boosting item.

Many races have access to some sort of research booster, whether they are Owl Quills, Lightless Lanterns, or Skull Mentors. Cranking out a bunch of research-boosting items is a great way to ... well ... boost your research. They're like the magic sites, in that their value increases the longer you have them in play. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Early game research targets
 

There really isnt a set order of low-level targets that you should shoot for. Instead you should just look at your nation and figure out what your biggest priority is. If you have lots of elemental magic then you probably want to research Evocation to leverage your battlefield magic. If you have lots of blood mages then you'll want to research Blood to summon all kinds of beasties. If you have an SC pretender you'll probably want to research Construction to equip it.

Re: Early game research targets
 

If you have air 1 mages then construction 2 for owl quills.

If you have death 2 mages then construction 4 for skull mentors.

If you have fire 1 mages construction 6 for lightless lanterns.

This research orientated strategy is complemented by using your own mages to manual site search early on and early game signing of NAPs with your neighbours. It means middle to late game research adavantage, which is important.

Re: Early game research targets
 

Alternatively you can trade Megablob for said items.

Jazzepi

Re: Early game research targets
 

I think the value of research boosting items depends on your nation. I've been playing a lot with LA Agartha, and with their high-research, cheap, sacred necromancers, as soon as I have 3 or 4 forts up my research goes through the roof even without skull mentors or lanterns, enough to make me loath to spend gems on research--I'd much rather buy banefire archers or umbrals.

-Max

Re: Early game research targets
 

Which results in middle to late game gem and research advantage. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

As long as your lab does not burn down that is http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: Early game research targets
 

It's actually "Meglobob" or so he says. I used to call him Megablob and he got mad at me, ate my whole damn town.

Re: Early game research targets
 

I think Megablob is a better name XD

Jazzepi

Re: Early game research targets
 

I keep reminding myself I should go to some grimy old dusty video-dealer and look around for The Blob. It's really time I saw that one. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Not that I'm implying anything about B(l)ob's usual outdoors activities of course.

Re: Early game research targets
 

I have given up correcting dyslexic so and so's, those towns are bad for the digestive system... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

I earned the name, meglobob 20+ yrs ago at my roleplaying/strategy group. My name is bob and meglo stands for meglomanic. There was also a fantastic picture of me nuking the world which was very amusing but sadly I lost it. We were probably playing superpower at the time or some such.

It makes a great email name, as theres only me who uses it, no bob123578 for me.

Research Costs
 

I was wondering what the standard research costs for each level in a school of magic is. Could one of you please share a list?

I would have sworn I'd seen it in the manual, but a perusal of the index didn't yield the results I'd hoped for. And the Library's faq is for Dom2, and reports the first level research as 20.

What are the effects of changing the research speed?

Re: Research Costs
 

I think this link should work
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...amp;Forum=f187,f194,f195&Words=research&Searchpage=0&amp ;Limit=25&Main=523699&Search=true&wher e=bodysub&Name=4380&daterange=1&newerv al=5&newertype=y&olderval=&oldertype=& amp;bodyprev=#Post523801

Re: Research Costs
 

The Blob is great fun-even the new version. I recommend watching them back to back, the old one and then the new one, and rent the movie...I think it's called "Stuff", too, if you can find it, and watch that one in between, it's similar and gory.

Re: Research Costs
 

Much thanks. Now, because it needs to be done, use the search feature, you stupid n00b!

*slaps self*.

This'll be a big help in planning my research for C'tis. With my 15 R commander, and 5 R a shaman, how much do I gain from going Sauromancer? Mind, I'm not asking you this question, but it's what I'll be looking into myself, depending on my goals.