Rainbow Sages: Site-search vs. Re-search
 

Question for the vets (though all can answer) regarding best use for a Rainbow Sage. The tradeoff is between site searching or using the (36) RPs for jump starting research. Likely the answer is "it depends" but I thought I'd throw it out there.

The particular Sage I write of is in Chronicles_MA and his journal speaks of how he chafes at site searching over his natural inclination (as a Sage) to research. The Hell with him. What do you think?
-SSJ

Re: Rainbow Sages: Site-search vs. Re-search
 

Research first until you get the early game spells you need (usually in the evo tree) . I would site search when I get my remotes probably and get the initial gem income before swapping to full time remotes.

Re: Rainbow Sages: Site-search vs. Re-search
 

My personal take is:

• Research any key early techs needed, not including remote site searching. Just any buffs/combat spells critical to your early expansion
• Site search provinces surrounding capital to prime yourself with gems needed to remote site search (no point doing the research for them before you have the gems to get going)
• Return to research, normally hitting remote site search spells first
• Once you have a decent research capability going without your pretender, if he doesn’t have anything to do that no-one else can, send him off again to site search schools you can’t do remotely.

Re: Rainbow Sages: Site-search vs. Re-search
 

the earlier you sitesearch, the earlier you will be seen as a target of opportunity. The less research you show, the more the smell of fresh meat will be strengthened.

Re: Rainbow Sages: Site-search vs. Re-search
 

I like to site search ASAP and worry about greedy neighbors later. Many times site searching will then take care of research when/if you find a nice indy site. If not, and your gem income starts getting too far ahead, then better watch your back... :)

Re: Rainbow Sages: Site-search vs. Re-search
 

That doesn't make any sense Arch.

Re: Rainbow Sages: Site-search vs. Re-search
 

archae:

Nations with low research don't seem dangerous :) I think really getting ahead with research is like putting huge "Kill me, fast!" sign in your yard. That's why playing Bogarus probably really sucks in MP :)

Re: Rainbow Sages: Site-search vs. Re-search
 

Nations with low research and high gem income are all carrot and no stick. Yummm, carrots!

Re: Rainbow Sages: Site-search vs. Re-search
 

When you start talking about player selection of targets it’s all subjective..
• do your neighbours want to take out an easy enemy first or deal with a likely threat?
• is someone with an early research lead dangerous or will they be weak in the short term due to smaller armies?
• Is someone with good gem production early a target or a trading partner? If they are site searching heavily do you want to wait a while and let them do more of the hard work before you take them over?

It really all depends on perspective, and on so many other factors. Within reason I prefer not to second guess how other players will judge my actions, and make sure I make myself as strong as possible. The key is balancing future strength with current military might – I wouldn’t want to site search to the point where I am at a severe military disadvantage compared to other players who have been researching.

Re: Rainbow Sages: Site-search vs. Re-search
 

no - research is relative to a nation. If I see Bog, and they have relatively poor research, what is there to dissuade me?

If I see some normal non-rush nation, and suddenly they have a giant spike in their gem income, saliva glands, mine and everyone else's, are activated.

If, then, I see that, as well, relative to that nation's normal capabilities, it does not have good research - why would I not go straight in? Free gems are even better than ones you find yourself.

A high research for a neighbour with good battle magic can, depending on when, be a real deterrent insofar as it looks like the costs for going to war are likely to be commensurately greater.

edit: I like how VFB put it. That's exactly it, all else being equal.

which reminds me, have you ever seen Ali G's interview w/ James Baker, about carrots and sticks? I think it's my favourite bit of political humour ever :)

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=yXbNLkNhy1M

Re: Rainbow Sages: Site-search vs. Re-search
 

Important nuance... Graphs off. I hadn't even thought of the graphs on angle. Must be getting old..
-SSJ

Re: Rainbow Sages: Site-search vs. Re-search
 

I think it's still the same with graphs off. The key to the early game is survival. More research doesn't just give you the appearance of being dangerous, it actually makes you dangerous.

However, research can be made up for in easier ways. Early gem income is technically better in the long run. Therefore, if you are a confident diplomat and/or shrewed tactician, you might be able to get away with site searching.

My personal preference is to keep the rainbow mage at home and send mages out with your armies. A great sage can usually do the job of several mages in the lab, but can't outperform multiple mages on the battlefield, at least not with your starting research. Have the casters aid in expansion and site search the paths they have access to. When you have reached your preliminary research goals you can then take that sage out to the provinces that didn't turn up anything. This will save much of his valuable time.

Re: Rainbow Sages: Site-search vs. Re-search
 

Personally what I would tend to do is spend most of the first year searching the provinces adjacent to the capital. After that's done, then it's research time. That way he's never in danger, and you get a little gem income early on that will allow to remote search a lot of provinces at once, when you get around to it.

Re: Rainbow Sages: Site-search vs. Re-search
 

Knowing that it takes 2 turns to site search one province, my advice is get started on the site searching early, especially if you have mages capable of using a gem income your starting sites do not provides. Using your rainbow for a year will only get a player 6 provinces searched, not enough to insure finding all his paths.

Re: Rainbow Sages: Site-search vs. Re-search
 

Well it generally seems to work out pretty well, and honestly 90% of the time I am talking about only searching 4-5 provinces, depending on if there are nearby waste or swamp.

Honestly, I've noticed that gem income is so sporadic, that it's essentially impossible to expect anything to occur reliably. So you look at what you want, and what you've got, and you meet somewhere in the middle - then hopefully it is enough to crush your opponents. :p

I also often do my Rainbows Dormant, as the extra 150 points allows a heap more paths/scales, and I just do the few manual searches when he gets out, and proceed from there. I think the situations are very rare, and very specific, where you can do more with 300-350RP, than you can with 150 design points. (EDIT - forgot there were 2 separate threads, though I stand by this next point:) Though C'tis, with their ability to leverage skellie spam, is probably one of those where it's worthwhile to be Awake, and then research up to Ench3 fast, THEN do some manual searches.