[Xietor]

If you are at war, then most likely you are not free to research straight to const 8, as their are not many combat spells along that path!

Obviously LA ryleh is not under any serious threat or he may have been forced along a different path to survive.

While I am second in research, and although i love my neighbors and trust them ALL, I do not think I would have dared go straight down the construction path, as those unique artifacts do not do you much good if your empire has been destroyed.