[Ironhawk]

4) As others have said, there is no short answer for what to research.

Generally speaking, if you are new to a nation and trying to figure out research, you should look at what paths your highest mages are strong in. Then go to the grimoire and filter out only those spells. So, for example, if you were playing Pan who is strong in Nature magic, you would go to the grimoire and hit 'n' to show only nature spells. This would quickly reveal to you that the schools with many/powerful nature spells are ones like Conjuration and Alteration, say. So you would tend to concentrate your research in those schools. In particular, you will want to pick out one or two rituals or battlefield spells which you believe are a very powerful addition to your overall game strategy. Make those spells your research goals and use them to dictate your research plan.

As you grow more comfortable and experienced with the grimoire, you will quickly realize how certain powerful spells are normally not available to a particular nation's mages. This realization will reflect back on your pretender design. You will find yourself eventually selecting pretender paths in order to cast specific spells which your nation otherwise couldnt, but that have extremely powerful synergy with your nation. Or making sure your pretender has enough magic to forge boosters which your mages otherwise could not.