Most Efficient Researcher

[Jagdpanther]

Considering monthly maintenance costs Vs. reasearch points, who are the best research commanders?

[PvK]

I've heard it's the Sage, but I haven't confirmed. That seems likely, not counting things you can summon for no gold maintenance, nor heroes, nor the use of magic which improves research.

PvK

[quantum_mechani]

Daughters of Avalon, Sages and Masters of the Dead are my favorits. Daughters are better with a magic scale, otherwise Sages beat almost anything.

[st.patrik]

The Lore Master is also pretty impressive.

[Zurai]

In general, the cheapest per point of research (other than independants/heroes/etc that you can't depend on getting every game...) are your weak, 1 path mages. This is because every mage character (other than sages) have a base of 3 research, +1 per point in each path. So, if you can hire a 1 path, 4 research mage for 70 gold, or a 4 path, 7 research mage for 300 gold (made up amounts, but fairly accurate in general)... 2 1-path mages are half as expensive as a single 4-path, but have 1 point higher research. This effect is maginified considerably with a positive magic scale.

With a large drain scale (-3), it turns the other way around. Your 1-path mage would have 1 research, while your 4-path would have 4. You'd have to hire 4 1-paths to equal a single 4-path, and they'd cost you 20 more gold.


So, in general, your cheapest national mages are your best bulk researchers. Obviously if you can *afford* to buy the bigger ones, do so, but building cheapo national mages at 2-3 castles a turn is a good way to start the research juggernaut going a reasonable price.

[Jagdpanther]

Thanks.

Now here is the question that will show just how new I am to this game ...

What nation has the Sage, Daughters of Avalon and Lore Master?

In general is there a list/spread sheet somewhere that lists units and their abilities and nation?