Balancing Very Early Research and Site Searching

[Immaculate]

Let me paint a picture for you:

Its turn 3-4. You've managed to take 2 provinces. You have two commanders in the field leading armies of mundane troops (ie- no bless, no casters). You can probably field another expansion party in another 2 or 3 turns.

Your capital has 3 magical units, lets say two have D2S2W2 (could be anything) and research at about 7-8rp/turn (good magic scales?) and one has D1 and researches 3rp/turn.

How many of those researchers do you pull from research to go site searching manually? At what point? You are gonna want to get that gem income going early but the opportunity cost is reseach. At what point do you say, "now is the time; i want to be able to build 'lightless lanterns/frost brands/whatever' and i am gonna need gems- its time to go find some...."?


Thanks- i am a complete newb so please feel free to talk down to me and assume i know nothing.