Favorite idea group

[Togu814]

As title, wath is your favorite idea group so far.

I realised in my last game that I so far always has picked the diplomatic idea group first. I find the extra diplomat and the lower core cost handy. Also I tend not to need my diplomatic mp as much as administrative and military mp.

Discuss

 

[Nilmerf]

The idea group that I would take as every nation at some point would be Quality, other than maybe someone like Russia for Quantity hilarity.

I hate doing less damage than the enemy. Quality it is.

 

[Kubaliebre]

Trade, although I may choose another idea if I'm playing as a landlocked/land-focused power.

 

[adecoy95]

i took expansion first, the pagan cb is pretty dang good, i actually ended up taking 3 diplomacy ideas (trade expansion and the one that eventually gives asia cb) and one admin idea (religion). played as Castile

 

[stilgarpl]

Innovative - ideas and events can give you even -20% discount to all techs, -30% if you count decisions that depend on it.

But, it depends on the country you are playing. As Prussia I first took Defensive, then Economic, Diplomatic, Quality, Innovative, Aristocracy and Offensive.
England would put more focus on naval, colonization and trade, but Innovative is good for everyone.

 

[Rubidium]

Trade is extremely useful. Any expanding power is eventually going to dominate a trade node or 2, so this gives them money.

Defensive is also surprisingly awesome; fighting a coalition war on multiple fronts, I can focus on one enemy at a time, siege their provinces faster, and then turn around and face the next threat, secure in the knowledge that the increased defensiveness will have prevented them from making much progress, while the attrition is eating them alive. The other bonuses aren't shabby either.

 

[cymruwarrior]

Took espionage as Venice thinking it would be neat, but regret it, infiltrate should at least give a chance to steal maps or something.

 

[beckermt]

I pretty much always start with Diplomatic and then a military idea. Either Quality or Defensive, depending on the country.

I'd say defensive is my favorite, mostly because dat attrition. Side note, does the attrition from a theocracy's ideas stack with the Defensive attrition? If so... delightful.

 

[BobbyDylan]

All my AI enemies took defensive, and they're all fully defensive. It's frikken annoying

 

[1alexey]

Diplomacy->offencive->trade/quality->quality/naval->innovative->whatever.

 

[EnderV]

If I was allowed only one idea group, I'd go for Defensive.
You get
- Army tradition
- higher morale
- faster sieges for you, and longer sieges for enemy
- lower maintenance
- faster reinforce
- lower attrition
- THE ATTRITION!

The last one on its own is super valuable, since attrition casualties increase WE. If you have at least some option to maneaurve, and avoid battle (let him siege you, and then take it back), you can generate quite a bit of WE on the enemy. Basically, having full defensive idea group forces the opponent to steamroll you quickly.

 

[CyaN]

Offensive is the best mechanic ever in a Paradox game.

With Offensive maxed out, you can reach a province the same day your enemy flees somewhere else, and not the next day. 'Nuff said.

I save years and years of running around Europe playing tag in every war I fight.

 

[Smitzer]

Offensive is for winning battles and then crushing routing army thus dominating the enemy in the field.I love it and in multiplayer it must the be one of the most important idea groups.

 

[BlackBarook]

Religion. Nothing makes converting Catholic Iberia back to Islam faster than that Idea group.

 

[durecellrabbit]

Offensive for Forced March.

 

[Gir53]

Either Quality, or Exploration if I'm feeling in the mood to blob over America.

 

[Franconian]

Defensive for stacking armies

 

[Wardok]

Economic! Cause economic= moar Moneys and more moneyz= more mercs!

 

[calvinhobbeslik]

i took expansion first, the pagan cb is pretty dang good, i actually ended up taking 3 diplomacy ideas (trade expansion and the one that eventually gives asia cb) and one admin idea (religion). played as Castile

Expansion gives the CB against Asians, Exploration the one against pagans

 

[nikimilky]

Innovative - ideas and events can give you even -20% discount to all techs, -30% if you count decisions that depend on it.

I think the only events I got for an idea group was after I toke the offencive idea, after that you get every 40 years something like more manpower or bost for moral, but other then that I didnt knew you can get more events for other ideas.

I never toke this idea cuz it seemed really lame, but now when you mention events...
How friquntly do you get those? and what kind do you get?