Most powerful tech: Ideological Thought

[joelzhl]

Who else think this is the most powerful tech in game?

Currently, it adds about a net 40 plurality after all inventions are fired. Effectively, it will basically double your current research rate! Not to mention the extra NF will come in handy early game.

 

[gadajs]

Yes, but the added plurality will cause you trouble if you want to keep a conservative monarchy in power.

 

[A_Dane]

It's a tradeoff as minor nations, going liberal can seriously backfire

 

[unmerged(1823)]

I'd argue Freedom of Trade is more important.

 

[King]

Medicine is well up there too.

 

[artemis667]

I'd argue Freedom of Trade is more important.

I noticed my economy significantly improving after researching it - although the tooltip only mentioned being able to build a clothes factory and something else production-related.

Is there an effect that's not on the tooltip?

 

[King]

I noticed my economy significantly improving after researching it - although the tooltip only mentioned being able to build a clothes factory and something else production-related.

Is there an effect that's not on the tooltip?

+50% RGO output is in the tooltip.

 

[A_Dane]

how'd i miss that? that's certainly coming up after my railroads :O

EDIT: just realised i start out with, probably why i'd have missed it o

 

[Baro]

I tend to go after clean-coal at first, but I usually play a certain isolate european mountain country.

 

[Millipede69]

Yes, but the added plurality will cause you trouble if you want to keep a conservative monarchy in power.

In my first China game I learned this the hard way. By 1880 I was getting rebels spawns covering 90% of my territory every 6 months. Plurality is 50% with the conservatives controlling 65% of the upperhouse.

Next time I will take it really slow after civilizing. It is really hard to resist the temptation to increase your research by a factor of 5 ASAP.

 

[Al. I. Cuza]

I'd argue Freedom of Trade is more important.

Yeah, at least for unindustrialised minors this is a no-brainer as first research choice. But then I would always researche Idelogical Thought. Not going liberal is just going to exclude you from the rise to power.

 

[artemis667]

+50% RGO output is in the tooltip.

Ahh! I must have misread it and thought it was only for one type of RGO That explains a lot.

 

[joelzhl]

I'd argue Freedom of Trade is more important.

Freedom of Trade (1 x lvl 1 RP) - 50% increase to early economy with no side effects.
Ideological Thought (3 x lvl 1 RP) - at least 100% extra research with a rocky ride to liberal revolution 30 years down the road, +1 national focus.
Medicine (3 x lvl 1 RP) - +25% supply limit, -25% attrition, 0.15% pop growth, 4% hospital.

I guess you got a point here. Assuming you are going to research Freedom of Trade and Ideological Thought as first and second tech, it will take 4 x level 1 RP points to complete. Researching Freedom of Trade first will give you 3 x level 1 RP worth of time with 50% economy bonus. Researching Ideological Thought will give you 1 x level 1 RP worth of time with faster research.

 

[Darkrenown]

There's also a +prestiege invention on Medicine, which is nice early on.

 

[alertrelic]

Increase in RP is nice but liberalising seems to work against early industry, since capitalists have a lot of trouble getting money right now. I guess by the time all the inventions hit and people start to actually care this wont matter as much though.

 

[Al. I. Cuza]

They hit pretty soon.

 

[GreenMarine]

I like the Market Structure tech since it gives a big education efficiency boost...but this is because I like early investments in education for the late game. Sounds like this is a suboptimal early choice, though.

 

[RedRalphWiggum]

Freedom of Trade, Railways and the three that allow colonisation are the most important IMO. Freeodm of Trade should be every weak power's first one.

 

[stantz]

wow, you weren't kidding, I picked it up and my research rate jumped from 5 to 12

 

[Dagda]

I researched Ideological thought and I never received another national focus slot. What gives? Does it have to be invented?