[johnarryn]

As Gandalf says, should definitely pay attention to the nation you are playing in terms of research priorities...

However, something also need to keep in mind is what nations are around you... this most certainly effects your research priorities.

As an example, in a recent game where I was playing Vanheim, I learned early on that Helheim was a neighbor of mine... I began researching evocation to get Blade Wind, which is helpful against massed Helhirdings. Later, Niefelheim became a threat, and I shifted research to get Destruction, which helps bust up the giants' armor, making them vulnerable.

Your research priorities should be strongly influenced by the nations around you.