Most Usefull Research Path...

[Atreidi]

I was just wondering what people's research preferences were. I know that the best research path depends on what civilization you choose or what your strategy is but lets think of it as universal Usefulness...

[void]

why, if ONLY ONE of them I would of course research blood...

[Sir_Dr_D]

This question so much depends on the nation you are playing. If you are Man, Evocation can be usefull, but it Evocation won't help you as much if you playing as Pangaea.

Also Construction by itself is useless, but you almost always need so you can cast spells in the other research paths.

[quantum_mechani]

Sir_Dr_D said:
Also Construction by itself is useless,

Far from it, there all kinds of things to with construction, though it works much better with a good chassis to put equipment on.

Construction has summons, good globals, can approximate some evocation through items, can equip SCs, and especially with unique magic items can fill many other gaps. It's true that it is better for some paths than others, but less so than almost any other school.

[Sir_Dr_D]

I forgot about the summons and the globals. You could create golems from the construction path and equip it with items, to make SC's. Plus you can cast forge of the ancients, and mast produce evocation items. Then there is the spell that enhances armor, and weapons of sharpness.
I will vote for that path.

[Atreidi]

I think construction path is one of the most usefull stand-one path. However I voted for Conjuration because even with great items if you have superior summoned units you can take anyone.

[Lord_Bob]

MA Ermor with UBER Scales, maybe a bless, and Thaumaturgy for the win.

Communioned Soul Slaying Horror Marking will rapidly persuade the SC builders of the error of their ways.

Spinx-Imprisoned, Dominion-9 Astral-9
Order-3,Prod.-3,Growth-3, Cold-1, Luck-1, Drain-2

[Atreidi]

So after 65 votes HALF of the people in the forum think Construction is the best path... mmm... I believe you :S

[PsiSoldier]

It also depends on what size map you are playing, If you are playing on a very large map then Alteration is Hands down the best choice. Just create a pretender with huge astral skill, Do everything you can to find Astral sites and start Wishing for whatever unit or artifact you want and wish for strength and more magic power.

Of course thats not to mention all the Good buff spells like Body Etheral, Luck, Mistform, Invulnerability, Pheonix pyre etc. to keep your mage\SC alive on top of the Chalice and other Artifacts you have already wished away from the dude with the Construction tree.

Plus you get a few descent globals like Fata Morgana and Mother oak, though you couldnt use Utterdark to your advantage unless you were playing LA Ermor in which case you would own even more.

[sum1lost]

And the massive buff spells such as army of gold/lead, and the full-army mistform spell to make some insanely tough chaff