Early game research targets

[Crafty]

As a newbie I find it difficult to decide what school to research.

So far I figured out that Astral 2 is nice early on for site searching spells, then there is construction for items of course (level 4 seems good , lots of boasting path items).

So this thread is for you guys to help me. What are your early (Say up to level 4) targets like?

Of course you need to say why and what setups.. What spells combo with what units etc.

[BigDisAwesome]

I usually like to bang out thaumaturgy 2, evocation 2, then do construction for a while.
But the thing is, there is no best order really. It really depends on the nation you're playing, what mages you have access to, if you're being attacked or not, etc.

[Sarvoth]

I'm no expert, but I usually grab evocation 2 right off the bat, then conjuration 2, and construction 3. Normally I'm playing with death magic as a focus, so the conjuration generally helps boost my forces and keep my mages alive during the early stages of the game (when a few mages reanimating dead in combat can stave off armies).

[Gandalf Parker]

As always, it depends on the nation you are playing and how you are playing it.

IF I have mages who will be in battle then Evocation 2 (for attacks) followed by Alteration 1 (for defense).

If my mages will mostly stay home and research/construct then I go for Thaumaturgy 2 (for searching) and Construct 4 (for magic-boosting items) then I shift to Conjuration for awhile to get summonings. Remember that search for Death sites and search for Water sites is in Conjuration 2 so if those are important to you then you might want to go there before Thaumaturgy.

Of course being high in Blood magic means I need to get Blood research in fairly quick. And being high in Death means Enchantment needs to be soon. Also Enchantment has some nice special use spells for any magic path which might make it a higher priority.

[Crafty]

Bigdis, I know there is no best order, but I hope to get a feel of typical research orders taking into account various factors.

Like what's the point of going evocation 2? There are some battlefield spells, but they don't seem to be worth it. I mean my mages tend to be researching earlier on anyway not going into battle.

Conjuration 2? I suppose so it makes sense if we talking death magic.

[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.

[Gandalf Parker]

Well if I am playing early arcos then I will definetly want Evocation 2 as early as I can get it. Oeriads need lightning bolt.

Oh and I forgot, searching for astral gems is in Evocation 2 which is a primary search. When I have all of the searches I tend to search for earth, astral, and fire first.

Oh and against the Heim nations, poison area affect (by spell, unit, or equipment) can be very handy.

[Crafty]

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

You guys are good. I don't even have a sense what nations are what. There are so many!!! Much less their weaknesses and strengths.

P, ah yes evocation 2 has astral site search. Why is astral search a primary search? cos astral gems can be easily alchemized to other types?

[BigDisAwesome]

You got it Gandalf, astral gem search along with a little bit of utility just in case you gotta send those mages out there early.
If I'm not being rushed and have secure borders, I normally prefer to get thaumaturgy, conjuration, and evocation all to 2 to start site searching. Then get construction up to 6, maybe even 8 if there's nothing I immediately need out of the other schools.

Site searching is key I think. The earlier you find a magic site, the more gems you make of it. And if you happen upon a really good one, it can change your whole game or strategy. Namely if it has a good recruitable, has a nice magic school bonus, or if it can summon troops when you send a mage into it.

[BigDisAwesome]

Crafty said:
P, ah yes evocation 2 has astral site search. Why is astral search a primary search? cos astral gems can be easily alchemized to other types?

That's it in a nutshell. And it's nice to start stockpiling for the sorcery and wizardry rings, or a dispel.