James Russell: For the first time, we are actually having a technology tree that lets player's research pure technologies as well as construct and upgrade buildings.

We have a host of different technologies that the player can choose to focus on. Some will give units new abilities on the battlefield, or allow your artillery to develop new types of ordnance. Some will improve ships' sailing and fighting performance, others will develop your economy and enable new buildings and infrastructure, and others will advance the educational level of your nation and speed up future research.
I was intrigued to see this piece of information in the latest interview, and to be honest I am still in two minds as to whether it will work; although I suppose there were nations in this period who put a lot of effort into technological development and reaped the rewards, so it would seem odd for new technologies to always be introduced for everyone at the same time by a scripted event.

However, since this feature has been announced, what technologies do you think we are likely to see?


From the screenshots I think we can assume Watt's steam engine is a shoe-in; I would guess things like rifles and bayonet technologies are also pretty likely.

Otherwise, how about the first hot-air-balloon flight, which would give access to observation balloons to use in battle?

Or maybe the invention of Harrison's chronometer, which would make long distance voyages easier?

I was interested (although not hugely surprised) to see the mention of later 19th-century technologies being accessible; maybe ironclad ships, or even early machine guns, might sneak in as top-end technologies?