Researching or stealing research?

**Peasant Phill** · 08-03-2009, 18:15

In the early game, I've tried keeping my scholar(s) in my schools as well as trying to steal research.
What's the most worthwhile?

**Fisherking** · 08-03-2009, 18:27

Two Gentlemen per school is all you can get benefit from. If you have more than that then use them to steal research.

**A Very Super Market** · 08-03-2009, 19:07

Stealing research in the early game is surprisingly effective. But as you get to the higher-tier levels, the chance of it succeeding slowly drops down to nil.

**Slaists** · 08-03-2009, 20:11

Originally Posted by Fisherking

Two Gentlemen per school is all you can get benefit from. If you have more than that then use them to steal research.

In my experience, 3 gents per school is the optimum.

Stealing is effective only for the first 2 tiers of research.

**Fisherking** · 08-03-2009, 20:51

Usually there is little chance of stealing high level research because they just don’t get there before you do.

The one exception is stealing higher level enlightenment techs from Württemberg. They have the quickest research in the game, it would seem and build a modern university pretty early.

I have nabbed the rights of man and what ever the non economic enlightenment is at that level, from them.

Often you may wait 5 or 6 turns and then pick up two techs in a turn, or one right after the other at the higher levels.

The big trick is to find who has the research.

**peacemaker** · 08-04-2009, 00:14

I find it useful to first go and grab the few starting techs (physiocracy, etc.) from the large nations and then research a bunch in one or two areas. Every 10 or so years, go out and steal everything that you haven't researched. The French, german minors (just run through all of those colleges, they're like a turn away from each other), and the Marathas usually get tons and tons of tech.

**FactionHeir** · 08-04-2009, 00:24

I find Westphalia and Georgia consistently very advanced in Enlightenment and Agriculture. Only in 1 game did Württemberg actually pick up pace.

3 gents is optimum. While more still boost research, its not quite as effective and diminishes heavily. 4 is still alright if necessary, but don't go above that - you might as well put him in a new school.

Regarding stealing, tier 1 has a decent chance if you got a very good starting gentleman. If not, don't bother unless you are the constant reloading type. Reason being that you'd research it yourself quicker than you can steal it.