Researching or stealing research?

**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.

**Hosakawa Tito** · 08-04-2009, 12:44

I used to just pile all my gentlemen into my colleges to research. I haven't tried stealing research too much, but after reading this thread I will try stealing research more often especially since more than 2-3 gentlemen doesn't aide in gaining tech speed anyway. I do use my gentlemen with dueling traits to target my enemy's gentlemen for elimination.

If you are caught attempting to steal research is it counted as negative points in the "They like me/They like me not" meter as the espionage/assassination attempts are?

**jsberry** · 08-12-2009, 17:19

Originally Posted by Hosakawa Tito

If you are caught attempting to steal research is it counted as negative points in the "They like me/They like me not" meter as the espionage/assassination attempts are?

Yes, but as we know, that meter is irrelevant.

**Slaists** · 08-04-2009, 14:38

Originally Posted by FactionHeir

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.

Well, if you have only one school, then stealing level 1-2 techs ACROSS the spectrum adds considerably to what you can research in the same time span in the early game. You cannot be researching bayonets and naval shore facilities at the same time, but can research one while you're stealing the other.

**Obadiah** · 08-04-2009, 15:00

I've only tried to steal research once or twice, but didn't succeed. It seemed to indicate that I either had a 25% chance of success, or maybe that I was stealing 25% of the knowledge per turn? But either way, after two years, I was found out and given the boot. Try this a few times (plus travel time), and it seems that doing your own research is the faster option.

Is there a way to accelerate production of gentlemen? IS there a way to "level them up"?