Research priorities

[MCM]

So in Shogun 2, what do you guys typically research first? What are the key arts?

Personally I find that I need Markets first, but then I try to rush for "Heaven and Earth" ASAP - +50% bow ammo and +5% replenishment to troops, and enables Encampments. Replenishment is such a key factor, it's vital to get it high early. And having lots of arrows is the most important factor in siege defense early on.

But then I go back to the Chi side for better roads, Sake dens, better farms, etc.

I almost never research much of the other Bushido arts, mainly because I can just capture buildings and use those instead. Researching the art and then spending a lot of money to build a building to get a single type of Samurai? No way, just give me more ashigaru every time.

What do you do?

[Zarky]

I usually concentrate on the right side of the Chi tree, aside from going for calligraphy if I control many philosophical traditions. Also I research the 1st ninja part to improve sake dens and perhaps ninja clan buildings.
On the Bushido side I also always research heaven and earth early, otherwise I might research the 1st upgrade to all (spear, bow, sword) but then concentrate on 1 of them.
Of course with Takeda I concentrate on cavalry research, with Date/Shimazu swords etc...

[Monsieur Alphonse]

I go for farm upgrades. Farms give (in fertile regions) the most amount of wealth. The Kii region with its rural ninja building and very fertile farmlands is the wealthiest in the game. Once I have enough base wealth and a nice food surplus, supporting lot of stacks is becoming lots easier.

[Nelson]

Heaven and earth plus the farming techs. The early spear tech is also nice for buffing yari ashigaru a bit with some experience. I want the ashigaru to be as effective as I can get them while still investing in enough Chi for financial health.

I do want to get the navy techs one of these days so that I can apply the Nelson Touch!

[Monk]

Chi upgrades until i hit the farming techniques. I then switch to Bushido until i can master whatever arms my clan is famous for. Mostly until "way of the x", then i look at my strategic position and see what would benefit me more.

If clans are switching to Christianity i'll push down the Zen path for Monasteries and + to monk actions, otherwise I will stick to Bushido and try to get more of an advantage on the battlefield.

[Dead Guy]

Apart from the stuff mentioned already, I find it's pretty helpful to get way of the bow (?) for fire arrows. Not overly important on land, but they can really turn the tide at sea (har har). Bow Kobayas are noticeably better with them that's for sure.

Generally, I go for arts that open access to something, be it buildings, abilities or recruitment options, rather than arts that provide small boni like experience for recruits.

[Rothe]

Apart from the stuff mentioned already, I find it's pretty helpful to get way of the bow (?) for fire arrows. Not overly important on land, but they can really turn the tide at sea (har har). Bow Kobayas are noticeably better with them that's for sure.

Generally, I go for arts that open access to something, be it buildings, abilities or recruitment options, rather than arts that provide small boni like experience for recruits.

I tend to have the opposite reaction. I only open up what I really really need and aim to max out the usefulness of those troops.
For instance, if I play Uesugi, I don't care about the sword techs and buildings. I aim to max out my spears and monks XP, because it means that I get to have better units for the same upkeep price.

Of course, some clans might need to make use of more troop types. And some players prefer to have lots of different types of troops, when others might aim to use mostly ashis, naginata and bows for instance.

[hamysho]

In my experience I went down the zen tree to markets then chi path until I reach my unit speciality. In the starting 20 or so turns I just don't have the cash to afford upgrades while the computer is coming down on me hard. I didn't see the point of researching farms if I don't have koku to afford them.