Opening move, what do you set your tech budget level to?

[kf.*****]

When you building your own ships at the start of the campaign, what do you set your tech budget level to?

[Mobzonk]

Ship building to 100, training to 0 and then see what is left. Aim for 75% or more to keep up with AI.

[foster.r.l]

For me, it depends on three things - The Difficulty Level, The Nation I'm Playing, and my Current Income/Balance. I've had Tech Budgets set anywhere between 40% and 100% on the first few turns...I would say about 70% is normal and then it creeps up every turn until it can stay at 100% without going into the red.

[jfoytek]

Tech and Training to max and then take transports up to a decent level leaving you with some cash to work with....

[kf.*****]

I generally have been setting my opening tech budget to zero, yep zero, why?

It will give you around 25% extra spending money to build your first ships, on the tighter budget, for instance Spain, this is a critical opening move. I also keep it at zero for one more turn, having set all ships to limited as this quickly gives gives you an extra wod of money, after that MAX tech and you soon make up for the lost two turns on tech funding.

[jfoytek]

Originally posted by kf.*****:

I generally have been setting my opening tech budget to zero, yep zero, why?

It will give you around 25% extra spending money to build your first ships, on the tighter budget, for instance Spain, this is a critical opening move. I also keep it at zero for one more turn, having set all ships to limited as this quickly gives gives you an extra wod of money, after that MAX tech and you soon make up for the lost two turns on tech funding.

I see zero reason to do this...

With flaws its more then likely I am going to be mothballing and selling off many of the initial ships built.... Its not like you don't have ample time to build up your fleet as Spain... I am at 1911 in my Spain play through and only now my first war has popped off against Austria Hungry....

And my fleet is more then ample.... No reason to mess with tech just set it to 100% and forget about it....

[thundercactus]

I like to go the opposite direction: 100% crew training, max transports, and 100% tech right off the bat and rush some better tech like control towers and better guns.
I find the jump start on tech and training is well worth having fewer ships.
It really hurts your ability to bring tonnage to an invasion early on, but I spent those first few years playing the survival game.
The jump start on tech, and especially the economy, pays off massive dividends after a few years. You end up having the best crew with the best ships (or at least able to contend with the best) and an economy that doesn't just support having more than 4 BB's, but can actually afford to build NEW BB's.

[vanDyck]

In the past i went for:
100% training (good crews are so importand)
100% transports (gives you extra growth/money)
and as much research as i could afford, keeping a reasonable budget + per month. Mostly 50-100%

In my new campaign, i set all to 100% and only build ships if i can afford them with my monthly budget not going into the red, but i am also aiming for a slow fleet build up to not build too much stuff thats obsolete 2 years later.

Normaly (1890 start) i focus on first better boiler type, first rangefinder, and twin torp tubes, and than only if i want something a bit earlier for a new desgin or refit. Using those focusses slows just everything down too much.

[arvine17]

I always set tech slider max, because in my past experience if you find yourself lagging behind tech its game breaking for me most especially main gun tech.

Opening tech for me tubines or g. turbines, krupp1, mk3 12inch or 13inch and then I let research on its own unless i notice i have the luxury to prioritize other tech like semi-oil oil krup better engines hull ect.

[SnaggingWater65]

TECH: to max, don't ever touch it again. Don't use tech focuses unless its for a BB hull or BB Main calibre. Although only use it whilst the tech is in the undiscovered phase or +15months, use only one focus at a time. Find that maximises the bang for buck.

SHIPYARD: should be upgrading constantly also.

CREW: slide down until war, then i put it to 100%. all fleets to just above mothballed, and set operation mode to limited. That saves you alot of money. Once war starts crank them all back up.

TRANSPORT: i just move as needed to maintain just above 100%, if you drop below your gdp and budget start to slide.

[kf.*****]

saying that, I usually start 1900 or 1910, often with a nation on the brink of war