What tech tree do you spec into?

[Boom! Headshot]

I am fairly new to total war series games. Do people mostly go heavy into one tree or do you research a mix of both economic and miltary techs? I seem to have not found a balance yet. I have done a heavy mix and end up not really getting anywhere, and then i tried going straight military but im really bankrupting my empire. Wheres the middle ground? You also have to think about victory conditons eventually and i always get screwed over one way or another...

[Mastaloui]

I focus on Economy.
Military is nice to get stronger troops, but you need money for upkeep.
So i focus Economy and afterward Military.

[Shogun]

depends on civ and playstyle, i mostly spam trade routes and 1st go for the ones that upgrade towns/doubles trade goods. get an early game 10k income. then just go full military untill max level units are recruitable.

[Varmint]

Player starts out with a decided advantage in Military Tech - if you play out battles instead of auto-resolve.
You get both money and faster growth with bigger towns - so, Public Order, Food and TownSize is the tack I take. And Public order and Food is often needed to help expand territories as well.

[Knox]

As barbarian tribes I usually rush out some military tech. Barbarians can live pretty happy on war as their military buildings give money and war gives bonus happiness.

As Romans, Hellenistic, or Punic cultures I go for the tech that gives bonus happiness and reduces corruption. Makes it so you have to worry less about balancing provinces and revolts plus you will have enough money to build anything you want all at once while having enough left over to bribe some cultures into being friends.

[Gator]

I get giant ballistas as fast as I can then work on economy.

[Varmint]

Originally posted by Gator:

I get giant ballistas as fast as I can then work on economy.

This is an important consideration. Hard not to exploit how OP Ballistae are for most factions. Also take this route - as well as the tech that grants Champions - as that choice also usually gives a fair upgrade to infantry as well. Just a few turns detour for oversized effect. As a minor point tho - find that the Objectives will present a bonus for research in Siageline - *after* I've already researched tech which unlocks Ballista lol

[God_Emperor_Trump]

I focus on getting getting tier 3 units, then switch out and focus on economy. War is just no fun if you are fighting in with levy pikemen and spear chuckers

[VoiD]

Same here I usually research midgame military units ASAP then spam a LOT of economy research in every area for a long time, specially viable as Egypt, they start rich but their early armies are pitiful

[Rabidnid]

Originally posted by patrickrapson:

I focus on getting getting tier 3 units, then switch out and focus on economy. War is just no fun if you are fighting in with levy pikemen and spear chuckers

I never go past Tier 2 units, unless I an running Egypt and get Tarantine cavalry and Elephants inplace of the entire skimers camp tree. I never use artillery either, as the AI has no idea how to deal with it.

[[CMA] The Voice of Freedom]

i usually play with sparta. i start out and take hella, macodonia, thracia, and illyria. i upgrade my military as much as i can throughout that time. during that u gotta get as much trade as u can. once i take those 4 provences i upgrade my economy