Best ideas for a central African nation

[Mr House]

Playing as the Chowke and I can choose my first idea, what idea could be useful, I don't think I need a military idea since I managed to take out the Kongo and so I'm the strongest in my region, I was thinking either something to boost my economy or to help me in keeping up with tech anyways what would you suggest?

Thanks.

[Tulduil Iphukiir]

I currently play Busoga and took Innovative as first and Espionage as second Ideas.

In my opinion Innovative is a great group if you don't plan to conquer much (else Administrative and early Humanist/Religious are way better). If I don't plan to mass-conquer I (nearly) always take Innovative early.
I was lucky that the "colonize adjacent province" event fired for three nations which closed the gap between Congo, Great Lakes and East Africa else I maybe would have taken Expansion.
Espionage helps with nasty early game sieges (through spy network) and the cheaper claims save monarch points.

Later I took Offensive (army Quality against Kilwa and, eventually, colonizers), Expansion (found some gold and to connect Congo to Benin), Diplomatic (more claims, less coalition danger, steal maps from Europeans) and Humanist (by then I needed something against low Religious Unity and Fetishism is no "mass-convert" religion).

Next is Quality (more army and navy quality against colonizers).

[bri]

What is your long-term goal for the game? While you may not need military ideas to beat up on your neighbors, they do help in holding off European DoWs by making you look stronger. Influence is always a good option IMO as well.

[Rabob]

I would go for exploration if you want to try and spawn the institution (or save scum it) or expansion. I love the 2 settlers in that area. You can get South Africa first as well then.

[Psychotic Fury]

I went exploration, quantity can't remember what i chose after that maybe humanist or admin/economic as kongo.

[Annie]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.