Prosperity every time

[Tzyder]

At least starting out I dont feel any desire to try other tradition paths. The mining station reduction and Private colony ship are too good. I think the other trees need some love

[Handiry]

Yeaaahh. If you happen to have a rather rich starting system/other systems around you, I don't see any real point in anything but Prosperity since the benefits of cheaper mining outweight any other tradition. It's even more amazing when your leading has something like "Space Miner," so that they become even cheaper..

[Stelar Seven]

It's very, very good. Always one of my top 3. However Harmony and the one that stretches your boarders are also very, very handy. After that the rest are meh with research and diplomacy being my picks when all the others are done.

[timewar]

The research for surveying planets is OP.

[Twelvefield]

Thing is after a while when you get chugging, you just buy all the traditions anyways. So yes, the trees definitely need love.

The starting species traits tend to balance out with buffs and nerfs that are built in, making for strategic planning at the outset. The traditions, though, are just buffs: all you are doing is tinkering with their timing. How very Civ VI.

[Optimus Princeps]

The exploration one with research for surveying planets is a must, being ahead of the game in technology and you cannot be stopped.

My guess is they will nerf it soon but for now it is the most OP thing in the game. I double my research just by surveys

[Ficelle]

Yep, discorvey tree is insane.

Skyrocket science.

I also like the fact you get much more anomalies with it, making all your systems just better.
+ this and that on every system add up quite a lot in the end, so better to unlock it as soon as possible, because once system has been surveyed , it is too late.

[Azrael]

Imho Expansion, Discovery and Prosperity are on equal footing.

Expansion for extra starting pop and less cost increase for additional colonies, prosperity for kick starting your economy and discovery for the research.

So all in all, there are more choices than prosperity ;)

[Red Bat]

Discovery and Properity are both trees that really cause you to snowball early on.

However the expansion one that gives you, among other things, 2 extra cores is situationally a good starting one too.

The other trees are good, but I don't see a lot of point in starting with them. I might pick Supremacy or Domination over one of those core three if I've got a specific aggressive expansion plan.

Diplomacy is needed for federations, so whether it's good or not is kind of a moot point.

[Veqqie-Veq]

If you're starting border is full of 3s in minerals and energy then I'd agree.

Consider Expansion or Discovery first. It may be slower, but more controlled in a way. You have Discovery leading your placement of outposts and then hit those clustered systems with your construction ship for mining stations?

And you're closer to getting more Cores.

[[TFM]bobcat]

Idk, prosperity is definetely not my first priority. I usually go fo expansion, the first supremacy tradition and Harmony. prosperity is ok but the mining doesnt really change a whole lot for anything besides early game and what is the value of private colony ships? is there really any significant benefit over just the regular kind?

[HugsAndSnuggles]

Originally posted by designersox:

Consider Expansion or Discovery first. It may be slower, but more controlled in a way.

Slower tends to get you killed on higher difficulties - another thing to consider.

Edit:

Originally posted by TFMbobcat:

what is the value of private colony ships? is there really any significant benefit over just the regular kind?

You pay only half their mineral price (and even that you do with energy), leaving those minerals free for mines and fleet.

[Tzyder]

Originally posted by HugsAndSnuggles:

Originally posted by designersox:

Consider Expansion or Discovery first. It may be slower, but more controlled in a way.

Slower tends to get you killed on higher difficulties - another thing to consider.

Edit:

Originally posted by TFMbobcat:

what is the value of private colony ships? is there really any significant benefit over just the regular kind?

You pay only half their mineral price (and even that you do with energy), leaving those minerals free for mines and fleet.

180~ odd energy is a great price for colony ships...plus early in the game if you lanch them from your cap there is really no chance of having settlers with odd ethics.

[Veqqie-Veq]

Originally posted by HugsAndSnuggles:

Originally posted by designersox:

Consider Expansion or Discovery first. It may be slower, but more controlled in a way.

Slower tends to get you killed on higher difficulties - another thing to consider.

I agree. Alternatively, trading for minerals in the early game could make more sense than playing the first hour or so paying minerals for minerals. Even at a discount.

With Discovery one can open up those highly desirable mining station locations while enjoying additional benefits.

[DeadlyDanDaMan]

All of the traditions are OP. That's what the players wanted. Stop complaining.