Robin´s research order?

[76561198303466438]

Hello, I love this game but whenever I have to make decisions I despair because I don't know what the best option is, I must have restarted like 20 times since the end of chapter one changing investments and now I'm completely confused about what would be the best order of research that I should follow, even reading the guide I am completely confused, what would be the best order to follow, taking into account not losing anything indispensable or unique?

[Volvo pls fix]

If someone were to ask this question a month ago, I would just list the string of choices, BUT, since the conclusion of the Succession Crisis made lots of folks who discuss optimization were forced to trace their choices all the way back to chapter 2. Maybe what the community called consensus in a lot of choices will change in the future, including the order of her Research.

Anyway, I'll list the order anyway but it will be a mess hiding spoilers:

Before Ardford = Essence Shielding

Chapter 3
Before visting the forests = Dari's Condition
After forests, before Zirantia = Orc Development
After Zirantia = Yhilini Magic, here you also need to talk to Qum and agree with her research, is useful.
After Eustrin = Order Exam

Chapter 4
From this point, Robin is no longer responsible for Research, now you'll need to talk to Riala.
After 1st trip to The Tower = Orc Diversification
After Sucession Crisis = Sex and Purity
After Tower Dephts and before Gawnfall = Unpeople Transformation
After second trip to Stenai = Magical Constructs
After Erosian War = Deep Tower Exploration

Chapter 5
After Eustrin Tower section = Demonic Understanding
After Second Gathering = Divine Research
After Incubus War, Prison and Aftermath = Incubus Shards.

That was indeed a pain to format.

[76561198303466438]

Thank you, now I finally know which route to follow... and that I have to restart from before the summit once again

[Warlock]

You don't have to replay, you just won't complete each research just in time to get the most benefit from it ;)

All of the researches are useful, but optimised lists take advantage of analysis done by players that among other things know what order future events (and therefore research benefits) happen in. The game stays playable if you miss perfect scores on some events; for a first play I recommend making your own choices, they feel weightier when they're your own.

If you instead want to play aiming to get perfect results on everything there are detailed walkthroughs available (Thosha's is good, since it specifically includes all the minor actions such as side conversations that give benefits, but is currently being rewritten to allow for recent updates).

[76561198303466438]

Too late, I already redid it, only to discover that even with a guide there were unspecified things that helped in the battle of Yhilin... luckily I got almost the best result so at least I don't have to restart everything again X'D

[callipso.mail]

There are two kinds of merits: obtaining the "best" result and increasing margin of error for a "good" result. If I use something like Fulminato's Calculator then I have to worry only about the first kind; if you play at least somewhat blind, the second kind also has value (e.g. researching Orc Development before you have to use your army boosts said army - not necessary on optimized run, can save your bacon if you missed a thing or three).

If you got ritual for Aka in the Orgasmic Empire, you can clean the first research set completely even with Qum research (which may be detrimental on an optimized run). Only the first research choice matters (Shielding is most "optimal" since it helps in Ardford and unlocks a superior option during the Yhilin campaign). Of the rest, you need to research orcs within the first three iterations for it to be useful for Balia work; you may want to help your new companion sooner as a matter of RP but you're likely to hit the RP 99 wall with her so... not a necessity.

The second slate starts in chapter 4. You'll have to miss one of the options; so far, "defense overhaul" seems least important (but it does wonders in the "margin of error" sense). The rest can go in different order: only the first research will help in the start of the chapter's confrontation: "diversification" gives you better standing in Tak'Kan, "transformation" can give you an extra affection-locked member (there's a check for how many you have), "sex/purity" doesn't do much. After that, it's better to do "sex/purity" before the last remaining option.

The third slate gets added by the end of the chapter. You can do everything, only the first research helps in the war. "Demonic" and "construct" researches seem comparable, you probably want the latter for story reasons IF you got all relevant optional rewards (Gray Lotus, True Stone, Crystal of Harmony). After that, "demonic" stops being urgent and can be done last.

The fourth slate has two options and the full effect of choosing "light" or "dark" first is unknown (you get to start the second one but it seems you won't complete it in time).

(I don't know what is the importance of the succession crisis Adilson Gomes Oliveira mentions, though, unless there was a route that skipped "diversification" in favor of "defense overhaul".)