Technology | Strategic map TW: Rome II Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
In Total War: Rome II each faction has an access to its own technology tree. Directly after starting the game and opening proper tab available under the 8 key, you'll be able to develop only one of two new technologies in civil and military categories. Only after completing the research another 6 branches will be unlocked: management, tactics, siege, economy, construction and philosophy or their counterparts in the barbarian tribes.
In each branch you'll find 9 inventions divided into 3 groups. Researching of all upgrades in given group not only increases the effectiveness of your troops or financial condition of your country, but also gives another, larger bonus. So for example while playing as Parthia if you unlock Formal Government, Temple Tax and Foreign Custom, in addition you'll reach the first level in philosophy decreasing corruption in the country by 5%!
Several factors influence the research speed. Some factions, like Egypt, have advantage over their competitors from the beginning. Building proper constructions can also speed up unlocking new technologies. Those bonuses are small, only a few percent, but if you add them up together in several provinces, they can even double the speed of researching new technologies.
Research can be queued by choosing more advanced technology in the tree - your scientist will slowly work in the direction given by you.
What research should be done? At the beginning you should primary focus on military technologies. New types of units, increasing ammo amount that projectile troops have, and speeding up sieges - all those effect will allow you to conduct rapid conquest. However, you'll see lacks in agricultural or economy very quickly. So it will be necessary to develop farms or estates and to expand trade. Technologies which decrease corruption are very useful, because they directly influence amount of money you get each turn.