Most Usefull Research Path...

[Cor2]

I don't suppose there is anyway to set up a test game where each nation gets only one research path. It would have to be an honor system I guess.

[llamabeast]

Well it'd be an honor system, but it'd mostly be pretty obvious if you cheated.

Anyway, everyone around here is pretty honorable, so that would work fine I think.

[Meglobob]

You would probably after sign up with your nation plus the single reseach path. Like:-

Pangaea - construction
Caelum - evocation

Might make for a fairly quick, fun game. It would of course be very, very obvious if a player broke the rules.

[Humakty]

For longer games you could allow the first two levels of all paths, to let players have access to many must have spells. I can't imagine a game on a big map without the site searching spells

[Sandman]

Construction really is the backbone of the game. Items open up far more possibilities than the other paths.

Enchantment is probably the next best, with the superb globals and good summons and buffs.