Choose free technology for University faction

[Mart]

Choose free technology for University, that you can do at the game start.
When we start a game with Zakharov, we have this one free tech from faction parameters.
What usually you choose, or maybe what would you choose in your next singleplayer game?

This is in regard to the earlier poll:
Link

Thank you!

And the game is already started:
Link

[Buster's Uncle]

I know I'm gonna love finding out what you're up to...

[Mart]

Tough decision to choose one technology here...
And there is one, I think, universal one...

[Flux]

I know I'm gonna love finding out what you're up to...

BUniversity?

[Buster's Uncle]

Naw - BUniversity is a two-year art college.  Mart's clearly putting together a prestigious STEM school for engineers like MIT.

[551262]

When I used to play Zak, and not very well I might add, I used to get Biogenetics. Then after a few turns I'd get Social Psych, then Secrets of the Human Brain and with the free tech that would grant I'd get Centauri Ecology.

Made sense to me. I found if if I got Build 1 before Discover 1 I wouldn't get Discover 2 to show up until a good few turns afterwards. Any other faction -- I get Explore 1 first, unless I'm Diedre, in which case I get Discover 1. (Messing with your head there? I've got the tech tree printout. Probably should put it on a wall.)

[gwillybj]

Choose free technology for University, that you can do at the game start.

Biogenetics.
Planetary Networks will come along soon enough.

[ete]

Cent Eco, every time. You need formers as soon as possible.

Planetary Networks is super important especially for uni since the VW for uni is imo the best early game secret project available, but you don't usually want to start on a SP right away and getting a few formers/bases first will help more in the long run.

Biogen for rec tanks is nice and worth getting early, but a one off +1/+1/+1 per base can't compete with starting forests and roads sooner.

None of the others is worth serious consideration under normal circumstances.

[Mart]

Ok, we have 8 votes and the winning tech.
SPL game starts very soon.

[Thaumasurge]

When I play Zak, I always grab Biogentics or Social Psych with the free bonus. Whichever I didn't pick, I choose on the actual research selection. Set the main base to DISCOVER Governor, grab Secrets of the Human Brain, then choose Planetary Networks from the free bonus off the completion of that.

Why Planetary Networks as the earliest goal? I can immediately start building probe teams to protect myself in advance, as well as steal tech from neighbors (hopefully without them knowing). But the biggest thing is the ability to immediate start working on The Virtual World. The quicker you can neutralize Zak's inevitable drone problems with maintenance free Hologram Theatres and passively reduce the drone count, the better off you will be. While your neighbors struggle with their citizens, you'll be happily building away or killing the other players off! 

[Yitzi]

I'd say rush for Secrets of the Human Brain; the free tech should be worth more than the earlier formers (since you can use those minerals to produce colony pods and facilities meanwhile).

[sisko]

Planetary Networks because of Planned. Outproducing everybody is huge, especially in MP games.