Anybody done any thinking on the best route to go with the tech upgrades? Is it worth it to get the science upgrades so the points accumulate faster or the chief, if that allows him to make the villagers research faster, or is another one better sooner?

I'd say get your faction first, or restoration (for the sake of the trees).

I'd say that the research tech isn't worth it, especially if you have magic faction.

Usually I buy 1st the faction to unlock the special benefits (look at the ? in the tech screen) Then the Restoration for .
After that I buy Medicine then Science.

I choose the faction, then have as many villagers as possible researching until I get L2 Science, then L2 of the faction so I can get rid of the sharks as soon as possible. Only then will I put any to work on building, which will be my next upgrade.

I buy first the Restoration tech because




I next buy the medicine lev.2 and science lev.2 the buy the faction to lev.2



The magic faction would raise the scientist productivity and the max population. But I heard that many buy the nature faction 'cause of replenishment of food sources more quickly and it extends longevity.

If my chief's "like" is nature, would that be a recommendation for my faction or is it just a coincidence?

In fact, it's just a coincidence.
But if you want, you may consider that it's a wink of the fate and you villager will be happier! (I think!)

Yeah, Laurence is correct. It's coincidence because If the chief's preference is neither "magic" or "nature" but try with nature.

I usually choose my faction first. As for the others, it's whatever I feel like getting.