so i made the mistake of increasing my population before i had level three farming, but i'm doing alright, and i have a quick question.
should i spend my hard earned tech points on level three farming, or level two science?
the reason for going after the science first would be that it allows me to get more points faster, yes? plus i believe it hops up one of my scientists to the master level, and then i can get that school going. however, the ease of not worrying about stupid harvesting would be wonderful. well i think i answered my own question in the span of writing it out, but i would really really appreciate other opinions.

THANKS!!!!

I don't think getting another tech level will make one of your villagers a Master Scientist, but it might help them succeed in researching more often, so they get to that level faster.

If you have no problem feeding everyone (i.e. you don't have to forage for mushrooms while you're waiting for the crops to come in), then Science 2 is a good idea. But if you are are at all worried about food, I would get Farming 3 and then the Science tech.

But that's just my opinion

I haven't studied it enough to know the actual formula, but level 2 science will give the newbie scientist 2 on his first successful research attempt, as opposed to 1 with level 1 science. A master scinetist earning 15 points (which is max) at level 1 will earn 20 points at level 2. My thoughts about it is that if you're doing well food-wise and hold off on a major population boom until later, then by all means get level 2 science first. If it feels like you're struggling for tech points, then get level 2 science. If you're having a real difficult time with food tho', either start up those child labor camps and get them to shroom picking, or increase farming to level 3. ^^

hahah awesome, thanks.

i went ahead with science two, and i would be golden but i got carried away and was sad about the decomposing body and got level two spirituality, and level two construction so i could clear the lagoon... now i've been playing on half speed to make my harvest go as far as possible buuuuut with that running low i'm back up to normal speed to make the crops grow faster again.... it's a delicate balance, oh man.

Your instincts about 1/2 speed stretching the food were right, (they don't eat as often), and you'd prob still be better off staying there, while hunting some mushrooms to help out.

starvation just hit me in the face like a bat. now i have an eleven year old and a woman. what's this i hear about a crate of babies?

There's always a learning curve - esp. if you don't apply the law of supply and demand The 11-year old is female too? If so, you'll have to hope for an event that will bring you a male. In the meantime, you could start another village while nursing your old one. (Menu, Change Player (at top right). Good luck!

When I have a game that hasn't "completed" I almost always run it on 1/2 speed all the time, even between harvests. But I'm also slower now at population growths...

I sometimes even try for Science 2 before Farming 2, just to get more tech points per research faster. It is a long wait before Science 3 and oh so tempting to get the other tech items first.

Though sometimes if I'm really running into a food crises by the time I have enough points for Farming 2 (usually after Science 2) I'll switch just this one time to 2X speed to wait only 1/2 hour my time for the harvest to come in, but mushroom hunt even then.