Researching

The most important researches for attacking are poisoned edge, healing potions,  metal alloys, alloy horse shoes, and fletching.    These are the researches you see when people attack you.   Everyone you attack will see these researches as well!   If you have no resource fields and you farm for your resources then you don't have to finish the fertilizer, logging, stoneworking, or smelting! If you are done with your buildings or very close to being done then you don't have to research giants strength.   If you have no storehouse then don't need to research shrinking powder.  I suggest you do magical mapping as it will always help you throughout the entire game the same applies to geometry and eagle eyes.  You can stop on level 9 for featherweight powder for sure.