yep its all about the land, and it is fairly balanced between strategies.
i should clarify technology does nothing for your individual state. but you can create/join a nation. when you do so you will have a tax rate, and everyone gives a portion of their production/sales to the tax. the nations can then buy technology to place on your different productions, and also use this money to build up a nation army.
Disorder/Vindication-DAK-TWC-PX-SOUL-xELDx
Nation Wars-[SOUL]x2-[vT]x1-[GRIM]x1-[xELDx]x9-[ABT]x10-[ICN]x1-[bro]x1-[LOR]x6