Researching Techs

on Jul 18, 2009

Scoutdog

I'm mostly optimistic about ∞ research, but then, there's something to be said for the feeling of accomplishment you get when you can finally say "I know everything" and drop that slider back down......

Personally, I'm the 'high tech nerd' so I like never finishing the tech tree...

Of course, if I never finish the tech tree I may never get around to unleashing my Vorlon like strength upon the mere Humans (Centauri, Narn, Drazi, etc etc) around me.

17

Kitkun

on Jul 18, 2009

Scoutdog

reply 15

I'm mostly optimistic about ∞ research, but then, there's something to be said for the feeling of accomplishment you get when you can finally say "I know everything" and drop that slider back down......

Ditto.

I prefer exactly this. Civ4, I just kept pouring resources into there, and it felt pointless.

18

MannanMackie

on Jul 18, 2009

Nights Edge

reply 9

Are you considering any sort of tech randomisation or exclusive paths?

Seconded.

19

Frogboy

on Jul 18, 2009

I don't know if this counts as tech randomization but we are planning to have a pool of techs that are are inserted into games based on whether they make their probability roll.

I.e. certain techs would show up in some games but not in others. Not core techs but ones that spice things up in different directions.

20

KellenDunk

on Jul 18, 2009

Frogboy

reply 19

I don't know if this counts as tech randomization but we are planning to have a pool of techs that are are inserted into games based on whether they make their probability roll.

I.e. certain techs would show up in some games but not in others. Not core techs but ones that spice things up in different directions.

Just like the MoM spellbook!

Also, this part is directed to Astrath the person who doesn't like the term "research technology". In this case Research is the verb. If you look at the other tabs.

Design Units.

Study Spells

Negotiate Treaties

These are all things to do. I much prefer this to your no verb arrangement.

How would you rewrite the other three to be consistent with your "technological research" tab.

Spell studies?

treaty negotiations?

Unit Designs?

those are all significantly less straightforward. Like I said before verbs state that you're doing something which I like.

21

CapnWinky

on Jul 19, 2009

Frogboy

reply 19

I don't know if this counts as tech randomization but we are planning to have a pool of techs that are are inserted into games based on whether they make their probability roll.

I.e. certain techs would show up in some games but not in others. Not core techs but ones that spice things up in different directions.

More better news! Man, is there anything this game wont have?

22

Denryu

on Jul 19, 2009

Frogboy

reply 19

I don't know if this counts as tech randomization but we are planning to have a pool of techs that are are inserted into games based on whether they make their probability roll.

I.e. certain techs would show up in some games but not in others. Not core techs but ones that spice things up in different directions.

This is exactly what has been on my wish list. This is one of the things that will give the game a lot of replayability. Very good news!

23

Denryu

on Jul 19, 2009

Frogboy

reply 19

I don't know if this counts as tech randomization but we are planning to have a pool of techs that are are inserted into games based on whether they make their probability roll.

I.e. certain techs would show up in some games but not in others. Not core techs but ones that spice things up in different directions.

This has been high on my wish list and will give the game a ton of replay value I think. I hope there is soem of that in the spell research as well... (?)

24

landisaurus

on Jul 19, 2009

curses, the resolution of that image is not high enough for me to extract a quality rip of those emblems for use in avatars. I really like the bird over the field in farming. It makes me want to go role-play for some reason (I ran a campaign that took place in a world mostly covered in grasslands, of which that reminds me)

I really like the sound of these random techs. I'm very curious to see how it will work. I can't imagine not having things like "farming" or "education" as techs in only a few games. I'd guess all the techs seen here are in all games.

Also, would techs available change from person to person like in MoM, and must have some sort of tech-trade system? or bleed over based on culture (a tech becomes available when your civilization recieves enough culture of the other place)

25

astrath

on Jul 19, 2009

KellenDunk I was referring to the wording of all of them, not just the Tech one.

Anyway its about as minor a thing as minor can be.

26

RisingLegend

on Jul 19, 2009

Frogboy

reply 19

I don't know if this counts as tech randomization but we are planning to have a pool of techs that are are inserted into games based on whether they make their probability roll.

I.e. certain techs would show up in some games but not in others. Not core techs but ones that spice things up in different directions.

This is game is going to be soo cool, thanks again for the update!

I agree with Denryu, I hope it works with spells too.

27

Cauldyth

on Jul 19, 2009

In this UI, the player has researched the ability to research 3 things at once (no penalty).

It seems to me like it should be the other way around. There should be penalties for focusing on only one research item. It makes sense from a logical perspective - adding more people to a project has diminishing returns. If a nation put all of its resources into researching a single thing then yes, it would go faster, but there would be a lot of waste.

I also like it from a gameplay perspective, as it penalizes people for going full bore down one tech path at the cost of completely ignoring other aspects of research. It can be done in an emergency to get a critical tech, but the more prudent thing in the long term would be to keep multiple research projects going on at once.

certain techs would show up in some games but not in others.

Awesome!

28

Jonny5446

on Jul 19, 2009

Cauldyth

reply 2

In this UI, the player has researched the ability to research 3 things at once (no penalty).
It seems to me like it should be the other way around. There should be penalties for focusing on only one research item. It makes sense from a logical perspective - adding more people to a project has diminishing returns. If a nation put all of its resources into researching a single thing then yes, it would go faster, but there would be a lot of waste.

I also like it from a gameplay perspective, as it penalizes people for going full bore down one tech path at the cost of completely ignoring other aspects of research. It can be done in an emergency to get a critical tech, but the more prudent thing in the long term would be to keep multiple research projects going on at once.

Seconded

Edit: Primarily as it would nudge it slightly closer to the system broadly agreed upon in this thread: https://forums.elementalgame.com/329572/page/4/#replies i.e. the more specific and focused your research (potentially in an effort to min max) the greater cost you pay for that focus.. and as a result you get some really interesting decisions to make

29

Trigeminal

on Jul 19, 2009

Hey frog, this keeps looking better and better. I am really looking forward to more and more info as we approach the beta. I will likely be ordering this very soon. (MOM was my 2nd favorite game of all time.)

30

RyanTemporary

on Jul 19, 2009

Looks and sounds great, I'm really looking forward to checking this out. In terms of "future tech 1" type techs, I never did like those in Civilization IV. I would have rather had the tech tree just end, but that is my own personal preference.