Race specific Tech Tree's/Tech tree remake

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Race specific Tech Tree's/Tech tree remake - 4/6/2011 9:12:38 AM

EaglePryde

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One thing that would be really interessting would be if we add to the allready existant tech tree's a race specific tech tree. Could be an additional tab in the research screen.

Just an example:

Maybe an insect type race could be used to live underground and can research underground citys that make your colonys harder to kill.

Because some Insects have better vision or react faster, they could develop better thrusters than other races because they experience space differently.

Humans could get harder hulls and better defences.

Maybe every race get's their own special weapon systems and defences that have a weakness against another races weapons. As example one race could have strong shields but have hulls that are weak against torpedos while their shields hold of more damage than those of any other race.

One race could be a specialist in stealh tech while their defensive and offensive systems are weaker compared to others but they use their stealhy ships to sneak up on the enemy and counter their weakness with it.

Those are just exmaples but i thing this would make every race even more unique and tech trading even more interessting.

EDIT:

Imho it would als be good to make he tech tree a bit different.

If you research a tech and are able to upgrade it to a higher level, it should be done on the same tech but with a level number.

Example: If you've researched torpedos and want to research it to be better, there shouldn't be a second research field but rather it should be done on the same field just with a level count and updated statistics for the current level. And if you've researched Torpedos to level 5 you'd unlock the next topedo variant. And if you research the next topedo variant to level 5 it could split in two fields giving you the chance to research shield piercing torpedos or hull damaging torpedos etc.

I think that upgrading the same tech on the same spot would give you more space for making newer techs and would be a bit more user friendly. It also gives you the ability to upgrade techs, unlock new techs on certain levels while you can still go up in levels with older techs if you wish for.

This way you could in theory (if you want to) research a tech to level 99 on 1 single field without having to make 99 fields of research. It's the best option for expanding tech trees imho.

< Message edited by EaglePryde -- 4/6/2011 9:25:19 AM >

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RE: Race specific Tech Tree's/Tech tree remake - 4/6/2011 9:51:50 AM

Data

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Yes, that was one of the best features of TA in galciv2 btw...and every 4x game should have it. I think DW will get there at some point but it will take some work and I'm not sure how soon we'll see it.
Great ideas, EP

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RE: Race specific Tech Tree's/Tech tree remake - 4/6/2011 9:52:26 AM

EaglePryde

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Ok just one more addition to my first posting.

Some of you may ask why upgrading older tech would be usefull if you allready unlocked more powerfull tech?

Well that's simple. Older tech may never get as powerfull as new one but can stay competitive for a longer time. It's also a decision in terms of resources or upkeep to upgrade older techs. If you allready have a design that only needs to get to a newer level it would also cost you less and may be enought to hold of enemies a bit better while your state of the art ships focus on the newest tech.

It's like upgrading the older tech of transports to be more faster or to carry a bit more vs. the state of the art development of high tech ships. Als this could serve as "decision making" in terms of resources and costs vs. state of the art. Sure your mighty fleet would cost much with state of the art stuff but you'd upgrade older tech for transports to make them a bit better but those will "save" your money in this point that you can use for more demanding stuff like your fleet.

This is a nice way to make a game even more interessting. Even tech trade would be more interessting. You could sell your level 10 rocket to someone who isn't that far in this tech while your allready in the next research field. Or maybe youd choose to give him only level 5 rockets although you could give him the level 10.

Really such stuff expands the possibilities very much and isn't hard to do. In the future such revamp would make stuff even easier/quicker to make.

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RE: Race specific Tech Tree's/Tech tree remake - 4/6/2011 11:46:31 AM

J HG T

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From: Kiadia Prime
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The only real problem with race specific tech trees is balancing. GalCiv 2 TA got it quite right from what I remember, so I support this idea in some degree.

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RE: Race specific Tech Tree's/Tech tree remake - 4/6/2011 1:01:05 PM

EaglePryde

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sure the race unique tech trees can't be quickly made but the easiest way to do it it to not make it overpowered and give some counter to it.

Let's say you make a weapon that is effective against the armor of race A with +10% but is weaker against their shields reducing damage against shields by 10%. This is one possible solution.

Another would be that this weapon does higher damage to race A but weaker damage to race B while race B is stronger against C and C is stronger against race A because of this weapon.

If you have 6 races you could give them a race unique powerfull weapon and defensive tree, each contering something else. Through Tech trade you could gain tech that nullifies the the advantage a races has against you in weapon vs. defence or vice versa making it even. If everything is well distributed with counteranswers to everything you'd have balance in the game.

And as long you'll give a race an advantage in tech 1 against race 2 and tech 2 against race 3 etc. you'd have small advantages in some things against someone but won't be overpowered against a single race nor would it make you overpowered against all. It'll give you just more strategic options.

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RE: Race specific Tech Tree's/Tech tree remake - 4/6/2011 5:42:19 PM

Igard

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Totally with you, Eagle. I'm not sure when we'll see something like this, probably not ready for it just yet, or we'll see a slow progression towards it.

In fact, you might not have played vanilla DW (without RotS), but was just, choose the field of research and it was one tech at a time, no branching, no options. So RotS was a big step in the right direction.

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RE: Race specific Tech Tree's/Tech tree remake - 4/6/2011 6:52:39 PM

Data

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Good point, even the oldest of us tend to take for granted what we have now and look for the future. Great observation Igard.

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RE: Race specific Tech Tree's/Tech tree remake - 4/6/2011 6:57:09 PM

J HG T

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Igard

In fact, you might not have played vanilla DW (without RotS), but was just, choose the field of research and it was one tech at a time, no branching, no options. So RotS was a big step in the right direction.

The amount of retrofitting back then... *shivers*

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RE: Race specific Tech Tree's/Tech tree remake - 4/6/2011 7:38:03 PM

EaglePryde

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Igard

Totally with you, Eagle. I'm not sure when we'll see something like this, probably not ready for it just yet, or we'll see a slow progression towards it.

In fact, you might not have played vanilla DW (without RotS), but was just, choose the field of research and it was one tech at a time, no branching, no options. So RotS was a big step in the right direction.

True i didn't play it but i heared alot about it and was constantly ghosting the forums from the very beginning. The complete story about DW from the beginning till now is really impressive and even more if you consider that it has been done by a single person. I have no doubt that it will continue as well as it has and that we will see great things along the road.

This is one of the games where you can clearly say that patience pays off in the end. As a great 4x fan i couldn't pass on it even though i still miss Multiplayer and i hope DW get's that too.

A great thing about DW is that it feels very much more complete an very much immersive than most other 4x games you see out there. It reminds me the most like a totaly revamped MOO (Master of Orion) but having a deep and engaging core. Feels like your going on a big adventure if you start into the game. This really surprises me because i played nearly every 4x game since MOO and none have come that close to it like DW. Others where not bad but i had always the feeling of something big was missing. DW catches the essential sprit of what MMO had back then and takes it a fresh new way.

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RE: Race specific Tech Tree's/Tech tree remake - 4/6/2011 8:43:57 PM

Data

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Well put, EP, could not agree more

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