Linear Tech Tree

from GalCiv4 Forums

I have always wondered why research in 4X games has followed a linear path, where you can only research one tech at a time. Paradox has done this differently with their games, like Hearts of Iron and Crusader Kings, where you can allot points to different research streams. This would allow the player to add or take away points based on their desire to emphasize or de-emphasize a certain tech. Have the developers of GalCivIV considered this option? Would the players of this game like to see this feature in this game? 

7,670 views 2 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

I would.


Actually i'd love a completely blind research tree as it would be more realistic.  You allocate resources to fields and then get breakthroughs...   A well known example being Viagra was supposed to treat baldness... not impotence.      or 3m Post it notes... the glue was supposed to be a better stronger superglue/epoxy  but it ended up just being tacky forever and never hardening...

If we had research paths like astrophysics  or Metallurgy  or Materials Sciences, Computer Technology, Nanophysics etc etc etc I'd enjoy the immersion.

That said....   that is likely never ever to happen because people want to know what they are researching in a game... the One more turn aspect that is oh so important to the fun of a 4x is driven by KNOWING what you get in X many turns.

So I'll be content with many branching and interweaving trees.

that said, being able to research more than one thing at a time if you want would be cool

Reply #2 from GalCiv4 Forums Top

Quoting Taslios, reply 1

If we had research paths like astrophysics  or Metallurgy  or Materials Sciences, Computer Technology, Nanophysics etc etc etc I'd enjoy the immersion.
End of Taslios's quote

I think Space Empire (IV at least) had something like that where you splitted a percentage of your research pool in different research fields. I really liked it and it was a lot of fun discovering what kind of new technology you could get for your ships or planets. Eventually, after playing games a couple of times you'd kind of know which path (and combination of paths) would yield the supper cool tech, but for the first few play through there was a lot of exploration and wonder from it. I liked for example that you could eventually get some powerful and usefull tech from investing a lot in fundamental physics, which would not give you much of anything until you invested a lot in it.

Maybe my memory is a bit fussy on the details, but in summary what I really liked is the concept of "exploring" the research paths/trees and the payoff with meaningful tech you'd get from it.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion