Re: Tech Tree with descriptions?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ah man, ah'right then have it your way ...

</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">It's just an opinion of mine -- but the default tech tree isn't really complicated, there are very few cross techs.

Kinda don't know why its so secretive -- anyone who's played the game enough can figure it out -- why not let someone who wants to know have the information.

Whenever someone wants to mod a complicated tech tree, they're disappointed by the fact that all their planning evaporates once someone views the tech tree.

Re: Tech Tree with descriptions?
 

Thanks very much fellas!

Re: Tech Tree with descriptions?
 

Phoenix, sounds like an excellent idea. I'm assuming you're basing it on the default tech tree, and not reading TechAreas.txt and Components.txt (not exactly a minor task).

Are you thinking along the lines of the old Civ2 "What is your research goal? Then you should research X, Y, or Z at this time" sort of thing?

Re: Tech Tree with descriptions?
 

"Phoenix, sounds like an excellent idea. I'm assuming you're basing it on the default tech tree, and not reading TechAreas.txt and Components.txt (not exactly a minor task)."

Actually an impossible task for what I'm planning.

"Are you thinking along the lines of the old Civ2 "What is your research goal? Then you should research X, Y, or Z at this time" sort of thing?"

More or less. The big list will hopefully let you follow the tech tree, while another will have a simple list of every topic sorted alphabeticly. You click on a topic and get something like so:

-Topic name-
-Topic game effects0
-Topic fluff-
-topic tech requirements-
-topic tech available-

So, if you click on APB IX, it shows you something like:

-Anti-Proton Beam IX-
-SE4 stats-
-This weapon blah blah blah-
-Required: Energy-Stream Weapons 9-
-Allows: N/A-

Clicking on "Energy Stream Weapons" would show you a list of everything that tech area gives, and what IT requires, like so:

-Energy Stream Weapons-
-Base Cost: 5000-
-N/A-
-Required: Physics I
-Gives: Anti-Proton Beam I-XII

Phoenix-D

Re: Tech Tree with descriptions?
 

You can right-click on the tech areas in the research screen to read the description of each one.

If you start an SE4 game with starting tech set to "High," all techs that your empire can research will be known, so you can see pretty much everything from there, and also try out designs in the simulator, and so on.

PvK

Re: Tech Tree with descriptions?
 

The tech tree viewer might be what you're thinking about:
Tech tree viewer thread
or more info in this thread tech tree page

Re: Tech Tree with descriptions?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">It's not all that secretive; it just isn't casually accessible.

Turning on "Players can see entire tech tree" (or however it's worded) when you're setting up the game seems to be sufficient for most people who are interested in it.

Re: Tech Tree with descriptions?
 

Wee, they went and changed Dreamweaver on me..now I have to spend time in the demo (30 day limit) figuring out the changes before I can start to design.

Phoenix-D

Re: Tech Tree with descriptions?
 

Well... I think full tech tree would be not interesting. I, for example, have never played with full tech start (I'm not modding yet and will try not to for as long as I will be able to) and wouldn't want to know everything in advance. The pleasure is the RESEARCH and what your scientists will come up with but not reading some manuals and knowing that 'if I read this chapter I will know this tech'. I am against the full tech tree. Another example: I've never researched a tech for destroying a star or something in that range (nevertheless I'm playing SE4 for a year or so) because my games (single player or pbw) just used to end faster. Now I'm playing DNM and see that it takes quite a while to get all the AIs under your control. And I have more time to research VERY big techs. And maybe I will have time to build e.g. a starbase or smth like that. I really wouldn't want to know by heart (or at least until I will start modding) all the techs. I want to have the pleasure of <u>discovery</u> http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Re: Tech Tree with descriptions?
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I've always felt that way, and I've said so before. But this does seem to come up a lot. Apparanty, MOO 2 would give a complete tech tree, and people are just accustomed to it. For a more complete synopsis, might I suggest the Encyclopedia Malfadorica entry: Click here

By now, I pretty much know the standard tech tree, and I had fun acquiring that knowledge. But maybe some people don't like that I have the advantage. It's really everyone's call.

I never used to tech tree, it seemed like cheating, and since I was playing the AI the only one I was cheating was myself.

[ December 13, 2002, 21:30: Message edited by: Arkcon ]