[Cheeze]

The Talisman may be unbalanced on its own, but it counter-balances the Religious tech line, which offers nothing in the way of weapons and a fairly small set of bonuses through the shrines. The current size of the talisman very often makes it an early casualty in combat, generally reducing that warship to a non-entity in a battle.

I do like what has been mentioned as new ways of developing ship-based War and Death talisman additions, but I might add one more...a Fate talisman. One that would not only decrease the chances of sabotage against a ship (if that really works for the shrines) but would enhance the defense bonus of a religious ship. While it can be argued that the lack of Religous weapons is a bonus rather than weakness to the Deeply Religious tech, having some kind of shipboard Religious items is a necessary piece to fleshing out this line. Or if a component or shrine could be developed that would automatically, if minimally, damaged enemy ships (in a system or in combat).

Even without the Talisman, I like Religious technology. Perhaps my favorite item is the Nature Shrine. Seeing my resource planets jump 3% every year (particularly when they are large or huge in size, although I really have never seen an improvement in climate), and having those values exceed the 100% mark, makes this shrine valuable in my eyes, and fun to play this technology.

Each special technology has some particular aspect that makes it fun to play or scary to face, that "unknown" factor that makes them just that much different. Crystal has the armor-skipping weapons and the maintenance-reduction facilities. Organic has regenerating armor and the fast production of organic ships. Temporal has the yards and the quad damage to shields weapon. Psychic has the allegiance subverter and the training facilities. The Talisman definitely is that for the Deeply Religious Tech, and if it is removed or modified it must be replaced by something very daunting for an opponent.