First, the idea is good. I had once raised such a discussion already, but i was talking about randomizing techs available to races. As such, i like the idea
The realistic theory behind those techs is basicly the same as behind racial techs. Each race had developed in its own unique environment - one was forced to evolve on trees, another one was evolved on a planet with 6G. Third race had developed on a planet with soup-like atmosphere and as such were able to move in complete 3d, and have perfect graps of 3d movement. Fourth race was the dominant carnivore specie. Each one of these would develop their own, unique, technologies. Most obvious things are outer appearance - before mass production, media and gunpowder, maybe even before mass knighthood, each race and tribe had their own outfits and war outfits.
OK i went long enough, basicly the point is the race through millions of years develops a specific way of thinking, and simply cannot grasp, by any means, something completely different. Its like a bird describing you how to fly, or fish explaining how to breath with gills. Or like an alien explaining you the Five Steps in time travel.
Heh, thats long
application... no its not possible in SE4 because it requires A SIMPLE BOOLEAN SWITCH but its not there. Realy, this requires a simple function to use with basic TRUE/FALSE. On race development it decides which techs you can develop and not, and condition switches IF (researched tech A) THEN (mark tech B obsolete).
but, there are no conditional switches in the game
EDIT:
In addition, consider personality tech paths - an aggressor would find great torpedoes, missiles, beams a must, but a more defensive player would attain ECM, advanced shields and armor. A simple choice between PDC and Missiles, in the beginning, would make later techs (Advanced PDC or Advanced Missiles) obsolete, accordingly.
[ July 03, 2003, 02:29: Message edited by: Taera ]