Quote:
Yef said:
I don't think Technological degradation really happens.
Do you think in the future we are going to forget how to make computers?
Unlikely, unless something catastrophic happens. 
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Any Classicist or Medievalist can tell you all about the fall of the Roman Empire and the following Dark Ages. That is the first example of technological degradation that comes to mind.
Second, Heron of Alexandria had devoloped a primitive "steam engine" which was used in religious ceremonies to create an atmosphere of majesty and wonder. These "steam engines" harnessed steam to open bronze doors, lift ceremonial thrones, and make statues of snakes hiss. Heron lived just under 2000 years ago.
And, more recently, it was discovered that the world as a whole seems to have lost the ability to maintain or create old WWII Lancaster Bombers. There is a group of engineers in Canada dismembering one in an attempt to figure out how build a new one. I think they were expecting it to take ten years.
Off topics aside, I'd like to see this as well. Think of it as a research 'maintentance' to be paid. I think degradation would be dificult to work out in SE, but there should be a base research point cost to be paid each turn before research can take place, and if these points can't be paid, you lose a tech. Just like if you cannot make maintenance costs can't be paid, you lose a ship. Think of it this way: If you have a large empire spanning 50 systems, and you have run to the end of the tech tree. You will likely scrap all those research facilities in favour of something more useful. Suddenly you've removed the intellectual core of your empire. There is no one training the coming generations, and the knowledge of all the empire's techs dies out with the old scientists. Sure, the old textbooks and whatnot still survive, but do you really think you could really build a nuclear plant after reading some books on nuclear physics? Thats why we have teachers. Words on paper can only instruct and convey so well.
Also- I'd like to see some turnbased gameplay OUTSIDE of hotseat. We play a lot of SE V over the lan over here, and none of us are very fond of simultaneous game play, even if it is faster. It takes so much of the control away.
Just my two cents.