[PvK]

Did you reload the game after changing the component requirement? Does the game show you have TL 1 in Massive Shield Depleting Weapons? And/or, are you sure you changed file you are playing from? Those are the only things I can think of that would keep it from working, since if you set it back to 1, the requirements should be just like the original Version.

The Massive Shield Depleter is fun but isn't particularly effective compared to Shield Dep V (saves a bunch of rads), but it does save a lot of research points, which is a bigger deal in Proportions than in the standard game, because you can't just stuff some planets full of research facilities and therefore quadruple your research rate. Although it now costs research points, rather than just magically being able to build them after finding ruins. I think I might add some higher levels in case someone wants to develop a more efficient Version of the massive depleter.

I may also add some levels to the other ancient stuff, and if I get time I may sneak in a couple more ancient techs to find. I always was a little disappointed that the found techs required no research and then couldn't be developed any further. Of course, since they have to be found, they shouldn't be unbalancing since other players won't be able to get them unless they can steal them from the finding player. Mainly the idea is to offer something different rather than something entirely better than can be had through the common tree.

PvK