[dumbluck]

...for all you people out there who actually, you know, mod. What if, for each racial tech, there were a way to attain it without the racial tech. This could be useful for those really long games. Now, I know what you're saying: "Why bother getting the racial techs if they are researchable?" Time, my friend, time.

Here's an example. Organics.

Option 1: Take the Organics racial tech. Same as standard.

Option 2: Don't take the Organics racial tech. Instead, invest research points in the Biology theoretical sciences. After the standard Biology techs, keep researching. Then next level would give a very toned down Version of the medical lab to research. The next level of Biology would yeild, say, a very toned down Version of the replicant center. Etc. Etc. Etc. for about 10 more levels. Researching Biology 12 (or whatever) would cost something like 2 million research points, and it would yeild the Organic Manipulation theoretical science. Then the player could research Organic techs (although I would suggest at greatly increased research costs.)

Crystallurgy could follow a similar path through Chemistry. Psychic could follow a similar path through Psychology. Etc, Etc, Etc.

Questions? Comments? Observations?