tech tree/combat

[Mark Pavlou]

One thing that does rather jar about the tech tree is that while you can build Frigates from the very start, to build Fighters, Mines, Satellites or Weapons Platforms requires 150-200,000 research points! (100,000 for Construction level 1 to open up all the relevant Tech Areas and then 50-100,000 to pick up 1 level in each area).

Surely given the complexities of ship design versus satellites, weapons platforms and the like it would make more sense to start with the small stuff (eg fighters capable of in-system movement only) and requiring research for anything bigger?

What would seem a better use for Construction in this case would be for increased levels to provide minaturisation, allowing you to build components that take up less space (as in MOO2 where increasing a tech level causes all older items to shrink in size). As well as increasing ship capability, this could also be extended indefinitely (looking forward to a game with an infinite research model).