SEV question - new design tech levels?

Kana · #1 September 21st, 2006, 03:43 PM

The problem here is the level system for techs...basically you turning your +1 APB into a +2 APB, and once you have it, there is no need to go back...I'm wondering how many mods will remove the levels all together...I'm seriously considering it...

StarShadow · #2 September 21st, 2006, 03:46 PM

Except there are several people who say that they really would like to have the ability to go back. So I'd say the need to go back, does exist.

Kana · #3 September 21st, 2006, 03:48 PM

Preaching to the choir...

StarShadow · #4 September 21st, 2006, 03:52 PM

Lol..I was just saying. It didn't look, to me, that you were 'for' the ability to 'go back'.

AgentZero · #5 September 21st, 2006, 06:15 PM

It'd be especially handy for multiplayer where you sometimes end up building lots of ships to trade, but don't want them to have the highest tech, or even if you're just building scouts that you know have a good chance of winding up captured, you don't want to give your enemies free tech.

The thing is, the way the tech works in SE5, each tech level doesn't have it's own entry, there's just the one entry for a certain field (ie: Meson Blasters) and then a formula describes what happens as you increase in tech.
In SE4, you had seperate entries for each tech level, so each level of tech could be seen as a seperate object, so in SE4, you had 10 different Meson Blasters, each with it's own stats, whereas in SE5 you have 1 Meson Blaster with stats that vary according to your tech level.

So, while it'd sure be nice to use older tech, it's probably not feasible in SE5.

Edit: Unless there was an option in the design screen that said 'Use Current Tech' or 'Use Tech X Generations Old' where X is a user definable number. Then a formula could be applied to the current techs to 'reverse' them to the level you desired. Of course, it'd be kinda clunky if you wanted to use engines that were 5 techs old, APBs that were 10, shields that were 7 etc., but it's the only way I can think of doing it.

Slick · #6 September 21st, 2006, 06:22 PM

AZ: I dunno. The game works fine with older techs that are already in use. I can't see why it would be harder than adding a selector for component level.

I'd like to be able to compare different levels of component also so that I can see what I'm getting for my research. Right now it's hard to tell if you are getting deminishing returns; especially if you haven't used the last version anywhere.

Kamog · #7 September 21st, 2006, 06:27 PM

How can you tell what version of hull is used in your old ship designs? Does it say anywhere what level of frigate hull, for example, was used in a particular ship design?

I could only try to figure it out by looking at the structure kT...

When copying an outdated component from an old ship design, is there a way to install the old component into a newer hull version? For example, say you have a saved design for an old frigate level 1 which has a depleted uranium cannon level 1. You have now researched up to frigate level 2 and DUC level 2. Is there a way to copy the DUC1 from the old design and place it onto a frigate level 2?

AgentZero · #8 September 21st, 2006, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Kamog said:
How can you tell what version of hull is used in your old ship designs? Does it say anywhere what level of frigate hull, for example, was used in a particular ship design?

I could only try to figure it out by looking at the structure kT...

Not that I'm aware of. The only place where a hull's level is mentioned is in the ship selection portion of the design screen, & that only shows the latest hulls available.

Quote:

When copying an outdated component from an old ship design, is there a way to install the old component into a newer hull version? For example, say you have a saved design for an old frigate level 1 which has a depleted uranium cannon level 1. You have now researched up to frigate level 2 and DUC level 2. Is there a way to copy the DUC1 from the old design and place it onto a frigate level 2?

Not yet.

Suicide Junkie · #9 September 21st, 2006, 06:53 PM

How about having "Used", "New", and "Bleeding Edge" versions of each component.

This would be an actual use for filters, too!

New components could be normal as we are all used to.
Used components could be half price, and -5 levels worth.
Bleeding Edge components could be double price and +3 levels worth

AgentZero · #10 September 21st, 2006, 06:32 PM

That's a good point, Slick. Tech comparison chart anyone?

What I was getting at with the 'Use X Generations Old' idea was that while it's probably possible to add in the ability to select what tech levels you want, something like SE4's View All/Only Latest probably wouldn't be feasible. Not that I'm sure one would want it to be, given the number of techs that go up to 100.