Exclusive Techs - Theory and Discussion

[Erax]

I like to research all the techs. That's why I always played the Psylons in MoO2 (I only found out that they were one of the best races later). Mutually exclusive techs would be an interesting option, but that's what it should be - an option.

[Suicide Junkie]

In addition, consider personality tech paths - an aggressor would find great torpedoes, missiles, beams a must, but a more defensive player would attain ECM, advanced shields and armor. A simple choice between PDC and Missiles, in the beginning, would make later techs (Advanced PDC or Advanced Missiles) obsolete, accordingly.

I fail to see why that should prevent you from researching the other.
And besides that, how could an "Advanced" Version become obsolete when you're still using the standard Version, unless you find an "Uber" Version of the same tech?

A change of leadership, or pressure from another race could all make you decide to develop the techs you neglected before.

"Hello, Sir. I know I'm just a historian, but back in 2402.5, there was a big question of whether to work on Tech A or Tech B. Since our highly developed tech A is useless against these aliens, I suggest we try Tech B instead. If if proves effective we could continue to develop it to its full potential and have these nasties on the run!"

[Taera]

remember the movies SJ, what do Earth's generals do when a nuke fails to shoot down the alien craft? send a dozen more. And then some more. its not always the case, not in the long run, but that how commonly people think... or at least are thought to think

EDIT: More:
An aggressor race would simply be unable to graps (i like the word) the context of electronic counter-measures or cowardly cloaking, while the defender's mind would be unable to think of the atrocity of plague or rad bombs, or high-energy weapons. Thats some reason isnt it?

[ July 03, 2003, 21:39: Message edited by: Taera ]

[Suicide Junkie]

And then they finally give up on the nearly-useless weapons, and develop the computer virus weapon to disable the enemy ships, and everybody who lives, lives happily ever after

[ July 03, 2003, 22:41: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]