Alien Races

[Marty Ward]

I like the idea changing the cost of items to represent the type of race is a gfreat idea. Why would an organic race need minerals to build its shipyard? If a race was exteremely dependent on one type of resource it could change what type of planet it values the most.
I am not sure if balance would be as much of a problem as some think. The races are only balanced now because they basically all use the same items. How unbalanced would the crystaloid race be if it could not research any beam weapons? What if they never could figure out how to mount PD's on ships but developed an anti-missle fighter? The tactics to fight them would have to change.
Having separate tech tree for a race and having that race lose the ability to research some standard items could make for some interesting competition.
Maybe it is to much to ask, it seems like a LOT of work.You would have to create the new tech tree, think of new techs that aren't just renames of existing items, and determine what should be excluded to that race.
Having true differences certainly would give the game some personality though.