Tech tree

[Paladin]

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all you need to do is right click the stuff to see what they do and on the screen, if you go to the far right, it shows you how much it costs.
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We all know that, but it's not the same as having a general idea of where we're going...
A complete picture of the requirements, general benefits and such would be appreciated, that's all.

[MaxOMan]

I've only played the demo a handful of times so far, but I'm curious to know what the difference is regarding the technology cost setting.

I'm refering to the set-up at the beginning before starting a game, specifically the setting where it asks you what level of "technology cost" you want: Low, Medium, or High.

When I start a game (low starting tech level), all the "prices" for the technologies are the same regardless of whether I pick "low cost", "medium cost", or "high cost". Why is this? Are the proceeding tech levels more expensive? If not, then what's the difference between these technology "cost" settings?

I've always loved playing these 4X games, especially considering how addictive they can be , but my only hang up is how fast the technologies change and develop. (No sooner did I complete my level 1 tech than I'm already half-way through tech 2, etc.) My preference would be for the low technologies to be relatively inexpensive (in terms of research cost), with the middle techs being very expensive. This would make the high tech levels EXTREMELY (almost prohibitively) expensive. Such a thing would make the players have to make VERY specific choices as to how their empire's tech was going to develop. Thus each empire would "mold" itself very differently from others, making each one forced to "specialize" in only a few of the highest tech areas (those that were most appealing to his/her play style), and only make marginal inroads in other tech levels.

It had always appealed to me that it would be much more interesting to stay in the "middle" techs for a prolonged time while you're "shaping the galaxy" and fighting with the other players. Instead, it seems all too often that I begin construction on a ship and before it's finished it's already obsolete because I've achieved a new tech level or quickly finished researching a new device. 4X games lack something when "everyone" always has "everything".

Granted 100 turns (using the demo) is not sufficient evidence to say that this is the case with SE IV late into a game, but it has been (IMHO) a "minor fault" in other 4X games.

Sorry to rant....But this is why (long-winded) I wanted to know if anyone knew if there was a definite difference between the "tech cost" settings.

Thanks, you may now go back to more important things.

[Klauss]

MaxOMan
"My preference would be for the low teechnologies to be relatively inexpensive (in terms of research cost), with the middle techs being very expensive. This would make the high tech levels EXTREMELY (almost prohibitively) expensive."

In the tech data files you can alway alter the costs of every tech in the game. There is absolutely NO problem in SE4 to make your idea true! You just have to find another guys which accept your altered charts for multiplayer.
This is one of the more beautiful things of SE4.

klaus

[General Hawkwing]

MaxOMan,
I too would like to know what the difference is between the 3 settings. I believe the manual will clear up this issue.

[MaxOMan]

Klauss,

In the tech data files you can alway alter the costs of every tech in the game.

That's what I thought we would be able to do with the full Version, but I wasn't sure if it also applied to the cost of technology.

Thanks! I will probably end up doing just that!