Secondary Tech Levels (long)

[Baron Munchausen]

Yes, that seems to be the only way to make this concept work in SE. I've considered doing this with phased-shields and some other technologies. As with all complicated mods the downside is that it makes AI editing more tedious at best, and might create a situation that confuses the AI and puts it at a disadvantage. I've been 'distributing' Stellar Manipulation techs to other fields, for example, so you have to pursue many branches of research to get them all instead of just one 'super powers' tech field. Then I have to go an edit all the AI files so they get around to all those fields sooner or later.. ugh.

For ship construction, I'd put the break at cruisers or battle cruisers and name the new field 'capital ship construction'. You might include some larger and heavier armor in that field as well. Then you might have some races that would only research standard ships up to cruisers and not go any further with standard ships. They might switch to carriers. (The 'Colonials' in the Battlestar Galactica universe, for example).

[ 16 February 2002: Message edited by: Baron Munchausen ]

[Phoenix-D]

"Then you might have some races that would only research standard ships up to cruisers and not go any further with standard ships."

Oh, I've already done that. That's why I didn't want to split it any further. It's already split into Escorts, Cruisers, Capital Ships, and Starships. So before when I had split tech, I had "Advanced Capital Ship Construction". I've managed to shorten it a bit, but I've already got a LOT of tech areas. Ah well.

I thint the prototype idea will work for the components though, thanks. SE4 doesn't do replacement of obselte hulls, so I don't want to do that on hulls.. too much clutter. The level I hulls are already bad enough.

As an example, I've got an improvement tech for the Meson BLaster and (new weapon) Havoc Beam. It's called Meson Disintigrators. To get Meson BLaster IV-VI, you have to research this first. You can still research up the tech, but it won't do you much good.

Phoenix-D

[Phoenix-D]

"As with all complicated mods the downside is that it makes AI editing more tedious at best, and might create a situation that confuses the AI and puts it at a disadvantage"

I'm pretty much stuck with having to re-write the AI anyway, so that's not a *huge* change..

Phoenix-D