Tech Tree with descriptions?

capnq · #1 December 13th, 2002, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Kinda don't know why its so secretive

It's not all that secretive; it just isn't casually accessible.

Turning on "Players can see entire tech tree" (or however it's worded) when you're setting up the game seems to be sufficient for most people who are interested in it.

Phoenix-D · #2 December 13th, 2002, 10:27 PM

Wee, they went and changed Dreamweaver on me..now I have to spend time in the demo (30 day limit) figuring out the changes before I can start to design.

Phoenix-D

Pablo · #3 December 13th, 2002, 11:07 PM

Well... I think full tech tree would be not interesting. I, for example, have never played with full tech start (I'm not modding yet and will try not to for as long as I will be able to) and wouldn't want to know everything in advance. The pleasure is the RESEARCH and what your scientists will come up with but not reading some manuals and knowing that 'if I read this chapter I will know this tech'. I am against the full tech tree. Another example: I've never researched a tech for destroying a star or something in that range (nevertheless I'm playing SE4 for a year or so) because my games (single player or pbw) just used to end faster. Now I'm playing DNM and see that it takes quite a while to get all the AIs under your control. And I have more time to research VERY big techs. And maybe I will have time to build e.g. a starbase or smth like that. I really wouldn't want to know by heart (or at least until I will start modding) all the techs. I want to have the pleasure of discovery

Arkcon · #4 December 13th, 2002, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pablo:
Well... I think full tech tree would be not interesting. I want to have the pleasure of discovery

I've always felt that way, and I've said so before. But this does seem to come up a lot. Apparanty, MOO 2 would give a complete tech tree, and people are just accustomed to it. For a more complete synopsis, might I suggest the Encyclopedia Malfadorica entry: Click here

By now, I pretty much know the standard tech tree, and I had fun acquiring that knowledge. But maybe some people don't like that I have the advantage. It's really everyone's call.

I never used to tech tree, it seemed like cheating, and since I was playing the AI the only one I was cheating was myself.

[ December 13, 2002, 21:30: Message edited by: Arkcon ]

PvK · #5 December 14th, 2002, 12:29 AM

I think Arkcon has hit on the main distinction between the two camps. If playing the AI, it can be more fun for many players to discover the tech tree only by research during play. With agreeable players of the same experience level, you can do the same thing. However, for competitive multi-player games, particularly by experienced players, it makes sense to assume that studying the tech tree is fair game.

PvK

Lemmy · #6 December 14th, 2002, 08:23 PM

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I have also downloaded and ran a java-based viewer which unfortunately wouldn't run on my rig.

Echo, I assume that was my program...can you tell what error msg it showed?

capnq · #7 December 14th, 2002, 11:15 PM

Another set of examples is the Civilization II & III, & Alpha Centauri/Alien Crossfire. Those games came with posters laying out the complete tech tree.

Once you have enough experience with the game to know what you want to research, those charts are a useful reference.

[ December 15, 2002, 20:33: Message edited by: capnq ]