Researching Techs

from JoeUser Forums

image

This is a very very early implementation of the research screen.

We have a lot of work to do on research as we’ve been experimenting with lots of different ideas for the past few months.

The goal was to have something very different from Galactic Civilizations but also something that is easy for people to add their own techs, distinguish different factions with their own techs, and allow for infinite researching.

In this UI, the player has researched the ability to research 3 things at once (no penalty).  This option gives us a lot more flexibility in terms of letting people make interesting choices on what kind of civilization they want to develop (we’ll explain more on this as we get closer).

More to come.

351,341 views 130 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

It surely won't be final design but I really like the job done with that menu. So neat.:drool:

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top
Multiple research sounds cool. [Gal]Civ annoys me sometimes that I only get one topic to research at once. Love the feel of the UI, althogh I'd probably prefer it if the text on the left read 'Technological Research' as opposed to 'Research Technology' etc.
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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Researching multiple techs?! Sounds pretty sweet! Thanks for the update!

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Sounds great! Multiple research dude I like it alot!

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Interesitng...... looks like a lot of data is still hidden on that screen: where does it show the techs unlocked? WILL techs be unlocked? I am also anxious to know if RNGs play any role in what you get, and how RP's are actually generated. Overall, this screenshot is maddeningly titillating :P .

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

Please tell me that the full text for the fourth option at the bottom there is 'Magical Stuff'

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Hmm, intersting. It has always annoyed me that in other TBS/4X games you can only research one thing at a time. I've never quite understood why every other game is like that when it doesn't really make that much sense. If simultaneous researching of techs stays in I will be very happy.

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

That looks awesome!

 

Quick question though, do I have to research 3 techs at once all the time?

Or can I invest my 3 research points in anyway I like?

For Example could I "rush" the production of "super swords mk1" by putting 2 (or even all 3) of them on it and one in "Combine harvesters"?

 

 

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

Are you considering any sort of tech randomisation or exclusive paths? For some reason looking at your research screen made me remember how well Sword of the Stars did technology.

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

Very nice update, thank you FrogBoy!

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top

Very cool. I am looking forward to the system allowing for infinite research.

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

Researching 3 things at once seems to be an interesting difference from other 4x games! I was wondering since you guys were rethinking 4x economies if you were going to rethink how research is performed as well?

Thanks for the update, Frogboy!

Quoting Jonezie, reply 6
Please tell me that the full text for the fourth option at the bottom there is 'Magical Stuff'

My guess is 'magical studies', but you never know :thumbsup:

Quoting Shurdus, reply 11
Very cool. I am looking forward to the system allowing for infinite research.

What is infinite research, Shurdus?

Reply #13 from Elemental Forums Top

wow, three at a time, and infinite research. To me, that means there's going to be a lot of different research topics.

Reply #14 from Elemental Forums Top

Frogboy said he was looking into allowing infinite researching, so I was thinking about something like Civ IV has with future tech 1, 2...

It would be a system where you will never finish researching no matter how many turns the game takes, or what is how I read it.

Reply #15 from Elemental Forums Top

I'm mostly optimistic about ∞ research, but then, there's something to be said for the feeling of accomplishment you get when you can finally say "I know everything" and drop that slider back down......

Reply #16 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Scoutdog, reply 15
I'm mostly optimistic about ∞ research, but then, there's something to be said for the feeling of accomplishment you get when you can finally say "I know everything" and drop that slider back down......
Personally, I'm the 'high tech nerd' so I like never finishing the tech tree...

 

Of course, if I never finish the tech tree I may never get around to unleashing my Vorlon like strength upon the mere Humans (Centauri, Narn, Drazi, etc etc) around me.

Reply #17 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Scoutdog, reply 15
I'm mostly optimistic about ∞ research, but then, there's something to be said for the feeling of accomplishment you get when you can finally say "I know everything" and drop that slider back down......
Ditto.

I prefer exactly this. Civ4, I just kept pouring resources into there, and it felt pointless.

 

:fox:

Reply #18 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Nights, reply 9
Are you considering any sort of tech randomisation or exclusive paths?
Seconded.

Reply #19 from Demigod Forums Top

I don't know if this counts as tech randomization but we are planning to have a pool of techs that are are inserted into games based on whether they make their probability roll.

I.e. certain techs would show up in some games but not in others. Not core techs but ones that spice things up in different directions.

Reply #20 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 19
I don't know if this counts as tech randomization but we are planning to have a pool of techs that are are inserted into games based on whether they make their probability roll.

I.e. certain techs would show up in some games but not in others. Not core techs but ones that spice things up in different directions.

Just like the MoM spellbook!


Also, this part is directed to Astrath the person who doesn't like the term "research technology".  In this case Research is the verb.  If you look at the other tabs.

 

Design Units.

Study Spells

Negotiate Treaties

 

These are all things to do.  I much prefer this to your no verb arrangement.

 How would you rewrite the other three to be consistent with your "technological research" tab.

Spell studies?

treaty negotiations?

Unit Designs?

 

those are all significantly less straightforward.  Like I said before verbs state that you're doing something which I like.

Reply #21 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 19
I don't know if this counts as tech randomization but we are planning to have a pool of techs that are are inserted into games based on whether they make their probability roll.

I.e. certain techs would show up in some games but not in others. Not core techs but ones that spice things up in different directions.

More better news! Man, is there anything this game wont have?

Reply #22 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 19
I don't know if this counts as tech randomization but we are planning to have a pool of techs that are are inserted into games based on whether they make their probability roll.

I.e. certain techs would show up in some games but not in others. Not core techs but ones that spice things up in different directions.

This is exactly what has been on my wish list. This is one of the things that will give the game a lot of replayability. Very good news!

Reply #23 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 19
I don't know if this counts as tech randomization but we are planning to have a pool of techs that are are inserted into games based on whether they make their probability roll.

I.e. certain techs would show up in some games but not in others. Not core techs but ones that spice things up in different directions.

 

This has been high on my wish list and will give the game a ton of replay value I think. I hope there is soem of that in the spell research as well... (?)

Reply #24 from Elemental Forums Top

curses, the resolution of that image is not high enough for me to extract a quality rip of those emblems for use in avatars.  I really like the bird over the field in farming.  It makes me want to go role-play for some reason (I ran a campaign that took place in a world mostly covered in grasslands, of which that reminds me)

 

I really like the sound of these random techs.   I'm very curious to see how it will work.  I can't imagine not having things like "farming" or "education" as techs in only a few games.   I'd  guess all the techs seen here are in all games.

Also, would techs available change from person to person like  in MoM, and must have some sort of tech-trade system?   or bleed over based on culture (a tech becomes available when your civilization recieves enough culture of the other place)

Reply #25 from Elemental Forums Top

KellenDunk I was referring to the wording of all of them, not just the Tech one.

 

Anyway its about as minor a thing as minor can be.