Idea for the Tech Tree- sorta radical.

I've been thinking- several techs I just flat-out don't use, even situationally. It's like the choice is so bad it doesn't exist.

Idea: make several techs a function of the overall tech level, instead of actual techs

How it would work for each branch I think

Diplomacy: I don't know. Maybe a static defense bonus to caravans/DC bonus/trade bonus?

Adventure: maybe heroes should be spawned this way, the more emphasis you put on adventuring, the more adventurers you get?

Warfare: several passive things like peasant levies to defend towns, maybe experience levels, maybe even the stuff everyone uses (to discourage beelining)

Civilization: maybe buildings could be unlocked this way.

Magic: spellbooks open at random based on x number of levels.

The way the tech tree is setup in Elemental, it only really works if there is a tough choice. Oftentimes, the choices aren't particularly tough- some techs are just 100% vital, even first, and some techs aren't even situationally useful. Those are the types of techs that shouldn't really be choices, but granted at x level.

I do think some of this should be random, and some should be just based on x lvl.

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Kind of a neat idea, though you reserve the most awesome bonus for the tree that's already uber-overpowered. Personally I think a lot of the tech tree problems are the lack of cross-discipline prerequisites and multiple prerequisites - so there's nothing stopping you from going deep in a tree early in the game. Insta-win!

While the attempt to try something different was admirable, there are strong reasons that strategy game tech trees eventually evolved into the sort of fun, convoluted cross-discipline structures that we see nowadays.

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The tech tree should definately have cross-prerequisites. It is quite insane that the empire can research longbows and enchanted weapons with three techs in their respective trees. Despite the ungodly 5000 gildar requirement of the sword of gayness the computer still managed to put one on their champion within about a hundred turns or so of the game, whilst my longbow equiped champions were making cheesewiz out of all the opponents units.

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