Feature Request - Randomized Tech Tree
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Stardock Forums
Stardock Forums
I was thinking that a randomized tech tree would really enhance the replay value of the game. For example, in Master of Orion, if a key tech was missing, it would totally change the game.
I think Frogboy said that he initially resisted the idea of having a technology navigator, because it would take the mystery out of the tech tree. Well, if the tech tree was randomized, there would be a lot of mystery in every game.
This could be done in several ways:
- randomize tech costs; For example, Diplomacy would cost 100-300 rather than a fixed cost.
- randomize tech prerequisites; Do excaliburs ever really affect the outcome of a game? Maybe once in awhile, they should be available earlier.
- randomize tech benefits; Adding extra +1 speed or +1 trade route techs early in the game totally changes things.
- randomize social projects; Having another cheap morale building or terraforming tech available would be a big change. Throwing in a +100% culture resist tech would be interesting.
- randomize trade goods and wonders. I always thought there should be a +20 attack trade good that the Drengin should rush for. As an unrelated comment, the AIs really don't seem to lease trade goods and wonders enough; they should each have a "favorite" wonder or trade good.
- randomize ship abilities; If one game happened to have a 20-defense ship available early, that would make for a peaceful game. Maybe this could just be accomplished by randomly adding a +100 defense tech.
- randomize which starbase enhancements are available.
I don't know how hard this would be to code, though. I think it'd be worth it. I find that a game needs to have a large amount of randomization for it to stay fresh. Of course, the randomization would still need to ensure a balanced game; it's just that the balance won't be the same every time.
I think Frogboy said that he initially resisted the idea of having a technology navigator, because it would take the mystery out of the tech tree. Well, if the tech tree was randomized, there would be a lot of mystery in every game.
This could be done in several ways:
- randomize tech costs; For example, Diplomacy would cost 100-300 rather than a fixed cost.
- randomize tech prerequisites; Do excaliburs ever really affect the outcome of a game? Maybe once in awhile, they should be available earlier.
- randomize tech benefits; Adding extra +1 speed or +1 trade route techs early in the game totally changes things.
- randomize social projects; Having another cheap morale building or terraforming tech available would be a big change. Throwing in a +100% culture resist tech would be interesting.
- randomize trade goods and wonders. I always thought there should be a +20 attack trade good that the Drengin should rush for. As an unrelated comment, the AIs really don't seem to lease trade goods and wonders enough; they should each have a "favorite" wonder or trade good.
- randomize ship abilities; If one game happened to have a 20-defense ship available early, that would make for a peaceful game. Maybe this could just be accomplished by randomly adding a +100 defense tech.
- randomize which starbase enhancements are available.
I don't know how hard this would be to code, though. I think it'd be worth it. I find that a game needs to have a large amount of randomization for it to stay fresh. Of course, the randomization would still need to ensure a balanced game; it's just that the balance won't be the same every time.
