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Scoutdog
Scoutdog
Join Date 07/2008
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What is the point of "History" techs?

February 1, 2009 11:04:36 AM from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

What is the point of those techs that usually (although not always) start with "a history of", and give you a brief summary of whatever race has them? They don't confer any abilities or unlock stuff, and except for the Yor they are not part of the tech-tree structure! Furthermore, since you start with them @ the beginning of the game, there is no way to see the information they contain unless you look at the XMLs or have something like Galactopedia! Why were they included, and what is the point????

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Scoutdog
Jarac
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Reply #1 February 1, 2009 12:46:53 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

They were probably included just to give a little background on the race. It's no big deal to research them. They don't cost anything and they are just for fun. That's my opinion.

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Scoutdog
Sole Soul
Join Date 12/2007
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Reply #2 February 1, 2009 12:59:47 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

They don't confer any abilities or unlock stuff

Not true.

Altarian: Social Matrix
Arcean: Stellar Forge, Lite Constructor Module
Drath: Nothing
Drengin: Arena, Basic Slave Pit, Black Market (essentially basic improvements for their tree)
Iconian: Dream Conclave, Precursor Archive
Korath: Arena, Basic Slave Pit, Black Market (essentially basic improvements for their tree)
Korx: Nothing
Krynn: Consulate
Terran: Market Center/Innovation Complex
Thalan: Economic Direction Unit, Temporal Entertainment (Hyperion Matrix)
Torian: Market Center/Aquatic Transport Station, Central Mine, Harvester, School, Temple of Memories
Yor: Basic Stalk, Collective, Maintenance Grid, Research Matrix

And that's not even counting the other two Iconian techs that unlock things very early on, or research in anyone's tree, namely but not limited to the Drengin and Korath, or Industrial Revolution, which almost but not quite everyone gets.

It establishes a "design", or if you'd prefer a "theme" for their improvements, and in most but not all cases gives you access to the basic ones.

And while GrnDragn is not quite correct that they don't cost anything, the vast majority of them are close to free, while the others are free.

Furthermore, since you start with them @ the beginning of the game, there is no way to see the information they contain unless you look at the XMLs or have something like Galactopedia!

Also not true.  Open up the tech tree, hit the button in the bottom left hand corner that allows you to see the whole tree, and drag it to the left until you see the techs in question-which you've already researched, or chosen at the start of the game-and satisfy your curiosity.

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Scoutdog
Scoutdog
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Reply #3 February 1, 2009 1:20:07 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

Also not true. Open up the tech tree, hit the button in the bottom left hand corner that allows you to see the whole tree, and drag it to the left until you see the techs in question-which you've already researched, or chosen at the start of the game-and satisfy your curiosity.

True, but what I meant was that the devs wrote these big, long paragraphis in the "detailed description" area that are actually somewhat interesing, but since the techs are already researched at the start, you would never see them within the game. I now realize that they are to create race-specific improvements, but that doesn't explain why they bothered to include the text...

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Scoutdog
Sole Soul
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Reply #4 February 1, 2009 1:35:13 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

Valid point.

Would you prefer that they be auto-researched at the start of the game, that way you see the text?

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Scoutdog
Scoutdog
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Reply #5 February 1, 2009 2:43:56 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

I do not really care, since I have galactopedia, but I still wonder why the devs went to so much effort to create stuff that would never see the light of day. Ahh well, now I know what they are for, the only question is why they are so elaborite...

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Scoutdog
kryo
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Reply #6 February 2, 2009 10:25:49 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

but since the techs are already researched at the start, you would never see them within the game. I now realize that they are to create race-specific improvements, but that doesn't explain why they bothered to include the text...

Right click on them in the tech tree.

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Scoutdog
space599
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Reply #7 February 2, 2009 11:28:21 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

Quoting ,
quoting post
Furthermore, since you start with them @ the beginning of the game, there is no way to see the information they contain unless you look at the XMLs or have something like Galactopedia! Why were they included, and what is the point????

You can read the detailed descriptions by selecting the tech and clicking 'details' at the bottom left.  I think they were added for flavor, and to set up the 'mood' for future techs they unlock.

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Scoutdog
Scoutdog
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Reply #8 February 3, 2009 3:46:06 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

You can read the detailed descriptions by selecting the tech and clicking 'details' at the bottom left. I think they were added for flavor, and to set up the 'mood' for future techs they unlock.

Yes, also they are to create race-specific improvements at the beginning of the game, such as charging stalks.

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Jonnan001
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Reply #9 February 3, 2009 5:53:31 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

Is there anyway to create 'mutually exclusive' techs in the game - something similar to good and evil, but if you research 'x' you don't have access to 'y' and vice versa?

Jonnan

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Scoutdog
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Reply #10 February 3, 2009 6:15:47 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

Not possible w/o changing ethical alignments AFAIK.

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Jonnan001
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Reply #11 February 3, 2009 7:44:22 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

This is desperately need methinks.

Jonnan

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Scoutdog
Scoutdog
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Reply #12 February 3, 2009 9:02:10 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

Why would we "desperately need" mutually exclusive techs? In all honesty, I can't see much point... I think reviving multiple prerequisits is of much greater importance.

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Jonnan001
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Reply #13 February 3, 2009 9:31:47 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

Primarily for cultural (as opposed to technological) innovations - it would allow you to generate a tech tree that allowed for 'historical' information to decide the future growth of technology.

I will concede - this is in part due to my own 'aesthetic' belief that, scientific laws being identical across all space, perforce you should be able to use a single technological tree for every race, with specific rationales for why a specific technological application would be 'culturally' unlikely to develop in one civilization or another.

This would enable that - but if you disagree with my philosophical preference, I won't claim it's writ in stone. I'll just badmouth you behind your back and slander your good name.

But then, I do that anyways, which may explain I'm so unsuccessful attempting to use it as a threat - {G}.

Jonnan

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Scoutdog
Sole Soul
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Reply #14 February 4, 2009 5:19:25 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

Quoting Jonnan001,
reply 9
Is there anyway to create 'mutually exclusive' techs in the game - something similar to good and evil, but if you research 'x' you don't have access to 'y' and vice versa?

Jonnan

Maybe, but probably not.

It would seem to be simpler to set up the techs in question such that Tech A gives +x bonus1, -y bonus2 while Tech B gives -x bonus1, +y bonus2.  So you could still technically research both, but you wouldn't be at any real advantage by doing so.

I'm not positive the AI is intelligent enough to deal with it, but TA should support penalties in techs now as well (haven't tried that yet either!)

But if you wanted to say unlock one improvement rather than another...meh.  Can't help you there.

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Scoutdog
Scoutdog
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Reply #15 February 4, 2009 4:15:12 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

The only "cultural" thing I could think of is with ethical alignment or others of what I call "Cultural Facets". Since the modifications you are describing would require major alterations of the souce code anyway, I think that including more dimensions to alignment would be a *slightly* better option. I have talked about this idea in a bit more detail in another post: Link

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Scoutdog
Jonnan001
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Reply #16 February 4, 2009 11:41:36 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

My problem with that is I don't particularly care for the "Make a decision" aspect of the alignment system - I'd *much* rather have things like the mind control center or the altairan "Can't remember what it's called because works been busy tonight but it improves the planet by 3 tiles and give 10% industry bonus" be obvious consequences of multiple decisions made earlier in the path, and remove the 'good/evil' aspect from the technical game to the RP 'meta' game.

And for that you need to make decisions both open and close doors.

Jonnan

 

Edit - "Yeah, what Sole Soul said!" - {G}

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Scoutdog
Sole Soul
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Reply #17 February 4, 2009 11:55:07 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

improves the planet by 3 tiles and give 10% industry bonus

Biosphere modulator?

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Scoutdog
Scoutdog
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Reply #18 February 5, 2009 4:06:21 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

Yes, biosphere modulator.

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