Regarding Scaling Tech Costs

I'm playing DL 1.05 and have noticed that the tech costs scale upwards as the game progresses. By this I mean that in the early game techs cost about 2/3 of their listed Galactopedia value, but by mid to late-mid game the techs all cost twice their listed price. I would like to have a little more info on the scaling system so I can better plan my research... I have no interest in paying 8000 TP for farming III.

So can anyone help me? Is there documentation anywhere on how the scale works, or does anyone know?

Thanks in advance for useful responses!

Skelter
2,416 views 3 replies
Reply #1 Top
Hi!
AFAIK tech costs scale only with the galaxy size - the larger galaxy, the higher the costs - up to huge.

I have no interest in paying 8000 TP for farming III

So don't research it. There are techs that I find quite ambiguous - farming one among them. I actually can't remember when I researched anything above its first level.

BR, Iztok
Reply #2 Top
Also, there is no DL version 1.05.
The first update was to version 1.1, I believe. Which would be rather hard to find these days in any case.

1.5 perhaps?


As to the scaling factor...
The more research going on overall between you and the AI, the more costly it is to research.
I don't know how it is calculated, however. Sorry.

The best advice I can give is, increase your research ability as much as possible (as early as possible) to offset the scaling factor.

Going with Neutral Alignment helps, with the NLC's.
Reply #3 Top
Thank you for the replies!

AFAIK tech costs scale only with the galaxy size - the larger galaxy, the higher the costs - up to huge.


Thats good to know; I consistently tend to play large, with occasional mediums. Thanks for the tip.

So don't research it.


Of course I wouldn't research it at that price. I was using it as an example of how outrageous the costs can become.

1.5 perhaps?


Yes. Nitpicker. (just kidding)

The more research going on overall between you and the AI, the more costly it is to research. I don't know how it is calculated, however. Sorry.


Hrmm, I expected that the scaled tech cost was dependent solely on my amount of research. Are you sure that the AI empires are factored in? If so, doing massive research early not only gains you a tech edge, it forces the competition to devote more resources. Perhaps thats why the AI is so happy to trade techs...

Thanks for the tips. I might try to track down the formula when I have some time.