Filthgrinder Filthgrinder

Wasn't research supposed to be random?

▼

Wasn't research supposed to be random?

from Elemental Forums

I remember in a demonstration video we where told that research results would be random. We would see what me MIGHT get, but the result would be random. I thought this to be VERY interesting, and give an exciting game-play (especially online). No longer would players have a specific "building plan", and we would have to use our wits.

But so far everything is set in stone. I research, and then can freely select which one I want. No random result at all.

Did they decide to drop the random research thing? Can we expect it to make an appearance in future patches?

elemental
19,560 views 35 replies
Reply #26 from Elemental Forums Top

No single player should be allowed to research all magic spells, all weapon types, all armor types and all building types otherwise the strong players will never have any weaknesses.  Every three completed research paths/spells should close one research path/spell thus a player may have a weakness with fire magic  or  cutting weapons   or  enchantments and so on.  If the strong players dominate the researching without weaknesses the underdogs have almost zero chance since no weaknesses exist.  The only scenario where this should not apply would be the higher AI difficulty levels.  I hope this helps Stardock.

Reply #27 from Elemental Forums Top

Does slowing down teh pace of the game (in the beginning options screen) slow down tech acquisition? might help some of the issues people have with the 'feel' of the tech research.

Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #28 from Stardock Forums Top

But bonus points for magma.
There is no problem that cannot be solved by liberal application of magma.

I have one word, and one word only: Boatmurdered.

http://lparchive.org/LetsPlay/Boatmurdered/

Reply #29 from Elemental Forums Top

I think they should give you an option:

Research a completely random technology for less research point cost

Or choose a technology to get researched for a higher research point cost.

An alternative way to do this that makes more sense is that every time you choose what you get instead of random, it increases the cost of research for everything else you research afterward (aka you sacrificed creativity to pursue a particular goal, now you are stuck in that frame of thought).

Reply #30 from Elemental Forums Top

During the pre-beta and beta parts there was some call from a loud minority for a truly random research system, but Stardock never said they'd be doing anything like that, no.

Quoting UmbralAngel, reply 29
I think they should give you an option:

Research a completely random technology for less research point cost

Or choose a technology to get researched for a higher research point cost.

An alternative way to do this that makes more sense is that every time you choose what you get instead of random, it increases the cost of research for everything else you research afterward (aka you sacrificed creativity to pursue a particular goal, now you are stuck in that frame of thought).

That kind of compromise isn't going to satisfy any diehard proponent of either method (read: most people) because whichever one you like, a system like yours rewards The Other Way in some fashion.

Reply #31 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting NTJedi, reply 26
No single player should be allowed to research all magic spells, all weapon types, all armor types and all building types otherwise the strong players will never have any weaknesses.  Every three completed research paths/spells should close one research path/spell thus a player may have a weakness with fire magic  or  cutting weapons   or  enchantments and so on.  If the strong players dominate the researching without weaknesses the underdogs have almost zero chance since no weaknesses exist.  The only scenario where this should not apply would be the higher AI difficulty levels.  I hope this helps Stardock.

What about some people designing new, modified tech trees?  Is it currently possible to close off certain technologies if certain criteria are met?

Best regards,
Steven.

Reply #32 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Robert, reply 21

But bonus points for magma.
There is no problem that cannot be solved by liberal application of magma.

 

Guessing you're one of those Dwarf Fortress people :)

 

 

I assume the Not-enough-rare-techs problem is one that's going to disappear over time.  Right now, we're still playing essentially a paid Beta, and it's understandable that they're still ironing out/balancing the essential "Must-have" techs.  As the game matures, adding more and more flavor and rarer techs should be easy, as all the engine infrastructure is there.  Just add it to the "Be patient" list.

Reply #33 from Elemental Forums Top

Yep, right now the techs are just too few.

Actually, too linear. As you go down what's basically a chain of techs, it's no wonder randomness fails to factor in.

Reply #34 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Mtn_Man, reply 18

Quoting alborrelli, reply 13And please.. please please introduce truly random events. I'd love to get that message at the beginning of turn saying, "sorry dude, a fire burnt down the XXX in your city"... or "sorry chump, theives made off with 20 chrystals" from your vaults... now THAT would rock.

That would suck, actually.  I hate random events that arbitrarily punish the player.  It would be somewhat acceptable if the events were preventable, but then you run into the problem of forcing the player down the same path every game (for instance, having to build a fire station in every city to prevent fires).  However, I could see something like putting lots of really nice resources at the base of a volcano knowing that there's a good chance the volcano could erupt and wipe out any city built at its base.  That would strike a nice balance between risk and reward.

 

I should have been clearer.. i didn't mean ONLY bad events.. even good events a la Dominions 3.   Or something like you said. But anything.. ANYTHING to spice things up..please?

Reply #35 from Elemental Forums Top

I limit my custom sovereigns to 1 type of magic (selected at random).  I have been using a deck of cards for random selection of what gets selected for research :rofl: .  Things can get really interesting when (randomness of the draw) wont let you have that tech you REALLY need for several hundred turns.