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Posted by: Haegan2005
« on: November 27, 2006, 11:24:50 PM »

Quote from: "Michael Sandy"
I figure that the investment in Industrial tech will be proportional to the Build Points invested in that particular industry, with Shipyard tech getting a bit of a bump because it goes up faster.  So the priority probably goes Mining tech, refining tech, construction, shipyards/research, and ordnance at the bottom of the list.

Because they have roughly the same purpose, I think that Refinery tech deserves the same investment as Fuel Efficiency and Engine Tuning combined.

Engine Tech is clearly a priority.  I can see developing the Magneto Plasma Drive (at 32,000) before Mining-4 (20,000 RP)

The race with the military tech will worry about the economic juggernaut which now has up to date weaponry.  The economic tech race may worry less, in giving a military race an alternative expansion option.  This is a roleplaying concern, not a mechanics concern.


This seems to sum it up quite nicely.
Posted by: Michael Sandy
« on: November 25, 2006, 05:28:27 PM »

How high a priority are advanced grav survey and advanced geosurvey sensors?

Compare to some other benchmark technology, for ex, Mining -3 or Mining -4.

Early on, survey ships are going to form a fairly significant part of the fleet in terms of build cost.

I suppose it dpeends on the style of start.  If the race starts with mineral knowledge of the system, Advanced Geo sensors just aren't a problem.
Posted by: Michael Sandy
« on: November 25, 2006, 05:00:46 PM »

So how far do you advance the Economic tech over the military tech?

If, for example, your highest economic tech investment is 10,000 RP for mining 3, what level is your highest weapon, shield and/or fire control system tech at?  2,000 RP?  4,000 RP?

I figure that the investment in Industrial tech will be proportional to the Build Points invested in that particular industry, with Shipyard tech getting a bit of a bump because it goes up faster.  So the priority probably goes Mining tech, refining tech, construction, shipyards/research, and ordnance at the bottom of the list.

Fighter production and Fighter Capacity won't become important until 3 launch rail tech becomes available.  I can design a size 2 fighter missile that can actually damage a moving ship.  Decoy missiles, sure.  Anti-missile missiles, sure.

Because they have roughly the same purpose, I think that Refinery tech deserves the same investment as Fuel Efficiency and Engine Tuning combined.

Engine Tech is clearly a priority.  I can see developing the Magneto Plasma Drive (at 32,000) before Mining-4 (20,000 RP)

In terms of roleplaying, I see a certain awkwardness in a race with virtually no weapons/shields/fire control tech trading economic expansion tech for military tech.  Military tech for military tech, not a problem.  Economic tech for economic tech, not a problem, but when you are trading military tech for economic tech you are revealing a fundamental difference in research priorities.

The race with the military tech will worry about the economic juggernaut which now has up to date weaponry.  The economic tech race may worry less, in giving a military race an alternative expansion option.  This is a roleplaying concern, not a mechanics concern.
Posted by: Brian Neumann
« on: November 25, 2006, 03:48:12 PM »

I prefer mostly economic with a couple of thousand points put into lasers and missle tech.  Generally just the first round or two as this about doubles the effectivness of the planetary defenses and gives ships some weapons to start out with.  If I am going for a higher tech start then I tend to go more for missles and capaciters for the lasers.  I don't particularily worry about the rest as it will come soon enough.

Brian
Posted by: Michael Sandy
« on: November 24, 2006, 05:34:26 PM »

One of the reasons that I chose missile tech was so that the home planet could be guarded relatively easily.

It is partly a roleplaying decision.  A race that is militant enough to later choose the conquest option is not going to go into space with no warships and no space warfare tech.

I suppose you could go with a Long Peace history.  Planetary unification, or at least, Planetary Hegemony, no need for war technology development because there is no outside foe.  Peaceful exploration of the system at first, but once the possibility of rapid interstellar travel becomes possible, the old worries surface again.

You could have a civilization going out into space, hoping that it can maintain the treasured Long Peace, but at the same time frantically searching through its history to relearn the Art of War just in case.  They want peaceful contact with other civilizations if possible, but they will not be anyone's doormat.

Another possibility is that you have a peaceful, almost utopian civilization, that receives the broadcast of a dying race.  A warning.  The focus is strongly on economic expansion, but with a clear idea in the beginning that it has to fuel military strength in the future.
Posted by: Father Tim
« on: November 24, 2006, 04:32:11 PM »

For my personal races, I put my starting tech almost exclusively into research, lasers, engines, and mining.  Since my first encounter with Sid Meier's Civilization, I've always gone for maximum research in 'empire management' games - even if it's to the short-term detriment of my empire.
Posted by: Haegan2005
« on: November 24, 2006, 03:54:37 PM »

I would choose to research economics first. Economics would also include things like factories, mines, research complexes, and the like. This assumes, of course, that you are alone in your staring system. I would also research faster engines as these make resource collection much faster.... :P
Posted by: Michael Sandy
« on: November 24, 2006, 02:39:53 PM »

A major point for "research the weapon tech later" is waiting until you have done the system body survey for the home system and find out what minerals you are really short on.

Be real dumb to go heavy into missile tech and find out you have a major Tritanium shortage, for example.

If Corbomite and Boronide are common, a heavy investment in shield technology is practical.
Posted by: Michael Sandy
« on: November 24, 2006, 02:26:30 PM »

When starting, do you start with a decent amount of missile tech, laser tech, or particle accelerators, or do you put it all into economic development stuff and count on researching the weapon tech later?