Thread Tools
Old November 20, 2001, 06:12   #1
Arkatreides
Chieftain
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 38
New tech tree - why oh why?
Ok, so I am a bit of a history buff, but am I the only one who thinks that the new tech tree is completely unhistorical, unintuitive and downright ridiculous? The tree in CIv2 was quite realistic, ok sometimes it was necessary to 'think out of the box' to follow some of the dependancies but it general it reflected more or less human history.

The Civ 3 tech tree however is just plain wrong! And what's more, there are just too many advances that 'do nothing'. Civ2 had those too but they were at a minimun whereas here they are just littered all over the place.

My question to Firaxis is: Why did you change the tree? It certainly was NOT broken and with the rearrangement of just a few advances you could have easily incorporated the current era structure into the old tree. This area of the game definitely feels unfinished ... (did we run out of time by any chance?)

I definitely will make good use of the rules editor and change it back to what it was in Civ2!
Arkatreides is offline  
Old November 20, 2001, 06:23   #2
Archmage
Chieftain
 
Local Time: 11:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Arizona Nevada border
Posts: 40
I'll tell you one Civ NOT to research. Advanced Flight. It's not a prerequisite for anything and all you get out of it is Helicopter and Paratrooper. The Strategy Guide says not to research Republic either unless you use the Government type.
Archmage is offline  
Old November 20, 2001, 06:44   #3
Dis
ACDG3 SpartansC4DG Vox
Deity
 
Dis's Avatar
 
Local Time: 10:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 17,354
It definately has some problems

I can see what they were trying to accomplish though. They were going for play balance (sound familiar?). And yes even realism. In civ2 you could bypass several paths and go for very modern techs without knowing some ancient stuff. So what they did to help alleviate beelines, was to make 4 ages where most techs are necessary to get out of the age.

I actually like the age requirements. They reduce beelines that were overpowering by the human in civ2. Although I agree that many techs are worthless, and are essentually place fillers that are prerequisites for other techs.

Another reason is simplicity. Like combat they wanted this game to be simple for the average gamer (they don't care about us hardcore guys ). And they save money by not having to publish a poster.

but I don't have too many other complaints about the tech tree.
__________________
Focus, discipline
Barack Obama- the antichrist
Dis is offline  
Old November 20, 2001, 06:51   #4
Arkatreides
Chieftain
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 38
I never said the eras were bad, in fact I really like them and I agree with your beeline comment. All I said was that there was no need to take the tech requirements from Civ2 (which were sensible to some extent) and completely restructure them. As I said I will work on a mod that changes it back to how it was in Civ2 (with a few exceptions).
Arkatreides is offline  
Old November 20, 2001, 06:53   #5
Dis
ACDG3 SpartansC4DG Vox
Deity
 
Dis's Avatar
 
Local Time: 10:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 17,354
I haven't looked at them real closely. I may have to break the well used civ2 poster out again . At first glance they seemed similar.
__________________
Focus, discipline
Barack Obama- the antichrist
Dis is offline  
Old November 20, 2001, 07:05   #6
Stuff2
Warlord
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 274
I think that the reason for that (useless techs) is simply beacouse they have looked at the tech model from the wrong view. The best way to get a good tech tree is simply to list all improvements, units, wonders and political options etc that should be included in the game, and first after that they can decide in what order the units and improvements and stuff should appear in the game and finally after that it's time to put names on the techs. Also the number of techs compared to civ2 has decreased not increased. Civ2 had 89 techs.
I would rather had seen a game where every unit, improvement ,government type etc would have it's own prereq tech. It would be more fun trading tech knowing that every tech will give you a specific benefit.
In short, they should have based the tech-tree on the game instead of basing the game on the tech-tree.
Stuff2 is offline  
Old November 20, 2001, 07:07   #7
Arkatreides
Chieftain
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 38
I give you an example that strikes me as being much less intuitive then before:

Monarchy: Now Warrior Code and Polytheism
Used to be: Code of Laws and Ceremonial Burial

I truly ask WHY? Polytheism was definitely not linked to monarchy. Or if it was, then so was Monotheism. Warrior Code? Well I cannot really see how such an advance can help the advent of monarchy.
In Civ2 however, both prerequisites made sense: Monarchy was linked to 'religion', the King often being the messenger of the deity on earth and the Code of Laws brought structure to the society.
Arkatreides is offline  
Old November 20, 2001, 07:16   #8
Arkatreides
Chieftain
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 38
Of course, the other reason all the techs are the way they are is because they wanted a nice, disentangled tech tree.
Arkatreides is offline  
Old November 20, 2001, 09:50   #9
SuiteSisterMary
Chieftain
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 58
Quote:
I truly ask WHY? Polytheism was definitely not linked to monarchy. Or if it was, then so was Monotheism. Warrior Code? Well I cannot really see how such an advance can help the advent of monarchy.
If you say 'british monarchy' instead of 'monarchy' then you'd be right.
SuiteSisterMary is offline  
Old November 20, 2001, 17:47   #10
Arkatreides
Chieftain
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 38
Ok, I'm working on the tech tree - does anyone know how to ADD new technologies (and maybe units) as opposed to just renaming and reordering them?
Arkatreides is offline  
Old November 20, 2001, 18:19   #11
Pyrodrew
Prince
 
Pyrodrew's Avatar
 
Local Time: 09:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 679
Philosophy use to give a free tech to the 1st Civ to discover it... now it appears to do nothing.
Pyrodrew is offline  
Old November 21, 2001, 05:20   #12
Arkatreides
Chieftain
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 38
*bump*
Arkatreides is offline  
Old November 21, 2001, 06:06   #13
LaRusso
King
 
LaRusso's Avatar
 
Local Time: 19:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: May 2001
Location: appendix of Europe
Posts: 1,634
Quote:
Originally posted by Pyrodrew
Philosophy use to give a free tech to the 1st Civ to discover it... now it appears to do nothing.
its useless go crafts!
__________________
joseph 1944: LaRusso if you can remember past yesterday I never post a responce to one of your statement. I read most of your post with amusement however.
You are so anti-america that having a conversation with you would be poinless. You may or maynot feel you are an enemy of the United States, I don't care either way. However if I still worked for the Goverment I would turn over your e-mail address to my bosses and what ever happen, happens.
LaRusso is offline  
Old November 21, 2001, 06:16   #14
Zanzin
Prince
 
Zanzin's Avatar
 
Local Time: 03:09
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 441
Quote:
Originally posted by Arkatreides
*bump*
Naughty, no bumping
Zanzin is offline  
Old November 21, 2001, 09:21   #15
Peterk
Chieftain
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 62
Mind you...most of the dead-end techs give you a wonder chance , and usually a pretty high-culture wonder (Hanging Gardens - Republic, Bach's Cathedral - Music Theory), so you should really think about whether you want to skip a tech like this. If there's a chance at the wonder I usually go for it.
Peterk is offline  
Old November 23, 2001, 11:32   #16
Arkatreides
Chieftain
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 38
Well, here is my reverted tech tree for the ancient times. Two new advances (pinched from the middle ages) are Military Organisation (<-Printing Press) which allows you to build things like Legions and War Chariots for all Civs (btw I swapped Horse and Chariots again) and Seafaring (<-Chemistry) which allows you to build the Lighthouse.

Polytheism is no longer needed to advance so it is a bit useless now. I thought moving the Oracle but that makes the Oracle too worthless. So maybe we need a new wonder (Pantheoon?)

I believe this tree is much more intuitive. Any comments are welcome.
Attached Thumbnails:
Click image for larger version

Name:	tech1.jpg
Views:	705
Size:	83.1 KB
ID:	6417  
Arkatreides is offline  
Old November 23, 2001, 15:21   #17
Cian McGuire
Warlord
 
Local Time: 12:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 161
Quote:
Monarchy: Now Warrior Code and Polytheism
Used to be: Code of Laws and Ceremonial Burial

I truly ask WHY? Polytheism was definitely not linked to monarchy. Or if it was, then so was Monotheism. Warrior Code? Well I cannot really see how such an advance can help the advent of monarchy.
In Civ2 however, both prerequisites made sense: Monarchy was linked to 'religion', the King often being the messenger of the deity on earth and the Code of Laws brought structure to the society.
Well, take a look at all the early monarchies- they were almost all based on a view that the King was the earthly messenger or even avatar of a Sun God- only in Greece was this pattern really broken in the ancient Middle East until the development of the Hebrews, but even then they only changed it from a god to The God.
Cian McGuire is offline  
Old November 23, 2001, 17:19   #18
Arkatreides
Chieftain
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 38
Which is my point, no? Anyway the real thing that bothers me is that code of laws is missing as a monarchy prerequisite.
Arkatreides is offline  
Old November 23, 2001, 18:07   #19
Deathray
Warlord
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: High Wycombe
Posts: 104
Quote:
Originally posted by Arkatreides
Well, here is my reverted tech tree for the ancient times. Two new advances (pinched from the middle ages) are Military Organisation (<-Printing Press) which allows you to build things like Legions and War Chariots for all Civs (btw I swapped Horse and Chariots again) and Seafaring (<-Chemistry) which allows you to build the Lighthouse.

Polytheism is no longer needed to advance so it is a bit useless now. I thought moving the Oracle but that makes the Oracle too worthless. So maybe we need a new wonder (Pantheoon?)

I believe this tree is much more intuitive. Any comments are welcome.
Swap chariots and horsemen back again. Chariots should come first. Chariots were employed in battle first as they gave a stable platform from which to fight. It wasn't until the development of stirrups that horses were used in battle, and then horses were more effective.

Horses are more effective in battle than chariots as with chariots you need two horses and a wooden bit, and if anything gets broken then the whole thing is out of the battlefield. With horses then you have two horses, and if one gets taken out then the other is still moving. Plus the horses move faster without having to tow the wooden bit, and the platform for a chariot is quite expensive, so you would get more horses for your cash.
__________________
Never underestimate the healing powers of custard.
Deathray is offline  
Old November 23, 2001, 18:17   #20
Cian McGuire
Warlord
 
Local Time: 12:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 161
Quote:
Which is my point, no? Anyway the real thing that bothers me is that code of laws is missing as a monarchy prerequisite.
Not at all:

1. Warrior Code was where the King's family (and subsequently the King) was chosen from. A people followed a powerful warrior.

2. Polytheism- in order to consolidate his claims to lead, a King usually made a tie between himself (sometimes symbolically, sometimes literally- by assuming godhood) and the King of the Gods- thus acting as an alliterative metaphor between how the Gods have a ruler and the people do.

If anything Code of Laws should come after Monarchy- frequently the King set down what should become law throughout his realm; for examples Hammurabi and Draco (though he was technically only a 'tyrant' he fulfilled any and all roles that a king typically does) stand out.

The main tie between Code of Laws and Republic exists due to that most famous of the ancient Republics, Rome- the Twelve Tablets which codified the law of Rome set the stage for the Senate.
Cian McGuire is offline  
Old November 23, 2001, 18:39   #21
Arkatreides
Chieftain
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 38
Deathray: Thank you for the info. That makes sense and I will chance it back!

Cian: Thank you for the info as well. What you say is actually quite true in some cases. I hadn't thought about the warrior king scenario and instead focused on medieval kings (you know the overweight inbred ones that couldn't lift a sword if their life dependet on it) and since this is Ancient times Monarchy I agree with you.
Arkatreides is offline  
Old November 23, 2001, 20:13   #22
Dienstag
Warlord
 
Dienstag's Avatar
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Brea, CA, USA
Posts: 243
Getting past the ancient times, does anyone else think it is absolutely appalling that you can build aircraft carriers before the discovery of Flight?!?

Minister of Defense: Sir, I suggest we build large, expensive ships with flat tops, and no significant guns.
You (before discovery of Flight): You're fired!

Also, I would mind if there was a way to avoid having B-17s land on carriers....toggle the 'carrier-based' flag in my dream editor.
Dienstag is offline  
Old November 23, 2001, 20:23   #23
Arkatreides
Chieftain
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 38
I haven't quite got to Industrial ages yet but I already spotted a few 'mistakes' ... like Steel no longer requiring Electricity. :hmm:
Arkatreides is offline  
Old November 23, 2001, 21:02   #24
TechWins
King
 
TechWins's Avatar
 
Local Time: 10:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,747
The Printing Press wasn't even discovered until the Renaissance age by Gutenberg, yet you have it listed in the Ancient age.

You should also make Polytheism a Prereq for Monarchy. A unit for Polytheism could be an elephant.

Republic should also have the Prereq of Philosophy, in that a Republic was a philosophy of how a society should be ran. Plus it would also increase the importance of Republic.

Instead of having Mysticism and/or Literature make Philosophy become available, have Polytheism and/or Literature make Philosophy become available. This would add some balance to the tech tree.

Chemistry also shouldn't be included in the Ancient era.

Now Monarchy shouldn't be a requirement tech to continue on to the Middle Ages, but make it so that Monarchy is a Prereq for Feudalism. This will make it so that no matter what you will eventually have to discover Monarchy. I believe something like this must be done with all techs.
__________________
However, it is difficult to believe that 2 times 2 does not equal 4; does that make it true? On the other hand, is it really so difficult simply to accept everything that one has been brought up on and that has gradually struck deep roots – what is considered truth in the circle of moreover, really comforts and elevates man? Is that more difficult than to strike new paths, fighting the habitual, experiencing the insecurity of independence and the frequent wavering of one’s feelings and even one’s conscience, proceeding often without any consolation, but ever with the eternal goal of the true, the beautiful, and the good? - F.N.
TechWins is offline  
Old November 23, 2001, 21:03   #25
Terser
Warlord
 
Terser's Avatar
 
Local Time: 11:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Imperialist Running Dog
Posts: 107
I would imagine that a lot of those "empty" advances will be filled by new units/wonders/city improvements in the inevitable expansion.
__________________
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
-- C.S. Lewis
Terser is offline  
Old November 23, 2001, 21:06   #26
Cesa
Chieftain
 
Cesa's Avatar
 
Local Time: 18:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Örebro, Sweden
Posts: 98
Quote:
Originally posted by Arkatreides
Well, here is my reverted tech tree for the ancient times. Two new advances (pinched from the middle ages) are Military Organisation (<-Printing Press) which allows you to build things like Legions and War Chariots for all Civs (btw I swapped Horse and Chariots again) and Seafaring (<-Chemistry) which allows you to build the Lighthouse.

Polytheism is no longer needed to advance so it is a bit useless now. I thought moving the Oracle but that makes the Oracle too worthless. So maybe we need a new wonder (Pantheoon?)

I believe this tree is much more intuitive. Any comments are welcome.
You shouldn't be able to discover printing press without being able to write But good work anyhow.
__________________
/Cesa
Cesa is offline  
Old November 23, 2001, 21:08   #27
Cian McGuire
Warlord
 
Local Time: 12:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 161
Quote:
Cian: Thank you for the info as well.
My pleasure- I look forward to seeing your work, and I'm just aiming to make it more historically accurate than it is

As for the Steel/Electricity I'd take a look at what goes into the forging of steel. Yes, great amounts of power are needed, but that could be provided with steam or wood power- hell, they knew of a primitive steel as far back as 1200 BC in Egypt and they even had larger, better steel manufactories in medieval times- Toledo, anyone?

Now, I don't advocate making Steel a Middle Era advance, as the smelting forges of those times only reached approx. 700 degrees Celsius, while pure iron melts at about 1500 degrees. The really important revolution in the production of steel didn't come about until Sir Henry Bessemer perfected his technique of removing carbon by introducing oxygen into the smelter in 1855 and it wasn't until the 1870's rolled around and Edison and Swan perfected Faraday's dynamo that electricity was widely used.
Cian McGuire is offline  
Old November 23, 2001, 21:19   #28
Cian McGuire
Warlord
 
Local Time: 12:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 161
Quote:
The Printing Press wasn't even discovered until the Renaissance age by Gutenberg, yet you have it listed in the Ancient age.
Yeah, that's something you're going to want to look into

Quote:
You should also make Polytheism a Prereq for Monarchy. A unit for Polytheism could be an elephant.
I won't really get involved with new units and what not, but I will just say that I see no reason why belief in a pantheon of gods allows one to build elephants, especially in areas where they are not indigenous. India's Elephant covers that quite nicely, methinks.

Quote:
Republic should also have the Prereq of Philosophy, in that a Republic was a philosophy of how a society should be ran. Plus it would also increase the importance of Republic.
Yes, it should, I think the original tree does quite admirably in regards to Republic's immediate prereqs.

Quote:
Instead of having Mysticism and/or Literature make Philosophy become available, have Polytheism and/or Literature make Philosophy become available. This would add some balance to the tech tree.
Bu then you run the risk of too closely tying the Monarchy and Republic branches together- they're supposed to be a one-or-the-other relationship early on, and I agree- that adds a bit of strategical choice and keeps the gamestart tech flow varied.

Quote:
Chemistry also shouldn't be included in the Ancient era.
No, it should not- I would say add in a tech into the Middle Era and entitle it 'Alchemy'. It would allow a new Wonder, 'The Philosopher's Stone', which acts as a commerce draw a lá the Colossus, and Alchemy should be the new end for the Colossus with Flight negating The Philosopher's Stone. This would be a direct requisite for Chemistry.

Quote:
Now Monarchy shouldn't be a requirement tech to continue on to the Middle Ages, but make it so that Monarchy is a Prereq for Feudalism. This will make it so that no matter what you will eventually have to discover Monarchy. I believe something like this must be done with all techs.
I'm not sure if I agree with that "all techs" tenet, but yes, Monarchy should be required to research Feudalism, while allowing Republics to bypass pikemen and gun for Gunpower if they so choose.
Cian McGuire is offline  
Old November 23, 2001, 22:03   #29
Admiral PJ
PtWDG Lux Invicta
Prince
 
Admiral PJ's Avatar
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Southeast England , UK
Posts: 592
Well the civ3 tech tree seems ok,
polytheism and warrior code are correct for monarchy, but I think Monarchy should be a requirement for going to the middle ages, feudalism shouldnt be possible without monarchy.
I do like the techs having different research sizes for the actual diffculty to discover, civ2 just had each level getting a bit higher.

Overall the tech tree is the only problem i have with civ3, it should have at least twice as many techs, with more intermideries.
Its good they have scientific theory.
Civ2's tech tree needed improving, though it did seem to make a lot of sense.
I prefer my tech tree i made for a civ2:TOT mod, i might try and put this onto civ3, it was based on the extra unit mods.
Admiral PJ is offline  
Old November 23, 2001, 22:30   #30
Scouse Gits
lifer
Civilization II PBEMTrade Wars / BlackNova TradersGalCiv Apolyton EmpireApolytoners Hall of FameCivilization II Succession Games
Emperor
 
Scouse Gits's Avatar
 
Local Time: 17:09
Local Date: October 31, 2010
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Liverpool, United Kingdom
Posts: 6,344
In any game you have to suspend some belief! Whilst I like the realism of the Civ Games you will never be able to achieve total truth in a tech tree. Chess is no less a game because Bishops can only move along the diagonals - so Civ 3 is no less a game because of some perceived anomalies.

I don't know the Civ 3 advance chart too well yet, but the system of advances in Civ 2 was well thought out … even though Ironclads could be produced without ever researching Iron Working

-------------------

SG(2)
Scouse Gits is offline  
 

Bookmarks

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 13:09.


Design by Vjacheslav Trushkin, color scheme by ColorizeIt!.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Apolyton Civilization Site | Copyright © The Apolyton Team