Blind Research Mechanics

[MountainTiger]

I have looked around in the game and online for a good explanation, but I have not found a satisfying explanation of how the blind research mechanics work. Basically, my questions are as follows:

First, when does the game decide which tech to research? Does lab energy go towards a specific tech at all times, or is the tech only determined on the turn of the breakthrough?

Second, how does choosing a different research direction determine which technology will be discovered? Does the game choose techs on the appropriate path(s) until it needs to get prereqs from other paths, or does it simply increase the probability of acquiring techs on the chosen paths?

Third, what does the "turns per tech" number in the SE screen actually mean? If lab output doesn't change, will you actually discover a tech after every x turns, or is this some sort of average based on the cost of available techs, such that actual results will vary depending on exactly what is being researched?

Fourth, how is the SE bonus calculated? Is this like growth/industry, where it modifies the amount needed to advance, or does it modify the amount produced?

This is everything I can think of right now. I would greatly appreciate answers or direction to a guide with answers.

 

[History_Buff]

1. I believe it is determined the moment the last tech finishes, or possibly on the following turn.

2. Not sure. I assume it's just a probabilistic weighting of the current choices, and almost certainly does not take pre-reqs into account.

3. It knows what tech you're researching (it just doesn't tell you), so the turns per tech readout is accurate. If you check the research summary (F2), it will also tell you the flavour of the tech you're currently researching, in addition to your progress. I've never known this display to be wrong.

4. Not sure.

 

[Petek]

1. The tech choice in blind research is determined at the same time as for directed research. You can see this for yourself by opening the scenario editor (Ctrl + K) and checking the F2 screen. The tech being researched will be displayed.

2. I'm not certain that the mechanics of blind research have ever been completely nailed down. What's known is: When using directed research, you won't be able to select certain techs even if you have all the prerequisites. The available techs can be determined from formulas that were worked out mainly in this thread. When using blind research, it is believed that the tech to be researched is chosen from the available techs as determined in that thread. The choice is thought to made according to your chosen research priorities and the weighting of the available techs according to the values in the TECHNOLOGY TREE section of Alpha(x).txt.

(For example, the Alphax.txt entry for Biogenetics is

Biogenetics,                Biogen,  0, 3, 2, 2, None,    None,    000100000

That means that Biogenetics has a Conquer weight of 0, a Discover weight of 3, a Build weight of 2 and an Explore weight of 2.)

However, I'm not sure whether there was agreement on how the various weights were used to determine the tech. If interested, you can read more about this matter by searching Google for "blind research" site:apolyton.net.

 

[MountainTiger]

Thanks for your help!

 

[magic9mushroom]

1. The tech choice in blind research is determined at the same time as for directed research. You can see this for yourself by opening the scenario editor (Ctrl + K) and checking the F2 screen. The tech being researched will be displayed.

2. I'm not certain that the mechanics of blind research have ever been completely nailed down. What's known is: When using directed research, you won't be able to select certain techs even if you have all the prerequisites. The available techs can be determined from formulas that were worked out mainly in this thread. When using blind research, it is believed that the tech to be researched is chosen from the available techs as determined in that thread. The choice is thought to made according to your chosen research priorities and the weighting of the available techs according to the values in the TECHNOLOGY TREE section of Alpha(x).txt.

(For example, the Alphax.txt entry for Biogenetics is

Biogenetics,                Biogen,  0, 3, 2, 2, None,    None,    000100000

That means that Biogenetics has a Conquer weight of 0, a Discover weight of 3, a Build weight of 2 and an Explore weight of 2.)

However, I'm not sure whether there was agreement on how the various weights were used to determine the tech. If interested, you can read more about this matter by searching Google for "blind research" site:apolyton.net.

Isn't it also possible that those weightings are used for the AI's "priorities"?