New Techs, more branches in techs

[masterofdragons]

I want more techs (costing less research time), and I want the technology tree's branches to not intertwine so much - like an inbred, redneck wedding party. It seems that almost every technology in the game needs to be researched for a nation to be successful and I feel that is not necessarily a need. Some societies might find their religious and philosophical studies to be much more rewarding and gainful. Others might find the scientific aspect of research to be needed. Yet, others might find military studies to be much more beneficial, like Ghengis Khan. It just seems like everyone is studying the same things throughout the game and the so-called culture is lost in a same-tech race. This just seems a little contradictory to the thought that culture defines your nation, yet the only thing representing that culture are the visual graphics and nothing else.
What I really want to see are tech trees that can either be customised to suit the player or to show the cultural identity of that tribe. A good example is the Age of Discovery scenario, where the native tribes have Blood Cult, Body Ornaments, and such.... This makes much more sense. Right now, the only difference (in game play) between each tribe is a unique unit. And once its time has passed, the culture is no longer unique? Too weird.

 

[thescaryworker]

Would that really be fair? I mean, eventually, every civ would probbably get to where we are today. I mean, if you were the native americans, you'd be stuck with little half-naked warrior dudes almost the whole game. And Persia, you would never get to the computer <modern> age because: they didn't get to the modern age.

However, I agree that the civs are far too alike. Maybe for each different civ they could have the tech tree editid just a little (for each civ) to fit the greatest part of their history. The civs would get more unique units and a few 100% unique special abilities. There could also be tech trees like that except the changes based on the culture group. (Like Blood Cult, Body Ornamentation, Exc.) Or even both.

Just not all different tech trees: poor civs that never got to the middle ages.

Right now, the only difference (in game play) between each tribe is a unique unit.

Not true, each civ does have differences: Industrious, Commercial, Agricultural, Seafaring, Religious, Militaristic, Expansionist, and Scientific.

 

[Dida]

Every civ should have the same basic tech tree. To make them less alike to one another, they can have bonus tech, and unique units and unique city improvements.

 

[masterofdragons]

Well, that is what I meant. Obviously the true sciences are universal like chemistry, physics, astronomy, etc... Just add different bonus techs to tribe.