random research ala SMAC

[jawilson]

Hey,
I was thinking about adding the ability to have the current research chosen automatically, similar to the option from Alpha Centauri. I think it would change the gameplay dynamics considerably (ie, no more beelining for certain techs), and could be a fun change. You could then add something so that once you discover Scientific Method, you could begin selecting specific techs to research.

Maybe this can't happen until the SDK comes out. I just wanted to throw this out and see what people thought of it.

jawilson

 

[Panth]

Could be interesting. It wold be like simulating a decentralized/privatized research model where the rulers don't necessarily control what the people study.

What would probably be more realistic is if you could double the time it took to research everything, choose techs as normal, and get a random tech either along with the chosen one or at some interval dependant upon happiness or population or something. This would be like the government and the people having their own research ideas.