So far I like the 'Average of Next Tech' idea best when it comes to altering the Great Scientist research ability. It seems more fair and provides incentive to spread out research rather than slingshot.
With research agreements I believe a 'per turn boost' is the best way to implement it, but as CYZ proposed the tech(s) to be researched would be decided beforehand. This is where our ideas deviate. I believe that RAs should only be allowed as either Tech/Tech exchanges, limited to what each party knows, or Tech/Gold exchanges in case one party completely out-techs the other. For example, the gold acquired by the RA could be 1/2 beaker production of tech-granting Civ per turn. This alteration would also function as a handicap for those who are leading the technology race, as it's much harder to come up with something undiscovered than emulating existing technology. It also allows players to once again "sell" technology, while being less powerful than the old Tech Trading system due to time requirements in tech diffusion. However, taking a RA wouldn't lock research, and instead directly adds beakers to whichever tech is being aided for as long as the RA remains in effect.
With research agreements I believe a 'per turn boost' is the best way to implement it, but as CYZ proposed the tech(s) to be researched would be decided beforehand. This is where our ideas deviate. I believe that RAs should only be allowed as either Tech/Tech exchanges, limited to what each party knows, or Tech/Gold exchanges in case one party completely out-techs the other. For example, the gold acquired by the RA could be 1/2 beaker production of tech-granting Civ per turn. This alteration would also function as a handicap for those who are leading the technology race, as it's much harder to come up with something undiscovered than emulating existing technology. It also allows players to once again "sell" technology, while being less powerful than the old Tech Trading system due to time requirements in tech diffusion. However, taking a RA wouldn't lock research, and instead directly adds beakers to whichever tech is being aided for as long as the RA remains in effect.
