Research in 4x games
Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:54 pm
I am currently working on a design document for a 4x space game (just for me... 
) and have been thinking also about research. I did make suggestions to Aaron for SEV about that but it wasn't 100% really clear for me yet. So i spend more time thinking about it and so this it is (not sure to remember how research points are generated in Spartan): in most games, when you've got the biggest empire, you also get the biggest research which seems wrong to me. When we look at history, we notice that some small nations had the best research. So here's is just a though and i'd like to hear what Iain thinks about it.
I would base research on 2 aspects:
1. let's say we have 8 domains for research: each domain would have a building which could be upgraded (for money) and generate research points. Now my point is that it could be possible to have all those buildings in one place (planet or city) and so even a small empire with strong trade agreements could be top notch in technology.
2. Education: the percentage of eductation of the population would be used as a multiplicator for the research points generated by the research buildings. To get that level it would should be necessary to buid schools, universities (real build or economic slides). Another option would be to make the production of individual planets/cities correspond to the quality of the education (even if the capital is top noch in science, a distant planet with litte education would not be able to produce the best ships, troops, etc...
My point is that, in the case of a space strategy game, it should be possible for a small empire to send a single top battleship against 100 weak battleships from a huge but retarded empire....
So what are your thoughts?
) and have been thinking also about research. I did make suggestions to Aaron for SEV about that but it wasn't 100% really clear for me yet. So i spend more time thinking about it and so this it is (not sure to remember how research points are generated in Spartan): in most games, when you've got the biggest empire, you also get the biggest research which seems wrong to me. When we look at history, we notice that some small nations had the best research. So here's is just a though and i'd like to hear what Iain thinks about it.I would base research on 2 aspects:
1. let's say we have 8 domains for research: each domain would have a building which could be upgraded (for money) and generate research points. Now my point is that it could be possible to have all those buildings in one place (planet or city) and so even a small empire with strong trade agreements could be top notch in technology.
2. Education: the percentage of eductation of the population would be used as a multiplicator for the research points generated by the research buildings. To get that level it would should be necessary to buid schools, universities (real build or economic slides). Another option would be to make the production of individual planets/cities correspond to the quality of the education (even if the capital is top noch in science, a distant planet with litte education would not be able to produce the best ships, troops, etc...
My point is that, in the case of a space strategy game, it should be possible for a small empire to send a single top battleship against 100 weak battleships from a huge but retarded empire....
So what are your thoughts?
