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Author Topic:   How did you learn the tech tree?

Jeje posted 03-03-99 03:35 PM ET
Hello,
I just finished my first game of SMAC.
When I played Civ(I&II) the tech tree was wery important to me, for I have certain goals along the way I try to reach.
Now I am just as interested here again to have some goals, but the blind research made it impossible for me to visualize were I am and what shall I concentrate on.
I do like the Blind research and prefer to use it, but I am afraid that I have to turn it off to learn the tech tree.
Or does anybody smarter of you have any better ideas how to learn the tech tree?
(I have a legal copy, but I cann't keep the map on my wall.)
I want to learn the tech tree and I wanna use blind research. Is it an impossible combination?
Xerxes314 posted 03-03-99 03:47 PM ET
Well, to start, it helps that almost all the armour upgrades are Build, almost all the weapon upgrades are Conquer, and almost all the chassis upgrades are Explore. Since those are usually primary goals, it helps that they're all the same. Other than that, most base facilities are also Build, and pretty much everything else is Discover.
It's not pretty or precise, but it helps a little.
Scrubby posted 03-03-99 03:47 PM ET
Some suggestions:
1. Find some wall space! I have the poster up right next to the computer and it is a brain saver sometimes. It really, really helps. Else download some user created files of the tech tree and print 'em up. Check out Capt Comal's site (members.tripod.com/ACHeaven/captcomal.htm) or the Beyond AC site www.beyondac.com.
2. PLAY A LOT! The more you play the better you understand and get the gist of the logic behind the tech tree.
FUNFUN!
Xerxes314 posted 03-03-99 03:48 PM ET
Oh, also all Centauri upgrades are Explore, except for Secrets, which are all Discover.
This is really more confusing than I thought.
Derek posted 03-03-99 03:54 PM ET
This is kind of retentive, but I put together a one-page version of the tech chart with Visio. I also put together a spreadsheet that lists each tech and its effects, including things like commerce bonuses, probe morale upgrades, council options and the lifting of resource restrictions.
Doing it actually got me to learn the techs pretty well, and it also emphasized that tech in SMAC means A LOT! The bonuses that new tech give you are many and varied, and are not just restricted to new components and buildings.
BTW, the only tech that doesn't give you ANYTHING seems to be Optical Computers. I wonder if that's because by the 22nd century, hardware has finally outstripped software requirements?
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Author	Topic: How did you learn the tech tree?
Jeje	posted 03-03-99 03:35 PM ET Hello, I just finished my first game of SMAC. When I played Civ(I&II) the tech tree was wery important to me, for I have certain goals along the way I try to reach. Now I am just as interested here again to have some goals, but the blind research made it impossible for me to visualize were I am and what shall I concentrate on. I do like the Blind research and prefer to use it, but I am afraid that I have to turn it off to learn the tech tree. Or does anybody smarter of you have any better ideas how to learn the tech tree? (I have a legal copy, but I cann't keep the map on my wall.) I want to learn the tech tree and I wanna use blind research. Is it an impossible combination?
Xerxes314	posted 03-03-99 03:47 PM ET Well, to start, it helps that almost all the armour upgrades are Build, almost all the weapon upgrades are Conquer, and almost all the chassis upgrades are Explore. Since those are usually primary goals, it helps that they're all the same. Other than that, most base facilities are also Build, and pretty much everything else is Discover. It's not pretty or precise, but it helps a little.
Scrubby	posted 03-03-99 03:47 PM ET Some suggestions: 1. Find some wall space! I have the poster up right next to the computer and it is a brain saver sometimes. It really, really helps. Else download some user created files of the tech tree and print 'em up. Check out Capt Comal's site (members.tripod.com/ACHeaven/captcomal.htm) or the Beyond AC site www.beyondac.com. 2. PLAY A LOT! The more you play the better you understand and get the gist of the logic behind the tech tree. FUNFUN!
Xerxes314	posted 03-03-99 03:48 PM ET Oh, also all Centauri upgrades are Explore, except for Secrets, which are all Discover. This is really more confusing than I thought.
Derek	posted 03-03-99 03:54 PM ET This is kind of retentive, but I put together a one-page version of the tech chart with Visio. I also put together a spreadsheet that lists each tech and its effects, including things like commerce bonuses, probe morale upgrades, council options and the lifting of resource restrictions. Doing it actually got me to learn the techs pretty well, and it also emphasized that tech in SMAC means A LOT! The bonuses that new tech give you are many and varied, and are not just restricted to new components and buildings. BTW, the only tech that doesn't give you ANYTHING seems to be Optical Computers. I wonder if that's because by the 22nd century, hardware has finally outstripped software requirements?