Planetary Data Link Question (Very Confused)

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Author Topic:   Planetary Data Link Question (Very Confused)

Max posted 02-22-99 12:00 AM ET
Exactly how do the Planetary Data Link secret project work?
Upon completion, how do the computer choose which 3 factions you get your tech benefits from (is it random?)?
Also, is this an one-off event?
ie: you get tech benefits upon completion of this secret project, but no additional benefits as the other 3 factions research additional new technologies?
spud posted 02-22-99 12:21 AM ET
It works like this.
If three other factions have the same technology advance, you get that advance instantly.
Eg. If two factions have mind/machine and you dont and then somebody else researches it, you get it too. Pretty neat huh.
It has no time limit but probably looses its effectiveness as you all migrate up the tech tree (you may have the tech already) and of course if theres only 3 factions left in the game...
Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS posted 02-22-99 10:33 AM ET
It's also not retro-active. It only counts for techs that factions research since you've achieved the project.
jkm
firaxis games
Colonel Kassad posted 02-24-99 11:28 PM ET
Can you select the factions that you receive the breakthroughs from or is it random ?
If it is random, do you at least know who you got the information from ?
Scrubby posted 02-24-99 11:41 PM ET
No it works simpler than that:
If ANY three factions (other than your own) have a particular tech and you have the Project you get that particular tech.
For example: You are Hive with the Datalinks, Morgan, Believers and Gaians get Neural Grafting which you don't have -- you get it automatically!
Example #2: You are still Hive later in the game. Morgan, UoP and Spartans pick up Nanometallurgy -- whoops, three factions got it, now so do you.
The Datalinks are pretty good for a single reason; it makes sure you stay "current" with other factions tech development so that if there's a lot of tech sharing you "participate" whether those three parties wish it or not. It's also good insurance for factions who race up a tech tree in one category only and who are not well balanced. The other factions will "help" you out. The only problem I see is that is a few factions get wiped early you cannot fulfill that three other faction criteria and the Datalinks are useless (except for points).
Got it?
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Author	Topic: Planetary Data Link Question (Very Confused)
Max	posted 02-22-99 12:00 AM ET Exactly how do the Planetary Data Link secret project work? Upon completion, how do the computer choose which 3 factions you get your tech benefits from (is it random?)? Also, is this an one-off event? ie: you get tech benefits upon completion of this secret project, but no additional benefits as the other 3 factions research additional new technologies?
spud	posted 02-22-99 12:21 AM ET It works like this. If three other factions have the same technology advance, you get that advance instantly. Eg. If two factions have mind/machine and you dont and then somebody else researches it, you get it too. Pretty neat huh. It has no time limit but probably looses its effectiveness as you all migrate up the tech tree (you may have the tech already) and of course if theres only 3 factions left in the game...
Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS	posted 02-22-99 10:33 AM ET It's also not retro-active. It only counts for techs that factions research since you've achieved the project. jkm firaxis games
Colonel Kassad	posted 02-24-99 11:28 PM ET Can you select the factions that you receive the breakthroughs from or is it random ? If it is random, do you at least know who you got the information from ?
Scrubby	posted 02-24-99 11:41 PM ET No it works simpler than that: If ANY three factions (other than your own) have a particular tech and you have the Project you get that particular tech. For example: You are Hive with the Datalinks, Morgan, Believers and Gaians get Neural Grafting which you don't have -- you get it automatically! Example #2: You are still Hive later in the game. Morgan, UoP and Spartans pick up Nanometallurgy -- whoops, three factions got it, now so do you. The Datalinks are pretty good for a single reason; it makes sure you stay "current" with other factions tech development so that if there's a lot of tech sharing you "participate" whether those three parties wish it or not. It's also good insurance for factions who race up a tech tree in one category only and who are not well balanced. The other factions will "help" you out. The only problem I see is that is a few factions get wiped early you cannot fulfill that three other faction criteria and the Datalinks are useless (except for points). Got it?