Gaining Techs From Races Who LIke You

[Azurian]

I think the design intent was that if a race really likes you enough, they'll forgive you stealing the tech from them. Which seems kind of… weird. It would be cool if there was an option to demand/request tech from a race. It could even have the same influence loss in addition to the credit cost so that it makes some thematic/balance sense.

I think if the race is Venerated with you, they would be happy to share a tech with you.


Maybe there can be a Scientific Alliance option, and races in the alliance gain like a 20% boost in science, and if you are part of the alliance, there is a % chance of getting a free tech.

[Draco18s]

Maybe there can be a Scientific Alliance option, and races in the alliance gain like a 20% boost in science, and if you are part of the alliance, there is a % chance of getting a free tech.

The problem there is if you win the lotto but don't have the prereqs.

[Histidine]

From Mantis:

In terms of peaceable ways of getting it from existing races, I've wanted to avoid that because it tends to cause some balance issues. It makes it a tougher choice this way:
1. Research proactively, before your friends get what you want.
2. Steal from friends if you have to, or enemies if you can.
3. Research with enemies, if you can.

I think that's mechanically the most interesting.

...Though I can sort of see the point, even if we accept the argument it doesn't preclude a "buy tech" option with a suitably large credit cost.

[BobTheJanitor]

Or a 'demand tech' option with the same negative influence rating but without dealing with the combat. (May be suggesting this because I'm just not a big fan of the combat, though)

[tyrian forever]

Is there any modablity to this game? It is pretty ridiculous that you can't legally trade techs. If you have a tech you don't need or otherwise it would make sense to be able to barter. If the dev doesn't think such a basic diplomacy option shouldn't be in the game can the players add it?

[BobTheJanitor]

Perhaps instead of the negative coming from you stealing tech from people who otherwise venerate you as a living god, you could have them freely given to you, but then the race gets ticked off when you go sharing them around to everyone else. Basically the same functionality that's already in place for disseminating spacefaring technology. Except with a much smaller negative, of course, since you may be inclined to share that technology repeatedly and even something like a -5 each time would really add up.

[tgb]

I just did a joint research product with a race that liked me, and the tooltip said that the time was being cut (by 2/3, I think) because they already had the tech.  This was just after installing 1.002.

[chemical_art]

I just did a joint research product with a race that liked me, and the tooltip said that the time was being cut (by 2/3, I think) because they already had the tech.  This was just after installing 1.002.

As part of 1.002 you can do research with friendly races. It take 1/3 of the time, but no friendly race influence, etc. At least from what I gather.

[BobTheJanitor]

Slightly derailing the subject, but it's still related, something about this:

doesn't really make sense.

For context, the Andors, Evucks, and Skylaxians are all in the Federation, and also all at war with the Boarines. It seems odd that not only do they get upset if I steal tech from their enemies, but that they actually get more upset than the race that I'm actively stealing from. Is there some weird balance reason why things are handled this way, or is this just wonky and needs to be fed into mantis?

[GC13]

It's intended that there be an increased cost (the influence too, not just the rising credit costs) for stealing tech, but I do agree that the numbers are out of whack. I think it should be plugged into Mantis as a suggestion to rebalance it. People at war with the victim really shouldn't lose more influence than you could regain by giving them the tech, and they should never care more than the affected race.

[Draco18s]

It's intended that there be an increased cost (the influence too, not just the rising credit costs) for stealing tech, but I do agree that the numbers are out of whack. I think it should be plugged into Mantis as a suggestion to rebalance it. People at war with the victim really shouldn't lose more influence than you could regain by giving them the tech, and they should never care more than the affected race.

One would assume that if you're at war with a race, you'd encourage stealing from them and otherwise dicking them over.

[GC13]

Well, it's been fixed in 1.003 anyway, so I'm happy. ^_^