Changing our Tech-Tree

[militiaman]

*Keep it- (Recruit most standard units in the core buildings, some special units otherwise + mercenary scripts)
Pros- Simple for the AI to understand
-Realistic, only buildings that would've been built by the king are included, and units don't really require special buildings
-Totally unique style
Cons- Lacks depth that the others have
- May result in shorter campaigns with less depth

*RTW- (Division into Archery, Infantry, Cavalry + mercs)
Pros- AI seems to understand it to some level
- Fairly simple and classic tech-tree to understand
- Buildings are instantly recognizable from Rome
- Has enough depth for most people
Cons- Very unrealistic in most cases
- Used alot in strategy games

*In-Between- (Levy units in core buildings, professionals in barracks and other buildings)
Pros- Combines the simplicity of the first example with a bit more depth from the second
- Units are spread across more buildings
Cons- Not as realistic as the first one

*MTW-like- (Different buildings required for some units, levy units in core building, professionals in specialized buildings)
Pros- Definetely the most in depth one
- Longer campaigns because of this
- Many more building options
- More strategic planning for buildings
Cons- I'm assuming the AI will have no understanding of the strategy involved
- Alot more work for the devs

Well, as the topic says, this post is created to let you guys decide on the tech-tree.
I will start working on the thing in a few days, i.e. when this poll is resolved, and the winner will be chosen.
As some of you might know, I'm not particularly fond of the system Adherbal and Militiaman favour because in my opinion, building your empire is an important part of the charme of the Total War series and I like it a lot wink.gif
However, the current method is better for people who don't like micromanaging (it's also easier for the AI to handle), and it is arguably more realistic (although I think that the campaign is very abstract, more like a board game).

So, in order not to fight among ourselves in the dev team, we thought we'd just let you decide

And just so you know, here is the link to what our current tech-tree (the one Adherbal made up) looks like (or will look like).

http://www.stratcommandcenter.com/fo...pic=11848&st=0

[Lolikipz]

I like the MTW one best

[dragases1453]

The Tech tree in Medieval was very good!

[militiaman]

Added some pros and cons to each of the different styles.

[DrunkenMagician]

"- Alot more work for the devs"

How much more work? Will it take several weeks/months of extra work? Well.. I vote to Keep it. The sooner this mod gets out, the better. It would suck if this game had a great tech tree, but the AI can't handle it....

[LordSaradain]

The first option seems best, that way the devs wont have tons of extra work.

[militiaman]

How much more work? Will it take several weeks/months of extra work? Well.. I vote to Keep it. The sooner this mod gets out, the better. It would suck if this game had a great tech tree, but the AI can't handle it....

We'd basically have to go back to step one. We'd have to revise the whole tech-tree, and it wouldn't be just a simple task of looking at the MTW one and then putting it in Chiv, some buildings would have to be cut out because they wouldn't work in the RTW engine (watchtowers). The biggest problem is the sheer size of it.

However, i'm mainly against it because of the AI, I seriously doubt they'd be able to handle it as effectively as the player.

[1NEB2]

It would be nice to have the game/mod as close to MTW as possible, however if the AI problems in the campaign cause a big headache to both the devs with the game completion, and the gamers with the resulting gameplay, then I think it should be left as is'KEEP IT'. Besides lets get as much time and enjoyment out of this great mod that we can before MTW2 is released.

[Adrian Laguna]

*Keep it- (Recruit most standard units in the core buildings, some special units otherwise + mercenary scripts)
Pros- Simple for the AI to understand
-Realistic, only buildings that would've been built by the king are included, and units don't really require special buildings
-Totally unique style
Cons- Lacks depth that the others have
- May result in shorter campaigns with less depth

*MTW-like- (Different buildings required for some units, levy units in core building, professionals in specialized buildings)
Pros- Definetely the most in depth one
- Longer campaigns because of this
- Many more building options
- More strategic planning for buildings
Cons- I'm assuming the AI will have no understanding of the strategy involved
- Alot more work for the devs

Underlined the most relevant parts. Campaign is solo against the AI. If the AI can't handle the tech tree, then it won't build armies that make sense and are challenging to fight against.

[alpaca]

I'm not necessarily sure that the AI understands the most simple tech tree best because it will most likely be programmed so that it understands the RTW tech-tree.

[{nF}remix]

WEll most definetely for the first once since the AI will most likely not understand the mtw one

[militiaman]

I'm not necessarily sure that the AI understands the most simple tech tree best because it will most likely be programmed so that it understands the RTW tech-tree.

Agreed, I uess I didn't really think about that. I think they'd best understand the system of barracks, archery and stables actually. However, there hasn't been enough testing in this area so this is all assumption. I'd presume they'd be able to recruit units from the core buildings just as easily though.

alpaca, you can add some of your own if you like, and remove ones if that's what you want.

[alpaca]

alpaca, you can add some of your own if you like, and remove ones if that's what you want.

lol, I know I can
But I won't unless the public decides that I should do so, I'm just stating all facts I know of or that come to my mind. It might very well be that the tech-tree we decide upon has to be tweaked a lot for the AI to handle it properly.

And about having a unique tech-tree: I think that a public poll in itself about this is kind of novel, so, well...

[drak10687]

I was just reading about the great empires mod, and apperantly it utilises only one barrack for everything, maybe you should ask if that works good with the ai?

[The White Knight]

I voted for depth. Sorry devs. :wink:

[Maethius]

MTW like plz.

[DrunkenMagician]

Keep It 22 + 13 = 35
RTW-like 03 + 02 = 05
In-Between 08 + 10 = 18
MTW-Like 26 + 17 = 43

59 + 42 = 101

It seems to me that none of the options has the majority of votes. What will you do? Go for the one with the most votes (MTW-Like), or take the middle road (In-Between)?