Thus you could have:

6 cities (60 science) researching INDUSTRY
3 cities (10 science) researching TRADE
10 cities (180 science) researching OIL

Setting specific research for every city can be a nightmare IMHO: compute research points wanted for every research, then distribute them, then reassign tasks after every complete research... for 40 or 50 cities?

Sorry, I won't like to do this.
Back to the root, we can like multiple research (more realistic IMO) or single research (good old Civ style, it requires a more defined choice of tech).

If we like multiple res., I vote for a "national" slider set, used to divide research point to only four branches (like SMAC) of blind research: Explore, Discover, Build, and Conquer.

Every slider can show how many turns are "guessed" before next discover. If your civ increase research points (via new cities, new wonders or new city facilities) we should have new points
a) evenly redistributed (easy to do but not very effective)
or
b) automatically assigned to the branch who will gain more, i.e. the branch where adding research point will reduce number of turns before next discover (or more near to this line). Of course, this apply assuming research points needed will increase as you research for more advanced discoveries.

This can work also without blind research, simply adding a "research selection box" near every slider.

BTW, if someone is ready to send a post about "multiple research is silly because dividing the tech points you have four research done in the same time than queuing them", please don't!
With multiple research you can always change your mind about priority on research branch: if you fall in a war you can "freeze" every branch other than Conquer, then restart without losing your efforts when Peace time come back.

quote: Originally posted by Adm.Naismith on 02-21-2001 04:57 AM Setting specific research for every city can be a nightmare IMHO

Not really. As long as preset groups where you can add cities to research groups when you found them is included, then change what the whole group is researching, it wouldn't be the micromanagement hell that you'd think it would be.

Personally I don't really care either way. Might be nice for something different, but the tech system works fine anyway. Either way, doesn't worry me that much as long as it works.

What I don't like is blind research. I don't care about realism if it makes it so I can't choose specific techs. I don't want to be forced to do anything in Civ that I don't want to if at all possible.

You could have preset groups on a diagram like so-

-----------
Group 1 "Dynamite" 50pts
Group 2 "Engineering" 20pts
Group 3 "Refrigeration" 25pts
-----------

This would slow down research overall more, but if you had a seperate screen in the "Science" tab, then for those people who like customization, there would be an option in the later stages of the game to multi-task your researches.

In civ3 you could start with one tech, then allow two when a certain tech is acheived(writing), adding a tech slot in each age thereafter. This simulates the ability of advanced civs to work on many technologies at one time.

quote: But then considering the time Firaxis has had the civ3 project, I doubt they will be adding anything to the game now.

May be, may be not. No official tentative release date, yet, so who know?

Anyway, at the forum we often shot in the dark, but probably some suggestions are near enough to Firaxis CIV 3 model and concept that they can grab some little enhancement here and there without redesign from scratch the work already done.

They surely will tweak code often, until beta start, for better playability, balancing, more players funny... bug removal, too
I once red that SMAC border was added almost as a last moment feature, neverthless it's one of the great innovation over CIV 2 model, IMHO.

quote: Admiral your idea of a slider is good- but I would like to say this for my idea... You could have preset groups on a diagram like so ------------ Group 1 "Dynamite" 50pts Group 2 "Engineering" 20pts Group 3 "Refrigeration" 25pts

If I understand you, groups are pools of cities that produce research points. Number of available research points for group (assigned for researching discovery) are given by the sum of cities that join that group.

If not, I probably miss your point, please correct me

My worry is that aggregating group of cities will be another management trouble by itself: you must carefully balance city aggregation to maximize research point effects, checking again when a wonder or city facility change some value

OTOH, if Regions will be implemented in the game, I think you can assign different research for every Region, leaving out management of groups but keeping your suggestion main part.

Trachmir, if you read few posts above you can see mine (a bit kidding):

quote: BTW, if someone is ready to send a post about "multiple research is silly because dividing the tech points you have four research done in the same time than queuing them", please don't! With multiple research, you can always change your mind about priority on research branch: if you fall in a war you can "freeze" every branch other than Conquer, then restart without losing your efforts when Peace time come back.

BTW, bell curve is interesting and realistic, maybe a bit difficult to understand for players (you make a choice and hopefully will have a consistent, straight feedback: if system act different many people will be confused or cry about bugs).

Estimated time of discovery is pretty nice, and I saw it mentioned in some old thread about Discovery & Tech tree. It should work two way: sometime you discover a bit in advance, sometime a bit later than original extimation. Is not a fundamental topic for Firaxis, but if they'll tweak the research model it should be considered as a nice touch.

However the reason you suggested it was bad is precisely the reason I believe it is good... More management!