Research Interface Suggestions
from 
Sins Forums
Sins Forums
There are a couple of changes to the way the research tree interface works that I think would benefit players of Sins, or at least those with my playstyle 
, particularly when multiplayer is ready and we can’t pause the game.
Basically, what I have in mind is a queue system controlled by a rate slider. Payments for technologies would be due upon the completion of research objectives, or as the research is conducted, rather than as up front purchases. The rate at which research is conducted, i.e. money is allocated to research, would be selectable via a percentage slider similar to the GalCiv military/social/research sliders. Finally, the in-game display would have a research status indicator so you always know what you are researching and how much time is left until completion.
That way at the start of a game, you could map out the research path you plan to use, prioritize it relative to investment in ships, planetary improvements, and tactical/logistical posts, and then focus on your attention on managing all those other aspects.
As it is now, I can do something like that at mid game when I am flush with cash, and buy out the rest of the tree and just let my faction churn out research improvements until I have all the techs discovered. But I find that at that point in the game I’ve also got my larger fleets in place and my major systems fully developed, so I already have more free time.
It’s at the early stages when I am grabbing the first five planets in my system, fighting off opposing empires, pirates, and marauders, and trying to get a stable economy in place, that I have trouble listening for the research complete notifications and remembering which tech is the next on my priority list. Having the research objectives in a queue during this period would be immensely helpful for me.
, particularly when multiplayer is ready and we can’t pause the game. Basically, what I have in mind is a queue system controlled by a rate slider. Payments for technologies would be due upon the completion of research objectives, or as the research is conducted, rather than as up front purchases. The rate at which research is conducted, i.e. money is allocated to research, would be selectable via a percentage slider similar to the GalCiv military/social/research sliders. Finally, the in-game display would have a research status indicator so you always know what you are researching and how much time is left until completion.
That way at the start of a game, you could map out the research path you plan to use, prioritize it relative to investment in ships, planetary improvements, and tactical/logistical posts, and then focus on your attention on managing all those other aspects.
As it is now, I can do something like that at mid game when I am flush with cash, and buy out the rest of the tree and just let my faction churn out research improvements until I have all the techs discovered. But I find that at that point in the game I’ve also got my larger fleets in place and my major systems fully developed, so I already have more free time.
It’s at the early stages when I am grabbing the first five planets in my system, fighting off opposing empires, pirates, and marauders, and trying to get a stable economy in place, that I have trouble listening for the research complete notifications and remembering which tech is the next on my priority list. Having the research objectives in a queue during this period would be immensely helpful for me.
