(Edit 7 Dec 2017: Modified format to be more conistent with dbenage-cx's suggestions, added Defense categorization)
(Edit 8 Dec 2017: Added blurb at the top about my general thinking when categorizing. Added concerns about current subcategorization. Continued subcategorization suggestions.)
(Edit 9 Dec 2017: Finished subcategorization suggestions.)
I'm thinking about trying to further subcategorize techs.
I think that the Pedia should be aimed at players learning the game (for obvious reasons), so my categorization process is focused on that audience. My priority is to divide the techs by function, so that players have an easier time deciding which tech is useful to research in which situation. For example, i was motivated to move all theoretical techs into their own subsection in each category. Also i preferred to leave techs with multiple functions in the root directories, for example Interstellar Logistics and Interstellar Lighthouse.
I believe this makes more sense than trying to categorize by "theme" (genetics for example).
Concerns about current categorization (starting with minor issues first):
1. The tech "Bombardment". This isn't really a categorization issue, but while i was going through i noticed that it has the "Unlocks Ship Weapon" tag (
Code: Select all
short_description = "SHIP_WEAPON_UNLOCK_SHORT_DESC"
). Unless i'm missing something, this tech doesn't actually unlock any weapons so it should probably be changed to "Theoretical Prerequisite":
Code: Select all
short_description = "THEORY_SHORT_DESC"
2. Reinforced Hull. Currently in Ship Engineering > Damage Control. The other three techs in this subcategory are about repairing ships between combats, whereas Reinforced Hull simply increases the Structure of all your ships. I feel that this is really a different beast and should be moved either to the root directory or possibly to Ship Engineering > Armor (though that subcategory is for Armor Plating Ship Parts, so it doesn't feel like a great fit).
3. Domesticated Mega-Fauna. Currently in Ship Hulls > (root directory). This really has nothing to do with ship hulls, apart from being a prereq for Organic Hull. I'd like to see this moved to Growth and into a subcategory with Mega-Fauna Ecology.
4. Stealth Ship Parts. This applies to the 3 techs in Ship Engineering > Stealth (Electromagnetic Dampening, Radiation Absorbing, Dimensional Cloaking) and to the one tech in Ship Engineering > Detection (Distortion Modulator).
There is some inconsistency with these four techs. They are classified as Ship Engineering in the Pedia
Code: Select all
tags = [ "PEDIA_DETECTION_PART_TECHS" ]
but are in the default/scripting/techs/spy directory (rather than the ../ship parts directory), have the SPY_ prefix in their focs name/desc, and are categorized in the Research screen filter as Intelligence techs
I believe these should be made consistent either as Ship Engineering techs, or as Spy/Intelligence techs. Keeping the three stealth ship part techs in Ship Engineering, is somewhat problematic, as Planetary Phasing Cloak is the convergence of that tech line with the Planetary Stealth tech line (P.PhasingC. provides both the final planetary stealth boost and the final stealth ship part), leaving one to wonder if it belongs in Spy/Intelligence or Ship Engineering. I suggest these three techs be moved to Intelligence out of Ship Engineering.
Distortion Modulator is less entwined in the Intelligence tree and could really go either way. I have a slight preference to move this out of Ship Engineering as well, since other techs that unlock Detection ship parts like Active Scanner are in Intelligence anyhow. It's not like these are the only ship-part-unlock-techs not in Ship Engineering. For example, Lifecycle Manipulation and Nanotech Cybernetics. Also Distortion Modulator's current category is a category containing just a single item, where it could be grouped under Detection in Intelligence.
Where these end up isn't so important to me, but i do think the pedia>Technologies, directory structure in default/scripting/techs, focs name/desc prefixes, and research screen filter should all remain consistent, at least where possible.
_________________________
Other ideas for subcategories :
Construction>
(+) Improved Supply
- Architechtural Monofilaments
- Galactic Infrastructure
- Gravitic Architecture
- Orbital Construction
(+) Theoretical
- Architectural Pyschology
- Asymptotic Materials
(+) Galactic Landscaping
- Artificial Heavenly Bodies
- Artificial Planet
- Planetary Starlane Drive
- Stargate
(root directory)
- Concentration Camps
- Force Energy Structures
- Interstellar Logistics (could go into (+)Supply, but, at least personally, i'm normally researching this more for the speed boost then the Logistics focus)
- N-Dimensional Structures
- Organic Structures
- Transcendent Architecture
Defense>
(+) Planetary Armaments
- Defense Network Regeneration 1
- Defense Network Regeneration 2
- Planetary Defense Network 1
- Planetary Defense Network 2
- Planetary Defense Network 3
(+) Planetary Garrison
- Defensive Militia Training
- Planetary Bunker Complex
- Planetary Fortification Network
- Planetary Guard Brigades
(+)Planetary Shields
- Planetary Barrier Shield 1
- Planetary Barrier Shield 2
- Planetary Barrier Shield 3
- Planetary Barrier Shield 4
- Planetary Barrier Shield 5
(+) System Mines
- System Defense Mines 1
- System Defense Mines 2
- System Defense Mines 3
(root directory)
- Planetary Cloaking Device
- Self Defense (applies to both garrison and planetary shields, so probably leave it in the root?)
Growth>
(+) Theoretical
- Advanced Eco-Manipulation
- Genetic Engineering
- Nanotech Medicine
- Trans-Organic Sentience
(+) Biological Warfare
- Bioterror Facilities
- Genetic Medicine
(+) Planetary Shaping
- Gaia Transformation
- Terraforming
(+) Habitability Improvement
- Orbital Habitation
- Planetary Ecology
- Subterranean Habitation
- Symbiotic Biology
- Xenological Genetics
- Xenological Hybridization
(root directory)
- Cyborgs
- Lifecycle Manipulation
- Mega-Fauna Ecology (but see #3 in comments above)
- Nanotech Cybernetics
- Pure-Energy Metabolism
Intelligence>
(+) Detection
- Active Radar
- Neutron Scanner
- Omni-scanner
- Optical Scanner
- Sensors
(+) Planetary Stealth
- Planet Stealth Modifier
- Planetary Ash Clouds
- Planetary Cloud Cover
- Planetary Dimensional Cloak
(+) Theoretical
- Deception
- Force-Energy Camouflage
(root directory)
- Empire Intelligence Agency
- Interstellar Lighthouse (could go into Detection, but the Lighthouse also provides a speed boost)
**OTHER** (see discussion above)
- Planetary Phasing Cloak
- Dimensional Cloaking
- Electromagnetic Dampening
- Radiation Absorbing
- Distortion Modulator
Learning>
(+) Advanced Research
- Algorithmic Elegance
- Distributed Thought Computing
- Enclave of the Void
- Nascent Artificial Intelligence
- Quantum Networking
- Stellar Tomography
- The Physical Brain
(+) Theoretical
- Mind of the Void
- N-Dimensional Subspace
- Psionics
- Theory of Everything
- Translinguistics
(root directory)
- Artificial Black Hole
- Black Hole Collapser
- Force-Field Harmonics
- Gateway to the Void
- Gravitonics
- Psychogenic Domination
- Singularity Of Transcendence
- Spatial Distortion
- Temporal Mechanics
- Unified Consciousness
- Xenoarchaelogy
Production>
(+) Enhanced Industry
- Adaptive Automation
- Fusion Generation
- Greater Industrial Center
- Industrial Centers
- Microgravity Industry
- N-Dimensional Assembly
- Orbital Generation
- Robotic Production
- Singularity Generation
- Solar Orbital Generation
- Supreme Industrial Center
(+) Imperial Stockpile Innovations
- Generic Supplies
- Interstellar Entanglement Factory
- Predictive Stockpiling
- Transcendent Design
(+) Theoretical
- Nanotech Production
- Zero-Point Generation
(root directory)
- Exobots
- Neutronium Extraction
Remaining categories (Ship Engineering, Ship Hulls, Ship Weapons): Just add (+) signs where appropriate.
New categories: Add short descriptions e.g. "Technologies related to enhancing research output".