[Suggestion] more randomness in the tech trees

I for one do NOT like random technology, its a pain in the ass and is one of the things that makes me wanna skip over any game...

I would rather see the technology based on the traits of the current race, like the no archer penalty.

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

No, Way! Random ruined gameplay as proved again, I don't want to keep restart game 100 time till I want and need, no fun.

Random Techs Are a Blight

Really surprised by those that don't like random tech.  I'm with the OP.  I like have to come up with a different strategy every time.  I'm not talking about critical techs, but the high end techs should be more random.  

I'm fine either way, but I like random stuff with everything.  

I dont mind that, but I would still like to keep that to the faction creation, then for players like you they could design a random race generator so you can have your randomness and having to come up with your strategies...

I like to come up with an empire idea when creation my empire (Or kingdom), and then play it out on the map, and it annoys me that If I go for fire mage sovereign idea, in my kingdom of the sun, I have to restart maps to get "Book of Fire", just because thats the random tech that fits my current idea...

The problem is, when things are random, I feel my choices are less important, and the game is choosing half my game for me. I do not like when my game is choosing how I should play, (Don't take that too literally, cause that sentence doesnt make entirely sense if you go through a dictionary :)).
I would much rather I could get my idea as I do, and then play it out, not wait till I randomly spawned with the techs I like.

my biggest problem with techs and random techs is, either random techs are useless (Book of fire) or they are rather powerfull (Book of air), the old random techs for masterwork weapons, armor or archery was even a bigger pain... "oh im tarth I got archers... but those guys over there build way better bows than us"... We have that now but with spells...

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

I must say I rather enjoy the current random techs. If they are done in the same vein, ie random weapons or armor, that'd be cool.

Yeah I don't think the whole tree should be randomized, but I love a few different random techs here and there each game.

I would like to see some choices. Meaning that i would like to play random tech games that can play out in various ways for replayability. Not knowing what is going to happen is a big thing for me. if its too predicatble i end up getting bored.

Also, i would like to have the option to play games where i have to make a choice, whether it's for good or evil, for the people or the dictator etc where it means i have to choose one branch of a tech tree over another and loose on the chance to have access to certain things but gain access to another cool feature instead.

I want both.

I suppose from a point of you view you can consider the choice version to be campaign mode, and the random version to be sandbox mode. but there is also a choice version for sandbox mode too.

I understand.  You explained your problem with the random techs well.   So the solution should be the one we forum goers always throw out there "put in an option"

Honestly, I enjoy the random tech and would love to have random items, etc, but I am not going to throw a fit if they go away.

I wouldn't mind a couple of flavor techs like the early books, but that third book of the magi at the end of the magic tech tree ... I really don't think that should be random. It really depends on what the tech does.

I was pushing for this, but I'd rather see the Book of xxxxx spells thrown into the Fire/Water/Air/Earth trees instead right now.

I was wrong.

If there are to be any random techs, it should be on the high-end of the tree, not the low-end like it is now, or it should be something opened up by questing.

No random techs.

Static tech trees are a boring one trick pony to optimised paths and repeating gameplay.I say more randomness.

Throw in enough randomness in other areas, it can change things.

The randomness in FE doesn't add anything right now- and I can't see FE going huge on randomness, so they might as well take it out.

We already have some optimization in the game as is.

Agreed. They remind me too much of rigid build orders in RTS's whereby the guy who can click faster wins. I would like some random techs but it would require more time to implement and balance techs if the tree is remaining the same size. Personally I'd like all techs beyond the currently researchable ones and the one it leads to to remain blacked out.

Techs shouldn't be random.  Instead they should have techs, and even tech branches, that are added to your tree through questing or defeating a wildland.  But just random is bad/lazy game design.  Individual tech trees, with additions being EARNED in gameplay is a far better choice.  This gives you both the feelings of strong design and planning along with the fun of surprises, and making it quest/achievement related adds goal orientation.  

I like this idea.

Maybe not the wildland since wildlands are more of a bonus game content right now.

Quests should unlock small parts of the tech tree as a reward.

Why are you restarting the game. Just play with what you start with. (Never understood this way of 'playing')

Anyway I like some randomness to tech/spell trees but not for most of the core techs. That way you can still plan your tech route but from time to time have a random bonus tech show up that you can also choose from.

"Techs shouldn't be random.  Instead they should have techs, and even tech branches, that are added to your tree through questing or defeating a wildland.  But just random is bad/lazy game design.  Individual tech trees, with additions being EARNED in gameplay is a far better choice.  This gives you both the feelings of strong design and planning along with the fun of surprises, and making it quest/achievement related adds goal orientation. "

I like this idea, when i suggested 'random' techs what i meant is that i don't want the same tech tree everytime i play, since i feel this leads to a very rigid research order.

PS i am still learning how to use the forum