12-25-2018, 05:24 AM
(12-24-2018, 10:49 PM)pizzasgood Wrote: Note that I'm using technology in the normal definition, not as a synonym for TL. So yes, there is tech (cryo heatsinks, vulcium hulls, etc.), which is unlocked through patents, which are kind of boring but far less aggravating than TL.
As for gating, an empire that has been around for years does have multiple benefits over one that's been around a few days. For one, they've got all those big ships that take ages to build. They've got cities all over the place. They've got population, stockpiles, and supply lines. They've got alliances. If that's not enough and some week-old empire crushes them? Then they deserved it for being completely and utterly incompetent.
I'm not objecting to some sort of long-term progression that gives marginal performance improvements, as described by Mortius. I am objecting to arbitrarily holding back new empires from access to the core game mechanics.
You're right, old empires do have those benefits. I should have been more clear. What I'm concerned about is the narrow gap when it comes to technology. A new empire could build ships as capable as those built by a well-established empire within a week. I don't really think technologies like warp travel should be considered core game mechanics that are easily accessible to new empires. Such advanced technologies should be earned by an empire in some way.
I would also like a better system, but we've not gotten that better system, and it doesn't seem to be one of Haxus' main focuses right now. We've just had the existing system gutted repeatedly until there was barely anything left.