Technological Progression System

[SamDerminji 27]

1. Era-Specific Technologies

• Technological Tiers: Technologies should be divided into tiers corresponding to historical eras (e.g., Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern, Industrial, Modern).
• Timeframes: Each technology should have a specific year or range of years in which it is appropriate to be developed. For example, riflemen and modern artillery should not be available until the 18th or 19th century.

2. Research Costs and Penalties

• Increased Costs for Ahead-of-Time Technologies: Researching a technology that is not appropriate for the current era should have significantly higher costs and take longer. The further away a technology is from the current year, the more the cost and research time will increase.
• Exponential Cost Increase: Implement a system where the cost increases exponentially based on the time gap. For instance, if a technology is 100 years ahead, it might cost double or triple the normal amount.

3. Regional Power Research Bonuses

• Local Contextualization: For regional powers, the cost of technologies discovered by major powers should be reduced if they are located within a certain range. This reflects the idea that smaller or less powerful nations can learn from their more advanced neighbors.
• Neighboring Discoveries: If a neighboring civilization has already researched a particular technology, the cost for other civilizations in close proximity should decrease, allowing for a more organic spread of technological advancements.

4. Technological Sharing and Collaboration

• Diplomatic Options: Introduce mechanics that allow civilizations to share or trade technologies through diplomatic agreements, alliances, or other interactions. This would encourage players to engage with one another rather than solely relying on their own research capabilities.
• Cultural Exchange: Countries with high cultural influence or trade relationships might also experience a bonus in technology adoption, further reflecting historical trends of technological diffusion.

5. Game Balance and Fairness

• Maintaining Balance: Ensure that while rich civilizations have the capacity to research quickly, they should face significant penalties for attempting to jump ahead technologically. This prevents scenarios where a wealthy civilization becomes overwhelmingly dominant due to advanced technologies.
• Encouraging Strategy: Players would need to strategize not only how to advance their technology but also how to mitigate the advantages of wealthier neighbors, fostering a more engaging and competitive gameplay experience.