[1.61] Psionic Tech Triggers

[Caligula Caesar]

After having gone through an entire lengthy UNE campaign (and a Scyldari one where I was materialist but had a psionic researcher at one point) without having encountered the psionic tech, I decided to take a look at what the triggers are. Now, granted, I am not an expert at this stuff, but as I read it, only a spiritualist empire can currently get the psionic tech. This seems a bit limiting, and I don't remember the dev diaries saying this should be the case.

#Psionic Theory
tech_psionic_theory = {
    cost = @tier2cost4
    area = society
    tier = 2
    category = { psionics }
    is_rare = yes
    weight = @tier2weight4
    is_reverse_engineerable = no
   
    gateway = psionics
   
    weight_modifier = {
        factor = 0.5
        modifier = {
            factor = 0
            NOR = {
                has_ethic = "ethic_spiritualist"
                has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_spiritualist"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1.10
            research_leader = {
                area = society
                has_level > 2
                has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_psionics"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1.5
            research_leader = {
                area = society
                has_level > 3
                has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_psionics"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 2
            research_leader = {
                area = society
                has_level > 4
                has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_psionics"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 2
            has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_spiritualist"
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 5
            research_leader = {
                area = society
                has_trait = "leader_trait_maniacal"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 0
            AND = {
                OR = {
                    has_ethic = "ethic_materialist"
                    has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_materialist"
                }
                NOT = {
                    research_leader = {
                        area = society
                        has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_psionics"
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    }
   
    ai_weight = {
        factor = 5 #very rare tech
        modifier = {
            factor = 1.5
            OR = {
                has_ethic = ethic_spiritualist
                has_ethic = ethic_fanatic_spiritualist
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1.25
            research_leader = {
                area = society
                has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_psionics"
            }
        }
    }
}

The bit that at the start that reads:
modifier = {
factor = 0
NOR = {
has_ethic = "ethic_spiritualist"
has_ethic = "ethic_fanatic_spiritualist"
}
}

...means that the chance is 0 unless you are spiritualist. I am not 100% certain on this, but I'm guessing that makes all the rest of the weighting pointless unless you are spiritualist, right?

 

[Arris]

Yes, it is limited only to spiritualists. And it is not limiting. It is high time for some things to be unique for certain empires.

 

[Caligula Caesar]

But why on earth should only spiritualists be able to use psionics? Sci-fi literature isn't restrictive like that, anyway... Anyway, if that was the intention, then the coding makes no sense, because it has a provision for letting materialists get it if they have a psionic researcher (only the rest of the code makes that not matter).

 

[Arris]

It is simple why. Because spiritualists have to follow certain path to take it and giving that to everyone weakens the purpose of psionic ascension. What you found here seem to be a leftovers of previous system before perks were introduced. Now psionic techs can be found only in shroud. Also, all psionic technologies are partially generated and powered by psionic experts and only spiritualist empires who have evolved into psionic powers users will have enough specialists to form crews.

What you want is basically getting half of psionic advantages without having to invest in them. Tell me how that would be fair:

Current path:
1) Spiritualists are the only ethic that can get psionics tech (which unlocks the perks) so you are limited to choosing specific ethic. But still they have to get it to show up as research choice and then finish it which takes time that could be spent for researching other things.
2) Spiritualist civilization spends 2 perks to ascend and unlock psionics within their whole population, through whole empire.
3) By doing that they are locking 2/8 perk slots but they unlock The Shroud.
4) To get all 3 psionic technologies they have to visit The Shroud a lot (2000 energy every entry) and have luck to find specific technology "blueprint". Also they risk getting timed debuffs.

Your expectation:
1) Pick whatever ethic you want.
2) Do not spend perks.
3) Get lucky and get researcher with psionics (event/anomaly?)
4) Gain access to 3 psionic technologies with no further effort. Also use technologies that require crew of psionic experts on every of your ships even though the only psionic expert you have is that one researcher.
5) Divide by 0.

As I said. I think that part of the code are leftovers just as they forgot to lock Psionic Shields from salvage (since it is a new tech because precognitive interface and PSI jump drive can't be salvaged).

 

[Caligula Caesar]

I don't believe I ever mentioned ascension perks or changing that system. I just want to be able to follow the psionic ascension path without having to be spiritualist. Of course, your logic has the flaw that a spiritualist empire could change away from spiritualist after gaining all the techs you mention.

Maybe I think that one should be able to go on a voyage of psionic discovery from the starting point of seeking true equality between people (and so wanting people to be able to communicate with each other psychically) or technological progress, and not just being really religious nutters and apparently believing in the supernatural.

Anyhow, I've checked the dev diary and it confirms that only spiritualists should have it, so this isn't a bug. I happen to disagree with it, so will mod it