Equal Technology

[chrisjwmartin]

Hi all, apologies if this is old news but I have been helping a friend who has bought the game today. In the 1066 start all provinces from Ireland to Byzantium seem to be starting with equal technology: 12-18-18. So Spymaster can't steal technology. It also did this when I loaded up my copy and started a new game.

Is this right? I'm sure it didn't used to be that way. It also seems pretty dumb for Ireland to have the same tech as Byzantium.

 

[chrisjwmartin]

Anyone able to help with this?

 

[Shebaloso]

Hi all, apologies if this is old news but I have been helping a friend who has bought the game today. In the 1066 start all provinces from Ireland to Byzantium seem to be starting with equal technology: 12-18-18. So Spymaster can't steal technology. It also did this when I loaded up my copy and started a new game.

Is this right? I'm sure it didn't used to be that way. It also seems pretty dumb for Ireland to have the same tech as Byzantium.

I believe it's intended, and am almost sure it has ALWAYS been that way. The technological level only varies between regions, and ireland is included in the western europe region. It shares the starting tech level with france, the hre, spain, etc. In the 1066 start date the byzantines and western europe happen to start in the same level, but if you were to change start dates, that would cease to be the case.

See this article for reference: http://www.ckiiwiki.com/Technology

 

[DàbiànLājīdàrén]

The way technology currently works in the game, it's not really even technology.

 

[chrisjwmartin]

I believe it's intended, and am almost sure it has ALWAYS been that way.

Pardon, but if that's the case, how did we all send our Spymasters to Constantinople? I spent years sending generations of Spymasters to Constantinople, but now Constantinople and rural Ireland have the exact same tech level and I can't send my Spymaster anywhere.

 

[drakon136]

Were you perhaps playing earlier starts in the past?

 

[Shebaloso]

Pardon, but if that's the case, how did we all send our Spymasters to Constantinople? I spent years sending generations of Spymasters to Constantinople, but now Constantinople and rural Ireland have the exact same tech level and I can't send my Spymaster anywhere.

i don't know, i don't think i remember sending him to constantinople right from the start of the game (1066). You would be able to do that soon, however, as the basileus would be earning far more tech points than you as count (or duke), so perhaps you just

Drakon is right. If you started before 1066, you could do that. But after 1066 it is western europe where the tech levels are at their highest.

Besides, i'm not quite getting your point. The tech levels are mere abstractions that give the player a sense of "progress" throughout the game's timespan and roughly serve as a balance factor between the various regions. They are not supposed to be tied to real events/tech advancements, as they in themselves are nowhere near realistic.

 

[Soladept]

in 1066 the tech in italy is probably the best area to leech, CM and TOG is usualy Constantinople, later than 1066 you need to scout out province tech levels for the best tech stealing

if your playing the Byzantines you purposfuly lag a tech so you can get the spymaster events for tech points, and you need to determine if you want to have Constantinople or Rome as your long-term Capital, if Rome you bank your tech points until your ready to switch captiols, i reccomend building Rome up before switching and using tech spread on councilers so it gets caught up relative to Constantinople.

 

[chrisjwmartin]

Okay! Obviously I am misremembering.

 

[Gunnarr]

Okay! Obviously I am misremembering.

You are not misremembering.

Before they redid how tech worked, at the start (used to be just 1066 was standard) Contantinople was among the highest tech areas. All other areas where lower tech, especially in the areas never conquered by the Romans. Muslims had pretty good tech too at the start.

It spread over time across land, but your spymaster could also increase tech in your capital by stealing from others, and also other council members could help it spread. I think it was more historical this way. (Pagans did not learn masonry from nothing, Christianization from the Byzantines was the reason the Russians started using masonry, and in Scandinavia it is similar). Technology spread out, but it still gave you an avenue to catch up.

After they redid it, everyone is essentially equal in tech all the time. It became something really irrelevant to your location, culture, history or religion.

 

[chrisjwmartin]

You are not misremembering.

Before they redid how tech worked, at the start (used to be just 1066 was standard) Contantinople was among the highest tech areas.

Thank you! Thought I was going mad for a while there.