Is Paradox gonna address tech concerns with 1.14?

[Noel84]

To clarify.

Its too easy to westernise, and too easy to keep up, but we wont make a new system until we have more fun one that is still balanced.

Is there any possibility of 1.5 focusing on tech? After all a new page on tech is created almost every day at this point and the current system creates both an ahistorical problem (ROTW is behind europe too early) and an ahistorical solution to that problem (westernization). Also it's just not that fun and too reliant on RNG if you're not a republic

 

[mudcrabmerchant]

To clarify.

Its too easy to westernise, and too easy to keep up, but we wont make a new system until we have more fun one that is still balanced.

How exactly is it too easy to keep up?

It seems like the problem is that the penalties for being in the worst tech groups are too severe to remain competitive, and therefore Westernization has to be easy, in order to allow ROTW to ever compete with Europeans, even in their own home theater. But Europeans didn't achieve absolute military supremacy until the very end of the time period, so it seems to me that it'd be better to just reduce the tech penalties for at least Asia.

But if tech disparity is reduced, then it becomes a lot easier to maintain mil tech parity, which most intelligent players can already do if they manage their points properly. So it seems to me like we need a system where ROTW will consistently tend to lag just enough behind Europe, such that the Europeans have a distinct advantage, but aren't guaranteed victory - and where a player or occasionally an AI can, if they pass a suitably difficult hurdle, manage to maintain parity.

 

[Shaaaq]

How exactly is it too easy to keep up?

After the early game nobody picks up a technology lead over anyone in the same tech group for long enough to matter.
Everyone is usually "ahead of tech" by 20 years into the game.

"Tech disparities" historically existed in a lot of detail especially when it came to armies as army composition took a long time to adapt to.
Take a look at Tercios and the Napoleon Square being available to everyone as soon as they hit an easy to get to tech level.

 

[Peachrocks]

To clarify.

Its too easy to westernise, and too easy to keep up, but we wont make a new system until we have more fun one that is still balanced.

What's this now? You actually explaining and justifying your motives? Who's this and what have you done with Johan!

Jokes aside. The thing to keep in mind though is that the nations that need to westernise are already at quite a disadvantage. I think the problem most people have is when one of the Iberians lands near Africa and when Portugal gets into Goa both of these things create chain reactions that result in mass westernisation across the respective areas. In one case I saw most of Africa and India Westernisied by 1600 and only one or two techs off the pace in military.

Honestly, the whole tech system is flawed because many innovations came from areas that aren't in 'Western' tech but this isn't represented in any capacity at all aside from the minor difference in military units. I'm not presenting a solution here, it's much too complicated but the whole balance of the tech system seems off. Obviously Western had an advantage especially at the tail end of the period but I can't help but feel that tech could be better represented.

I know Wiz has said in the past he wouldn't do it, but I honestly believe most people would just prefer if the AI never westernised. I don't like that idea much but it would be a hard fix on extreme spread of tech. You can say it's 'throwing the game' as much as you want but if that's a restriction for not making changes or making changes then the list of things you'd have to make the AI do or not do would be astronomical.

 

[Denkt]

Well probably both tech groups and techs levels have to be replaced with a new system (tech groups are as much fantasy as it gets).

 

[AKronblad]

@Johan personally I would have just left it at "No" and watched the forum burn in flames.

Ha ha! Sometimes that's what I believe Paradox is doing just for fun...

 

[Closet Skeleton]

- thats why i used green grinning smile. Forum people tend to
overestimate all Pdx statements.

I was merely commenting that your ironic statement was likely technically true.

 

[BarskiPatzow]

To clarify.

Its too easy to westernise, and too easy to keep up, but we wont make a new system until we have more fun one that is still balanced.

So there might be another tech system some time in the future? Nice.

 

[Path]

To clarify.

Its too easy to westernise, and too easy to keep up, but we wont make a new system until we have more fun one that is still balanced.

You had me at "no."