Off World Trading Companies

[Bentusi16]

Hey everyone, just a quick question I'm throwing into the ether.

For the last 6 or so games (I like to restart often because reasons) I've never had Off World Trading Companies pop up before at least 2240 and I have an idea for a game style that relies on them.

Does anyone know if theirs a required tech to research them?

 

[Medu Salem]

Yes... they are locked behind the Space Trading early society tech.

 

[Bentusi16]

Yes... they are locked behind the Space Trading early society tech.

Sorry if I didn't say that correctly, what I mean is, is there a required pre-tech to research the space trading tech? Because I keep not seeing the Space T rading tech until I'm well into the 4000+ society research projects and I'm not sure why.

 

[kalauer]

Sorry if I didn't say that correctly, what I mean is, is there a required pre-tech to research the space trading tech? Because I keep not seeing the Space T rading tech until I'm well into the 4000+ society research projects and I'm not sure why.

I cant be sure but I guess I saw them much earlier several times. Second or third tech. However, when you are unlucky (and have no +research alternatives) and it just Pops up in the sixth draw, you might end up this late. I mean, when a Research takes Five years or more in the beginning, which can happen if you dont go Research-heavy.

So yeah, I assume: bad luck? Maybe try to use a Researcher with the appropriate skill (having those on start is also luck-based, though…).

 

[Medu Salem]

Sorry if I didn't say that correctly, what I mean is, is there a required pre-tech to research the space trading tech? Because I keep not seeing the Space T rading tech until I'm well into the 4000+ society research projects and I'm not sure why.

Ah okay...

It seems like it needs "New Worlds Protocol"... which requires "Space Exploration" ... from what the wiki says. But I think they are both starter techs... because without New Worlds Protocol one couldn't even build colony ships.

The reason why it could be late is because it requires 1000 society research as base... so it probably starts to appear once the 1000 techs become the average... otherwise the game tries to give you less costly techs first and if for some reason you skip a lot of them then you never raise the bar.

Hence the reason why I usually pick the cheapest research from the list at the point except if I need something desperately or it's a rare tech. Normally against the AI that's still good enough of a strategy.

 

[Bentusi16]

I'm curious if maybe something didn't change with the beta update, because prior to that update, I was usually getting that option in the first three researches or so. The cost hasn't increased, but it just doesn't show up until the second tier of tech choices it seems.

Has anyone else noticed the tech not showing in the early techs after the beta patch?