[Freeciv-Dev] Re: non-smallpox idea

[Jules Bean <jules@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, Nov 22, 2001 at 01:55:06AM +0100, Bernhard Kuemel wrote:
> Increasing the number of lightbulbs required for an advance would
> allow very smooth adjustment of the advance rate with some formula. It
> could also be made with an individual factor for each technology.
> (Some) technologies could also depend on some city improvements, again
> not neccessarily blocking, but slowing down. Scientific advances were
> not only made through theoretical work, but inspired by practical
> experience. Having no harbor might considerably slow down invention of
> more advanced ships. Chivalry (allowing knights) could depend on
> number of temples. Horseback riding would not need any penalty, but
> the alphabet could well suffer if there were only size 1 villages.

Only loosely related to Bernhard's interesting suggestion, but:

How about different kinds of lightbulbs?

The simplest idea would be to have three different 'levels' of
lightbulbs. E.g: your villages produces 'fires' (low technology
research).  Villages with 'Schools' (or some sensible improvement
which actually exists) produce 'scrolls' (middle tech research).
Towns with Universities produce lightbulb (hi tech research).

Then some advances could require scrolls or lightbulbs to be
researched.  Or, perhaps some advances could be *possible* with only
fires, but much faster with scrolls or lightbulbs.

...

And this leads to even more interesting ideas for branching
tech-trees.  For example, a fantasy modpack could have four totally
different types of 'lightbulb': fire, water, earth and air.  Each
could lead to totally different advances, and each could require
different types of city improvement. These could even be mutually
exclusive, so that each city can only produce one sort.

Lots of fun ideas possible.  But will anyone want to code it? ;-)

Jules