Future tech

[CaptainTurbomuffin]

A lot of people copmplained about the career game several times, that once you've maxed out the tech tree, the game is over.  In every game with a tech tree \ {KSP} at the very end of the tech tree there is a tech that's generally called 'future tech', that can be researched many times, and it gives you money (or other valuable in-game rescoures). There should be one in KSP, researching wich would requie you to research all previous techs, and it would give much more money or reputation than what strategies currently give.

[LorenLuke]

To what end? Reputation is only useful for gaining more money or science, therefore both default to money, which, with a cleared tech tree, no longer provides progress to a clear objective anymore. Future tech just making it easier to get more money means that all future technology is is just a mint. I think there needs to be more for science to do in an upgrading or maintenance capacity so as to not become worthless at the end of the tech tree.

[HebaruSan]

I like this as a simple way to address the problem of the tech tree ending and the finite usefulness of one of career mode's three main currencies. Players could use it as a scoreboard and a way to show their principled commitment to continued research. "I got to FT 35 with the points from my Jool 5 mission."

I wouldn't have it pay out funds, since that would be redundant with the Patents Licensing strategy. Just have them soak up science points and increment the Future Tech number. It's not a perfect solution, but it's better than either accumulating infinite, unspendable science points or never bothering to use the science experiment parts again.

[Wjolcz]

So extended tech tree = improved career?

The problem with this is that by extending the tree we extend the "career" mode. Right now the tree is the most painful thing to deal with in the career (because it makes the science grind mandatory). By extending it the career gets from "purgatory" status to "hell" status. Doesn't matter what you use to research the nodes. It's still the dumb ol' tech tree that should be killed with fire.

Edited January 9, 2017 by Veeltch

[Alpha 360]

Then you have several options, stop playing career mode, get a moded tech tree, or drop KSP, your choice.

Edited January 9, 2017 by Alpha 360
"Kouston, we have several problems, but that doesn't matter so we want to continue on with the mission."

[DrLicor]

Well, there's a big collection of tech tree mods with a great variety of careertactics. 

If you think you've had enough of one, you just start another with some other gameplay style.. For example, with the Realism Overhaul and Real Progression Zero comes a whole new tech tree, new gameplay style etc. And it's certainly not that you have the whole tech tree unlocked in a few launches. 

You can also adapt your own liking to the tech trees, if you edit the cfg., you can easily changes some values like the amount of science needed.

[p1t1o]

I generally agree with the OP, regardless of game, reaching the end of a tech/skill tree always triggers a kind of melancholy within me as it always signals the end-stages of a game. Sometimes I have grown bored of a game in between finishing the tech/skill progression and actually reaching the end. Very depressing.

Some games combat this by making it not possible to unlock everything (limited skill/research points available), in KSP this is less possible, but some things could be done to extend life - for example, more nodes with fewer techs in each (if you are using mods, you often have some empty nodes and some nodes with huge numbers of unrelated parts), and I think the idea of repeatable tech nodes for cash or other resources is a decent idea.

[Magzimum]

I remember the term "future tech" from the civilization games, in which you can also continue doing R&D once you have completed the tech-tree. At least in the older versions of that game, the "future tech" does nothing but increase your final score. It gives no new units, no cash, no influence. But when you quit, it will calculate your high-score and future tech gives a few extra points.

... In short, it gives only bragging rights.

However, for me, this would be a "nice to have", not an "essential" for game KSP development. I am sitting on 37k science points in my current career game, and I can brag about it without having any future techs. And for those who finish the tech-tree too soon: Adjust the difficulty setting of your game. Or use a mod.

[Wjolcz]

8 hours ago, Alpha 360 said:

Then you have several options, stop playing career mode, get a moded tech tree, or drop KSP, your choice.

Great advice. Thanks a lot. Have a like for being helpful.

[Alpha 360]

Oh, sorry for being so sarcastic. I shouldn't annoy you and be mean, I said that spitfully. I don't deserve that like. 

Edited January 9, 2017 by Alpha 360
"Kouston, we have several problems, but that doesn't matter so we want to continue on with the mission."