Modding tech tree science costs for each tech tier

[Tyko]

Has anyone tweaked the tech tree to increase the points it takes to advance? my goal is extend the mid-game and still have nodes to unlock by the time I reach the outer planets so that acquiring science doesn't become a useless exercise.

How do I adjust the cost of the tiers? I haven't found it when digging around .cfg files.

[Streetwind]

Step 1: Install Module Manager. (If you run any mods, chances are you already have it.)

Step 2: Create an empty text file somewhere inside GameData. It doesn't matter where. You can make your own "Tweaks" subfolder if you like. You can also name the file whatever you like.

Step 3: Inside that text file, put the following basic framework:

@TechTree:FINAL
{
	@RDNode:HAS[#id[ ]]
	{
		@cost = 
	}
}

Step 4: Find the ID of a tech node that you wish to change. You can get it from a part that is unlocked by that tech node. For example, if you look at the Swivel engine, it says "TechRequired = generalRocketry" in its part config. "generalRocketry" is the ID of the General Rocketry tech node, which unlocks the Swivel engine. Place that ID into the textfile in between the square brackets after where it says "#id". Then, you can use the "@cost = " line to assign whatever cost you wish to this tech node.

Step 5: By copypasting the whole "@RDNode" block and changing the node ID, you can assign a new cost to any other node you think needs changing.

Step 6: After you're all done and saved everything, change the file extension of your text file to ".cfg".

 

When you now boot up KSP and load or start a career save, you will discover that the costs of all unresearched nodes that you have changed will have updated to whatever you defined in your patch. However, keep in mind that the level of your R&D facility limits how much you can spend on research nodes. A level 1 R&D facility can only unlock nodes costing 100 points or less, a level 2 can unlock nodes costing 500 points or less, and the unlimited level 3 is very expensive to upgrade to. Remember this when you design your career progression. Strictly speaking it is possible to change these values, but you need to install a special mod for that.

 

Edited January 13, 2017 by Streetwind