Science tree problem & solition

[Binary_Digit]

A frustrating thing about the current science tree is that essential parts are spread all over the place. I often find myself purchasing a certain science tech just for one of the parts in the set. The others that come with it, I don't care about so much. And in some cases the part isn't even usable without researching something else too:

- It's cool that we can get a Science Jr. early on with Science Tech, but adding it to your craft pretty much means you can't EVA to collect surface samples and return to the vessel unless you research Space Exploration to get a ladder.

- Spaceplane parts are mostly available through the middle of the tree, but if I want landing gear for them I need to go down the science part of the tree. Huh?

- It's very difficult to rendezvous and dock without lights, even in sunlight. But the first access to a docking port is in Specialized Construction, while the lights needed to make them effectively usable are way down in Electrics.

Speaking of Clamp-O-Tron docking ports (Specialized Construction), they are only usable if you can put a self-sustaining vessel into orbit. To do that, you also need the following:

Batteries (Science Tech)

Solar panels & lights (Electrics)

Radial decouplers (Stability)

Strut connectors (General Construction)

External fuel ducts (Fuel Systems)

In addition, you probably want RCS thrusters (Advanced Flight Control) and an advanced SAS (Specialized Control). Not to mention whatever techs are necessary to get engines with enough power and fuel tanks with enough fuel. In short, it only makes sense to have docking ports after you've already researched half of the tree! But if you want radial attachment points from Advanced MetalWorks - a useful part that has applications other than on a dock-able vessel - you have to buy the docking ports first.

Don't get me wrong, I can tell that a lot of thought went into organizing the science tree as it is, and it couldn't have been easy. The way it's organized does make sense for the most part, but I think these problems are unintended side effects that cannot be adequately solved because not all parts fit neatly into a specific category like the tree tries to do.

What I propose is to allow us to spend science points to research specific parts, instead of categories of parts. Each science purchase would "research" a certain part and make it available (for building in science mode or for purchase in career mode). Some parts should have their minor counterparts as prerequisites (Clamp-O-Tron Sr. requires Jr. and regular size first, or Gigantor XL requires OX-STAT and OX-4L/W first, etc.), while other parts should be available from the beginning but with a cost that makes you save up a bit for them (struts, fuel ducts, radial attachment points, HubMax multi-point connector, other tangental parts that have no particular category or other upgrades). If one of these parts is considered "too powerful" to have at the beginning, then either its science cost can be made prohibitively high, or a technology that costs science points, but unlocks no parts directly, could be required to unlock the ability to research the part.

I think that would add a lot of customization to our space programs. We could focus only on spaceplanes, stations, or bases, without having to buy virtually every other tech in the tree just to get essential parts for our focus.

Thoughts?

[Overjay]

Go try engineering-based tech tree. Or Askanders Vertical tech tree.

[SheepDog2142]

Give us a tool to edit our own tech trees please. An official tool not a mod. All of the mod tools for it are really buggy and clunky.

Squad what keeps a game going is good modding tools. Look at Fallout games massive mod support and still a tone of players and people are still buying it. Things like a customizable tech tree are something that can greatly increase the longevity and replayability of a game.

[CaptainKipard]

There's already a thread about changing the techtree. Join us here. Your ideas are not incompatible with what we've been discussing.

[Binary_Digit]

Thanks. Somehow I didn't see the Suggestions forum, much less your existing post on this. Obviously I didn't look very hard...

Those other mods look like they might solve some of this, especially the engineering based tech tree. Thanks for sharing!

[Crown]

Go try engineering-based tech tree. Or Askanders Vertical tech tree.

http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/88257-Engineering-Based-Tech-Tree-%28with-flight-first-option%29-WIP-8-30-2014