Directed or Un-directed research?

[Marchantbard]

Which do you prefer? And why?

Personally, I tend to go for the 'directed' option, but darned if it doesn't always feel like cheating.

[bdanv]

i play both:
- directed research for MP competitive games (the beeline for some techs is so important that you can't afford any sidetracks)
- blind research for SP and some MP games (fun games)

[vishniac]

For years, I have been playing with blind research. Now that I play some MP, I also use directed research in SP because I use those games as training ( with same factions, same set-up).

But I think more MP should use blind. It forces you to adapt, to play with the cards you've got: if you've got Impactors, let's play momentum; got Planetary Networks instead, let's use probes, got Explore techs, let's build.

It sort of levels the playing field.

[GooglyBoogly]

The problem is that blind isn't as undirected as some may think.
I am pretty sure there were a few threads about how someone can crunch the numbers to get 'much' better odds of directing tech to Industrial Automation.

In a casual MP game, sure why not? But for competitive MP, directed research is pretty much mandatory.

However I prefer the blind research, since the AI is so bad (or I am so good) I need to handicap myself as much as possible

[CEO Aaron]

Blind Research is not viable if you don't start with Centauri Ecology. Period.

[Marchantbard]

Blind Research is not viable if you don't start with Centauri Ecology. Period.

I wouldn't actually go that far. Thus far my Peacekeepers have been holding up well, although to be fair I have been using "Time Warp" and only ever start with either 'Human Genome Project' or 'Virtual World' finished.

The main thing is (a) building a lot of Network Nodes early on, and (b) grabbing as many Alien Artifacts as possible and plugging them into the Nodes.

[CEO Aaron]

Playing against the AI doesn't count.

[Marchantbard]

Playing against the AI doesn't count.

The heck it doesn't! The damned software is kicking my tail right now; I've lost two key projects to it thus far: Hunter-Seeker Algorithm and Aesthetic Virtues! And given the military-enhancing projects reside with other factions, who are getting damned aggressive, I'll be lucky to maintain my position.

[Whoha]

His point is that a Human player with Centauri Ecology has such an overwhelming advantage over a human player without it that it is not worth bothering with such a game.

[bdanv]

and this is supposed to be a good reason not to play MP?

[CEO Aaron]

No, it's a good reason not to use blind research in a MP game, however. Whoha is correct, the point of my post is that blind research can strand you without a prayer against a human player. The mere fact that you can prevail in spite of a long Ecology drought against the AI is, in my opinion, a huge indictment of the AI.

[Mart]

Some solution can be achieved in moderated by a CMN games. A scenario can be created that would decrease importance of Centauri Ecology, then blind research could be turned on.

What comes to my mind is providing abundant resources around landing site, landmarks with food, minerals and energy. More colony pods and units. Shaping terrain to provide rainy tiles, rivers for additional energy.

Another solution is either give a free former to everyone at the start, for terraforming options without prerequisites or giving Centauri Ecology to everyone, maybe giving some another bonus to Gaians in this case.

But this all needs to be done by CMN.

[Wobbo]

The problem is simply that the technologies are vastly unbalanced, blind research can give a player a HUGE unfair handicap. I usually play with MANIACs mod nowadays, so that problem is somewhat mitigated, but still.

[Schmoog]

Blind research has never really held any appeal to me, in single or multiplayer.I suppose it's more 'realistic', but hell, I want TOTAL CONTROL damnit!

[Wobbo]

And it isn't more realistic anyway. Research institutions large and small direct their resources and capacities towards what they're interested in all the time.

I really think the only reason anyone feels it is like cheating is because it's the default option; directed research adds a layer of depth that blind research takes away - namely the planning of the technology tree. It makes the game harder, not easier, because it adds another thing the player is responsible for.