TaCktiX wrote:In response to the previous post...
I'm beginning to realize it's an ongoing concern about 2-3 player games. In those games, each player will get 2 capitals, and 2 labs. To say "you only get 1 of those" is just straight wrong. It will have an interesting implications with Propaganda, National Pride, and Mining, but when you think about it, the player is researching those twice, so they should get twice the bonus, yes? Propaganda we will likely need to code so that it triggers when you DON'T hold the capital (so you get the +4 out of the homeland as expected). Picking up the capital will likely remove the Propaganda bonus and replace it with generic Homeland, since technically you own the country now.
As a further argument in regards to "but if someone eliminates another and picks up all their research, they get all the benefits," think about real war. Once a nation is taken over, inevitably its secrets and capabilities are given to the victor. And it's an interesting gameplay twist that we've been trying to cultivate this entire time, hence the title "Research & Conquer."
I have not been paying attention to this thread from the start, so forgive me if this suggestion has already been said. Is it possible for, in 2-3 player games, to have each person start with only 1 capital and 1 lab, but then if they conquer a neutral capital they get a few random technologies for free? Like the neutral capital was doing their own research. I don't know if this is possible with the current XML, but it would be more in line with Civilization and would give additional incentive to conquer neutral capitals.
Also, I don't think you can have technologies count twice if you hold two of them. That is not realistic... If the US conquered a England, for example, out technologies would not suddenly become more effective. We would, however, get their resources which is already covered in the mines. (I didn't vote in the poll, count me as a no).
-carlpgoodrich