User Guide

However, the list of available technologies at any given time is random, and
does not necessarily include every technology for which you have completed
the prerequisites.
THE TECH TREE
Technology advances are like building a house—you have to start at the bottom
and work up. Technologies are not discovered in a vacuum; each new discovery
depends on everything that’s gone before it. In Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri, the
underlying structure that determines the order of breakthroughs is called the Tech
Tree. When you first land on Planet there are a few initial technologies towards
which you may begin to direct your research. From this foundation you begin to
build the technological superstructure of human civilization on Planet.
The entire tech tree is displayed on the poster included with this game. You
can also view the tech tree in the game itself, using the Datalinks or the 2
hotkey. In the Datalinks, techs with white lettering are those you’ve already
discovered, techs with dark lettering remain to be discovered.
Prerequisites. With the exception of the first seven technologies, each new
technology requires that at least one and usually two other technologies be
acquired before it can even be researched. These precursor technologies are the
prerequisites of the new technology (which in turn is a prerequisite for one or
more technologies to come). Knowing the prerequisites for an important tech-
nology is an essential part of formulating an effective research strategy. For
example, if you want to be the first faction to learn Secrets of the Human
Brain (and obtain the bonus technology that distinction brings you), you must
know that you have to discover Social Psych and Biogenetics first.
Prerequisites for a given technology can be found in the Datalinks of the
game, and are shown on the Tech Tree poster.
Tracks and Levels. The technology tree is divided into four technology tracks.
These divisions have no direct game effect, but they do make it easier to keep
track of your progress up the tech tree. The four tracks are:
• Explore. Discoveries that make it easier to unravel the secrets of Planet.
CONTROLLING SOCIETY
CHAPTER 5
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