Technology Tree SMAC
There are four tracks that comprise the SMAC technology tree in Firaxis' TBS Game of 1999, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri (SMAC). All things considered, the overall best techs in SMAC are Centauri Ecology, Industrial Automation and Doctrine Flexibility.
Explore tech is the best tech track to prioritize in the early game.
Each tech-track is comprised of a series of technologies to be incrementally researched (SMAC Research) or otherwise acquired, and each technology is assigned a level, aka rank or tier, which facilitates comparisons during tech-trades. Most techs have prerequisites and also lead to other techs; that is, the tech is unlocked for research and then unlocks the research of new techs once it has been researched. In addition, researched techs unlock new base facilities, unit special abilities, weapons and armor for SMAC Units as well as miscellaneous other, such as Society Models (politics, values and economics).
Blind Research is set to On by default. With Blind Research unchecked in Custom Game Rules, players can select the specific tech to research (a research goal), which makes the game much easier.
Due to research randomization and the fact that tech-progression weaves through muliple techs, choosing Conquer (for example) as Research Priority does not mean Conquer tech will be focused on like a laser-beam to the exclusion of other techs. What choosing Conquer as priority actually does is increase the chances of unlocking Conquer-techs for research.
In addition to manual research, tech can be acquired through Alien Artifacts, Diplomacy, Unity Pod data cubes, Probe Teams and annexation of rival faction bases, aka conquest.
For example, I once unlocked six techs from six data cubes early in a campaign. And in another campaign, trades between one SMAC faction yielded five techs in a single turn.
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