Breakthrough research

[pixlepix]

Was thinking, on some games, all accounts are really the same, which gets boring. What about a breakthrough system


-get one breakthrough per week.
-the research you get from the breakthrough is very powerful-enough to change your strategy
-Forces you to adjust your strategy
-Smaller players have value as they can do special things.

[Chris]

-the research you get from the breakthrough is very powerful-enough to change your strategy
-Forces you to adjust your strategy

Players will loathe it. Too many people think "my strategy = me", some might also be simply not interested in playing the game if they can not play their strategy (I wanted to start a factory in Africa, what?! You have to start in America or you will get bankrupt? But I *can't*, I play an african company making shoes! This game is lame.)

[CygnusX]

I'm reading the OP's post a bit differently.

If the normal function of a player is to produce an army, build buildings, and research technologies, then I think what the OP wants to do is once a week give a player a major, non-direct boost.  For example, if the player has a building that produces research points, then balance the game such that every week over a 12 week period, the player makes a 'major' technology discovery that does something like produce 50% extra grain from farms.

I actually like this idea very much as it provides a fixed ratio reward system for the users.  And users like rewards.  I think I will use this...

[pixlepix]

I think it would be more:
YAY i got a nuclear missle that no one else has.

[Chris]

I think it would be more:
YAY i got a nuclear missle that no one else has.

If you have rounds it would be more like "lame, I got no nuclear missile as I used to get last round".
I (and I'm sure majority of players would say so too) are more for customization you get from your own decisions or effort instead of random luck.

Give them mutually exclusive choices: nuclear missile or elite commando, choose only one. You don't have the same accounts anymore and you did it without annoying players too much (OK, some will still whine they can not have them both, but whining is what players are about ).

[pixlepix]

The problem is, super strateys are still possible, which I try to stay away from.

[Chris]

You can always almost prevent supreme strategies in massive multiplayer.

Choice 1) nuclear missile which is powerful OR elite commando which are worse
Choice 2) nuclear missile deflector which grants immunity to nuclear strikes OR combat training which increases power of all infantry units

Now, what is the supreme strategy for this setup?

[pixlepix]

I meant like, a single strategy which can be applied in all situations. As a player, that drives me from the game 100% of the time