Really enjoying the major changes to the game so far.
Having to choose between 4 technologies instead of trying to analyze the whole tech tree make it SO much easier to navigate the tech tree. Previously the burden of knowledge and decision paralysis that I suffered made me quit after about 100 turns, but I can easily see myself getting much deeper into the tech tree, because instead of trying to analyze every available tech against every other available tech, and the techs that follow on from them, I can just look at each tech option, what follows from them and break that whole decision matrix up into much smaller and approachable chunks.
Tech trees are honestly one of the most daunting features in 4x games, so breaking it up like this is awesome and super appreciated as someone who plays the game casually.
Loving the new planet mechanics too! Terrain, having smaller planets feed larger ones (unless you put a governor). It really feels like you guys set out to cut down on unecessary micro, and really focus upon the narrative and "grand strategy" of the gameplay which I'm 100% on board and support because 4x games need streamlining BIG time. I'm commanding an entire galaxy, let me automate some of the micromanagement.
I still think way too many OncePerPlanet buildings and Wonders are presented to the player. And I really think that buildings need like, a bit of a fundamental rework for adjacency bonuses.
From a player perspective, it feels like the optimal way to play is to carpet a planet in one type of building, because they give adjacency to buildings of the same type - but from an intuitive standpoint building planets with little clusters of specialised areas feels more satisfying. I think you need a "bridge" district or building that can connect pockets of districts together. If you make factories beside research, it just feels like a frustrating loss of adjacency, but if there was a "bridge" building, that gets adjacency from everything (except itself) and gives +1 adjacency to everything, it would be possible to put make much more satisfying planets. Like, maybe buildings should get +1 adjacency for every type of building beside them too? I dunno, the building placement puzzle feels like its better than in previous games but not satisfying enough.
EDIT: I forgot my feedback, I feel like you should be able to "target" a tech in the tech tree, like hull size upgrades, which should give them a much higher chance of appearing. Critically important techs that other players have (like hull size upgrades) should have a much higher chance of appearing for the player, and be marked with "If we don't research this, we'll fall behind" or something and refusing to research it will cause a little bit of unrest or something. Anyway, just an idea.
