Editing Technology tree (section)

===Complexity===
[[File:Freeciv-2.1.8 technology tree.png|thumb|upright=1.4|86 technologies on a tech tree in ''[[Freeciv]]'']]
The structures of tech trees vary quite widely. In the simplest cases (e.g. ''[[Master of Orion]]'') there are several completely separate research areas and one could research all the way up to the highest level in one area without researching other areas (although this would often be far from ideal). In more complex cases{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} (e.g. ''[[Civilization (computer game)|Civilization]]'') every technology above the starting level has more than one prerequisite and one has to research most of the lower-level technologies in order to research any of the top-level technologies. And there are many possibilities between these two variants, for example in ''[[Space Empires]]'' researching to a specified level in one field may enable the player both to research to a higher level in that field ''and'' to start research in a new field which was previously not available.<ref name="SeeGameManuals" />

Major [[4X]] games like ''[[Civilization (computer game)|Civilization]]'' and ''Master of Orion'' have a much larger technology tree than most other strategy games; as an extreme example, ''[[Space Empires III]]'' has over 200 technologies.<ref name="JoystiqSoaSEDesignerInterview">{{ cite web | url=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/joystiq-interview-ironclad-talks-4x-strategy-with-sins-of-a-sol/ | title=Joystiq interview: Ironclad talks 4X strategy with Sins of a Solar Empire | date=February 1, 2008 | access-date=2008-06-14 }}</ref><ref name="NumbersOfTechNodes">In ''Warcraft III'' one can reach the highest level of one branch of the technology tree in five steps; ''Master of Orion'' (original version) has 10 levels per subject, and 2 to 5 technologies per level; the ''Civilization IV'' technology tree requires nearly 60 steps to reach the end (see game manuals).</ref>