Hello,
For the tech tree I have maybe an idea of compromise. If aliens artefact use an complex "mind & genetic locking" unbreakable system, Human's can't use directly plasma/fusion weaponry.
As much as I hate raining on your parade (since I also want to solve this problem), I don't think it could be any sort of genetic/psionic safety check - something like this would be hacked pretty quickly... But I know you understand this, judging from your next ideas.
These articles can only be "dismounted" (produce special weapon parts item) or sold. As soon as research is finished, the weapons can only be manufactured with "weapon parts", and allow to manufacture this spare items (complex manufacturing).
But... but... it's basically the same thing.
You can't use plasma weapons, but you can dismantle them and put them back together, which means you still end up with the same Heavy Plasma - okay, it may look different, but it's the same weapon really, just without any safety checks or other needless stuff.
I do like your plasma parts, but there are two issues:
1) They're basically unnecessary to the gameplay. Because I think the idea of "take apart and rebuild" plasma weapons adds little to the game, both gameplay-wise and logical-wise.
2) I think we'd have to make components for other weapons and equipment too, to make things balanced and smooth.
So, well, I would like some more technical semi-products, but they'd be kind of anal to take care of all the time...
Now, regardless of whether we add them or not, I would also like to present another approach to the problem. When in doubt, go back to the roots, and such roots to me is Hobbes' novel
X-Com: Unknown Menace, which I sort of forgot about until now. In this book, Hobbes proposed a simple explanation for the plasma weapons: calibration. Elerium clips must be calibrated very frequently (like, every 24 hours), otherwise they will not function. And this calibration is a tricky thing to do, requiring plenty of knowledge.
What does it offer us? Well, let's see again on what we need to make plasma weapons according to my current proposal:
- name: STR_PLASMA_WEAPONS
cost: 500
points: 25
dependencies:
- STR_DELTA_RADIATION
- STR_PARTICLE_MICROACCELERATION
- STR_ALIEN_GRAVITY_GENERATOR
- STR_ADVANCED_PLASMA_PHYSICS
However, in order to use plasmas we don't need to know how to make them, only how to calibrate them. Therefore, perhaps this would be in order:
- name: STR_PLASMA_WEAPONS_CALIBRATION
cost: 500
points: 25
dependencies:
- STR_DELTA_RADIATION
- STR_ALIEN_GRAVITY_GENERATOR
- STR_ALIEN_ELECTRONICS
This is a bit easier to unlock, but sort of explains why you can now use plasma weapons. This would allow you to research plasma pistol, plasma rifle etc., but you wouldn't be able to build them, only use them. and you certainly don't get Plasma Cannons!
(Naturally, STR_PLASMA_WEAPONS_CALIBRATION would be one more dependency for Plasma Weapons.)
- name: STR_PLASMA_WEAPONS
cost: 500
points: 25
dependencies:
- STR_PLASMA_WEAPONS_CALIBRATION
- STR_PARTICLE_MICROACCELERATION
- STR_ADVANCED_PLASMA_PHYSICS
And analogically, there would be a similar modification for the fusion weapons.
What do you think?
PS. Your weapon component suggestion is still possible, I am not against it on principle (because it's cool!), but we need to make sure it won't become too tiresome to use.
