I think I will have time soon to start trying to work auto-evo into the Multicellular Stage. But that raises a couple of questions that I think we should still resolve first:
Time-scale and miches:
There are two connected questions here:
- Should the Multicellular Stage operate on a different timescale than the Microbe Stage?
- Should Multicellular Species work on a miche tree separate from the
Firstly, the reason they are connected is because I don’t think it is a good idea in our current auto-evo set-up to have species that are evolving at different rates competing over the same miches. That would I believe result in the faster evolving species quickly taking over every miche they could theoretically fill (which in this case would be all of them), with no chance to respond and thus extinction for the species left behind, which does not seem like something we want. (with as possible exception Awakening/Society stage where “extinction due to no chance to adapt against these crazy sapients” could be a deliberate theme)
On the other hand, if Multicellular stage operates on the same time-scale, or has a separate miche tree, the above is not a problem.
I previously advocated strongly for advocated in favour of changing the time-scale (which at least @Thim agreed) with, mainly out of fear over auto-evo times. That situation is a bit less critical now, so I think we can also entertain the alternative option. (though it’s still a concern)
Meanwhile, at least @Gamedungeon has expressed an interest in using the same miche tree for Microbe and Multicellular, since in real life these compete over (mostly) the same niches (which is true). Single-celled and Multicellular life can co-exist if we add additional leaf miche node that particularly lean towards the single-celled. (though again, I strongly believe this also requires them to operate on the same time-scale)
As for the real-life accuracy perspective on the time-scale question, Wikipedia graphic for reference:
(Found on the Wikipedia page for the Timeline of life)
A cursory glance would suggest that the “no time-scale difference option” is reasonable. About 1500 million years of pre-cambrian Multicellular life compared to about 2750 million years of single-celled life before that. 2750 / 1500 = ~1.8
A slightly more detailed look would reveal that if we’re looking at animals specifically, the date is 750 milllion years ago at the earliest, so that would instead be ~250 million years versus ~3500 million years. 3500 / 250 = 14
Taking the latter would be a clear indication in favour of making a time split here, while the former timeline would be the opposite.
I don’t think I have a strong opinion in favour of one or the other option anymore, though making the timescale different is probably the safer option for performance.
But we do need to pick an option before development on this feature can really begin!