TL;DR
In World Builder Collect, open Add Lore → Space → Technology & Science (or open an existing tech card) to launch Technology Tree. Choose a domain with Add Technology, grow branches with Eddy and child controls, edit the Tech Node panel, then Save. Use Reset or Delete carefully—changes sync back to Collect.
Table of contents
- What Technology Trees are for
- What Tech Tree Studio includes
- Step-by-step: build a technology tree
- Tips
- FAQ
- Related help
User summary
Storyloft Technology Trees help speculative and sci-fi authors model prerequisite tech—FTL methods, biotech lines, ship classes—without flattening everything into unrelated Collect cards. Searching for Technology Tree or Tech Tree Studio leads to a dedicated studio with a canvas, domain picker, node editor, and Eddy chat that grows branches from your world’s rules. Trees remain part of World Builder so Connect/View can still relate tech to cultures, planets, and characters.
What it does
Technology Tree studio title: Technology Tree — Create and manage technology for your culture, planet, or character. Features include:
- Canvas with root/children; empty prompt to talk to Eddy
- Add Technology domain menu (e.g. Ship class, FTL method, AI & computation, Other / General)
- Other dialog → Define your technology → Start discovery
- Node panel Tech Node / Technology with Name, Description, Save, Delete
- Eddy welcome and brief checklist (Domain, Era / tech level, Hard limits, etc.)
- Reset (clear branches) and Delete (remove tree + Collect card)
Open via Add Lore Technology & Science, existing tech cards, or tech nodes in Connect/View.
Steps
Step 1 — Open Technology Tree from Collect
In Collect, click + → Add Lore → Space → Technology & Science. Or open an existing technology card/row. Wait through Loading technology tree… if needed.
Step 2 — Add a Technology domain
On an empty canvas, open Add Technology and pick a domain (for example Weapons & armor or Energy source). For custom work, choose Other / General, fill Name and Description, and click Start discovery.
Step 3 — Grow the tree with Eddy and branch controls
Chat with Eddy in the studio pane (welcome invites you to design the tree). Confirm branches when asked (Use “{parent}” as a new branch parent? / Yes, grow this branch). On nodes, use tools such as Add child to the left, Add child to the right, or Grow a new branch from this node. Header states may show Tech tree, Confirm, or Branch context.
Step 4 — Edit a Tech Node
Select a node. In the panel, set Name and Description, then Save. Non-root nodes can be Deleted individually.
Step 5 — Navigate the canvas
Use Zoom in, Zoom out, and Fit view. Parent links act as prerequisites—arrange discovery before advanced leaves.
Step 6 — Sync mental model with Collect / Connect
Close the studio when finished. The Collect card updates; link the technology to cultures or ships in Collect fields and Connect edges.
Step 7 — Reset or delete only when intentional
Reset → confirm Reset branches? (keeps tree name/description; removes child technologies). Delete → confirm Delete technology tree? (permanently removes the tree and its Collect card; other trees stay).
Tips
- Finish domain briefing checklist items before asking Eddy to generate a large branch set.
- Add Technology disables once a domain exists—use chat or Reset to restart.
- Missing tree links may error with This technology card is missing its tree link—reopen from Collect or recreate.
- Pair trees with Lore Match so tech names stay consistent in prose.
- Image credits are not required for tree structure itself; Eddy chat follows your plan limits.
FAQ
How do I create a technology tree in Storyloft?
World Builder → Collect → Add Lore → Space → Technology & Science, then use Add Technology to pick a domain and grow nodes with Eddy.
Can I define a custom tech domain?
Yes—choose Other / General, describe it in Define your technology, and click Start discovery.
What’s the difference between Reset and Delete?
Reset clears child technologies under the root but keeps the tree shell. Delete removes the entire technology tree and its Collect card.
Does Eddy work inside Technology Tree?
Yes. The studio includes an Eddy chat pane specializing in tech discovery, confirmations, and branch growth.
Will my technology appear in Connect and View?
Yes—tech entities participate in World Builder graphs like other lore once linked/related.
Why can’t I click Add Technology?
If a domain is already added, the control disables (Technology already added — use chat or Reset to start over).