New beta build! https://wiki.arcengames.com/index.php?title=AI_War_2:Multiplayer_Alpha_And_Beta#Beta_2.718_Tutorial_And_Tech_Fixes
You need to use the current_beta branch on Steam to play this one.
This one refines a lot of things from the non-beta branch (fixes to tutorials and the stale text bug), and also refines the techs interface a lot so that you see very accurately what you are getting, and more easily see color coding for upgrades at a glance. The starting support fleets also get more engineers.
The AI still needs some buffs in the beta branch right now, but so far things seem to be feeling good on the player end, so I'm really happy about that.
Rather than doing adaptive unlocks in the coming weeks, there's a new plan I have in mind for some new hacks that will give you more control over the RNG without giving you COMPLETE control over it. Basically this disrupts the existing game flow less, and because of how much more widely people are unlocking techs as it is with the new balance curves, adaptive unlocks would likely have just led to too-few metas for playing the game.
My two goals have been to increase the number of viable metas, and to prevent you from getting hosed by the RNG. The balance curves took us farther on the second goal than I expected, so I'm adapting my plans based on feedback. Thanks to everyone playing the beta branch!