The good news is...
...I think I have a semi-coherent, semi-solidified tech tree!
The bad news is, some techs may be in awkward orders...and the tech tree doesn't QUITE work as-is right now.
To wit:
I didn't research this more specifically, but eyeballing tech trees, at the very top, a tech tree line can hold EITHER: 3-4 techs with 3-4 items within the row, OR: approximately 6 techs with 1 item within the row.
Elsewhere, not blocked by the science adviser, it's about 4-5 techs with 3-4 items within the row, OR: approximately 8 techs with 1 item within the row.
By my eyeball estimate, each column/level of the tech tree can hold 6-8 total items (1-2 of them being in the "top zone").
That means that the low-ball estimate we're going for is (6 * 4) + (6 * 3) = 42 techs per level, distributed appropriately.
And if we're lucky enough to score the high estimate, we get (8 * 5) + (8 * 6) = 88 techs per level, more than enough.
...The problem lies in the distribution.
There are 12 steps right now in the modern tech tree--a full 4-6 steps over the maximum.
The second and first ages (at 8 and 7, respectively) are little better in that regard.
The only one which is fine is the third age, at 6 steps of techs.
Meaning each and every single one of my ages is at risk of violating the maximum allowed width, of being too long, of the row continuing too far.
...And the techs in each column aren't much better.
The modern age is fine, but the third age has a 6, a 9, a 7, and an 8. The 9 definitely won't fit and the rest doubtfully will.
The second age isn't much better--two 6s, and a 7.
And the first age? Two 7s and a 9.
These being the more notable numbers, with others still being 5 and below.
Right now the first age, cut down pretty darn far, is at 45 techs total.
The second age fares little better, at 41.
The third age is a far more manageable 34, with the modern age at an even better 28.
Which if you do the math, is 148 techs total.
This is probably the final number for what I need.
I just need to create the gymnastics necessary for this.
Part of this process, too, will be figuring out what things are assigned to what techs.
I can safely assume...oh wait, looks like I forgot the governments a little bit. Which ones do I need?
Blood Cult, Tribal Council, Oligarchy, Imperialism.
Welp, that makes it 154 techs total.
And adds another two 6s to the first age, totaling 48 now.
With the second age now having 42.
But as I was saying.
I can safely assume government techs will pull double duty in most cases.
I can safely assume many military techs will be for multiple things.
I can also safely assume that these things can be mapped successfully.
In fact, let me try to do exactly that.
I'll see if there's any which I can cut out.
This might be stepping ahead a little bit, but I think this is worth it in the end.