Research gives you new units and improves what you already have. To research, you first need a research building; other buildings then open other branches.
How it works
- One research at a time.
- Multi-level researches have five levels. The cost doubles up to the third level, then rises by twice the base per level:
base cost × 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, i.e. 2,000, 4,000, 8,000, 12,000, 16,000 for Refining. The third Annihilator research cost 250,000 in 2006 — that is where the 62,500 base of special weapons comes from. - Real time is
hours / research efficiency: humans drive research, and each research building adds 10%.
The catalogue
| Research | Level 1 cost | Hours | Levels | Requires | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refining | 2,000 | 12 | 5 | Research building | +10% vitarium per refinery per level |
 Energy | 2,000 | 12 | 5 | Research building | +10% energy per plant per level |
 Agriculture | 2,000 | 12 | 5 | Research building | +10% food per farm per level |
| Ground attack | 5,000 | 24 | 5 | Research building | +10% ground unit attack per level |
 Ground defence | 5,000 | 24 | 5 | Research building | +10% ground unit defence per level |
| Combat ship | 8,000 | 24 | 1 | Shipyard | unlocks the combat ship |
| Destroyer | 15,000 | 36 | 1 | Combat ship | unlocks the destroyer |
| Bomber | 30,000 | 48 | 1 | Destroyer | unlocks the bomber |
| Galleon | 60,000 | 72 | 1 | Cruiser shipyard | unlocks the galleon |
| Corvette | 100,000 | 96 | 1 | Galleon | unlocks the corvette |
| Frigate | 160,000 | 120 | 1 | Corvette | unlocks the frigate |
| Ship attack | 20,000 | 48 | 5 | Ship research | +10% ship and station attack per level |
 Ship defence | 20,000 | 48 | 5 | Ship research | +10% ship and station defence per level |
| Annihilator | 62,500 | 48 | 5 | Weapons lab | level 1: the unit; then 5 fewer annihilators per building destroyed |
| Harvester | 62,500 | 48 | 5 | Weapons lab | level 1: the unit; then +20% theft per level |
| Deviator | 62,500 | 48 | 5 | Weapons lab | level 1: the unit; then more conversions |
| Propulsion | 40,000 | 72 | 5 | Shipyard | −10% travel time per level (minimum 1 h) |
| Radar | 10,000 | 36 | 5 | Research building | +1 square of sight per level, from 5 to 10: the flights you can intercept and your neighbours' movements |
| Fission bomb | 80,000 | 96 | 1 | Bomb silo | unlocks the fission bomb |
| Fusion bomb | 160,000 | 120 | 1 | Fission bomb | unlocks the fusion bomb |
| Antimatter bomb | 320,000 | 168 | 1 | Fusion bomb | unlocks the antimatter bomb |
Where to start
Refining, then Energy, then Ground attack and defence. The ship branch requires the shipyard; the Cruiser branch (Galleon, Corvette, Frigate) additionally requires the Bomber research. Propulsion is the luxury of players who attack far away: −10% travel per level. Radar widens by one square per level what you see moving around you, in the history and in flight: from 5 to 10 squares, for you alone.