Research that gates the rabbit hole

I want mastery to feel earned - not a flat checklist. Every research topic should open a new industrial or strategic lane, not just +5% to something you already had.

Early alpha

More landing shortly

Some of this you can play today; some arrives in round two. I will tell you honestly what is live right now and what is still on the way.

What you get

What I want to achieve

A research web where planet class, race, and neighbour pressure shape viable paths. You should stare at the tree and see futures: plasma logistics, deep espionage, trade stations, parallel construction - not one optimal line everyone copies by Tuesday.

37
Research topics
8
Component modules
5
Refinement tiers
2,642
Refinement paths

What you can do here

Branching dependencies

Topics unlock constructions, refinement tiers, storage types, and ship capabilities. Skipping a branch should close doors - choosing another should open genuinely different empires.

Matter-state science

Solid, liquid, gas, and plasma processing are not reskins. Research should gate phase transfer, late-tier refinement, and the industrial pain that makes endgame colonies feel earned.

Intel & trade lanes

Espionage and signal research turn information into leverage. Trade and transmission topics are the socializer's infrastructure - but achievers use them to fuel faster climbs.

Playable in alpha today

37 research topics in the live ruleset with constructions and refinement gates wired.
Labs, parallel construction, and tiered processing topics playable on colonies.
Espionage and trade topics exist - intel depth still early.

Landing next

Colonisation and hull-role research tied to map expansion in round two.
Clearer tree UX - prerequisites, race hints, and recommended paths for new commanders.
Late-game gates balanced after more live-economy telemetry.

If this sounds like you

Achievers climb the tree for completion and power curves. Explorers research to reveal what the universe can become - hidden compounds, scan tiers, and map capabilities.

What you get out of it

Serious Fun from long research commits; Hard Fun when gates block lazy paths; Easy Fun when a new topic opens an unexpected industrial lane.

Achievers →Explorers →Why it feels good →

More to explore

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