Research
Research is key to improving your kingdom, unlocking vital technology and improvements.
Research points are primarily generated via population, at a rate of around population * 0.25 a tick.
Methods of Research
- Passively gained from population each tick
- Via probes on a research stealing mission targeting rival kingdoms
- Or from missions and planet tribute
Eureka
Once the research tree is complete, excess research points accumulate towards Eureka levels - every 500,000 research points banked beyond the completed tree earns one level. Each level pays a large chunk of score, and the Research page shows your progress toward the next.
Discoveries
Eureka levels trigger discoveries - your scientists produce something tangible for the kingdom. Early on a discovery arrives with every level, but as your archive grows there is less left to find: your first 20 discoveries cost one level each, the next 20 cost two levels each, the 20 after that three, and so on. Discoveries are private (rivals never see what you found) and are logged on the Research page:
- Resource Windfall - your energy and mass production runs at double output for 6 ticks
- Academy Graduates - a class of elite officers: you choose which fleet commander they join, and whether they train the combat, trade, or mission track
- Applied Science - a breakthrough that advances a colony of your choice a full level, free of charge (colonies can still only gain one level per tick)
- Prototype Warhead - a free missile, scaled to your production, added straight to your arsenal
- Deep Space Telescope - a sweep that reveals one random enemy kingdom's fleet and missile movements on the galaxy map for 12 ticks
Windfalls, warheads, and telescope sweeps apply automatically. Academy and Applied Science discoveries wait as claims on the Research page until you choose where to spend them.
Advanced Programmes
Beyond the discoveries, Eureka also earns spendable points. Once the research tree is complete, a final row of four repeatable programmes opens up. Every 5 Eureka levels converts into 1 Eureka point (2,500,000 research points), each rank costs 1 point, and each programme caps at 20 ranks. Spending points never reduces your Eureka score, only your unspent balance.
- Warhead Miniaturisation - +1% missile yield per rank, applied to both built missiles and prototype warheads
- Industrial Automation - +1% energy and mass production per rank
- Fortification Lattice - +1% shield and emplacement strength per rank
- Deep Survey Arrays - +25 sensor range per rank, on every sensor you own: kingdom, colonies, and deployed fleets
Research Tree
A full view of the research tree.
