The research is a little fishy.

from GalCiv2 Forums
Ok, there is something really weird about the research. I don't think it's a straightforward "This research needs a total of 100 research points, fill that and you have it". Either there is an "inverted proportional" mechanism between the research cost and the research capacity or it's not working right. A little experience I do.


- Started a game. I don't do anything in that game, I don't even bother to colonize the second planet. I build 2 Xeno Labs, 1 Entertainment Network, shift spending to 100% and focus 100% budget toward research. This give the homeworld 26 research point.

- Then I started researching, and you can say I "zipped" through the tree. Most tech takes only 1 or 2 turn to research. Even stuff like Advance Miniturization, Habitat, Terraforming and Xeno Ethic only take from 4 to 7 turns to complete. Phasor can be researched in 4 turns. It takes less then 1 year to start with Sensor and end with Eyes of the universe.


- Ok, what's going on here. That's a lot faster then when I have .... say 1000 research point. This something I have been noticing but not pay attention until now. Even in the same game, example Xeno Ethic. I have a habbit of focusing on Diplomacy and Culture research at the start (so I can have good deal) and I usually stop at Xeno Ethic if I'm not aiming for Neutral, but wait until I shift enough to the desire alignment. Usually, it indicates that Xeno Ethic only take around 5 to 7 turn to research at that time. However, until later when I get around to research it - with a research capacity double or even triple before - Xeno Ethic can take like 15 to 20 turns to finish, What the Hell!?!?


- Also, Habitat, Terraforming and Advance miniturilization, I especially remember these guys because I simply need them but most of the time they take me very long to research if I play normally. Example in my last game after fully develope all planet and have a respectable number of ships. I decide to do a tech race. So I shift all budge into budget, my total research capacity at this point is around 1500 points a turn. (I captured some minorace planet and the research points is abundant on those planet). I know Advance Miniturilization and Habitat took a good 17 turns to finish and Terraforming takes 20 turns.



So:

- 26 Research point, no bonus whatever, no Tech capital or research resource: Advance Miniturlization = Habitat = 4 - 7 turns

- With 1400 Research point, full bonus: Advance Miniturilzation = Habitat = 17 turns.


And I'm using thsoe as example, the whole tech tree is that way. Can anyone explain to me what's going on, it doesn't make sense. This way if you want to do a tech victory, you just can sit there on your home planet and at this speed, you'll win before the other race even know you're there

research
5,196 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Well, I couldn't follow your example to well, but I understand what you are getting at. Say you have 25 research on one planet and fully fund it 100% with 100% focus on research. Under the planet info screen you can also click on the bullseye shaped icons at the top of the screen to focus on Mil, Soc, or Research spending FYI. Now say in another game you have 50 research but are only funding it 60% to balance your budget and have your mil, soc, and research all split 33% each. Basically in the first example you can research techs ALOT faster because it is pumping the max BCs per turn into your research. In the second example, even though you have more research potential but your industrial output is reduced and your BCs spread out among the three production types. Just because you have the potential for research doesn't mean you are utilizing it. I tend to focus on 100% research for a while at the beginning to snap up a dozen or so techs in about a dozen turns, but you will find that after the first few techs in any research tree the weeks required ramp up considerably. So in the end you need to balance trade, economy, military, research, etc. to stay competitive and focus on what you are good at. It is possible you are experiencing a bug, but my money is on the complex dynamics of production and focus that are hard to grasp at first.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Usually, it indicates that Xeno Ethic only take around 5 to 7 turn to research at that time. However, until later when I get around to research it - with a research capacity double or even triple before - Xeno Ethic can take like 15 to 20 turns to finish, What the Hell!?!?

If I remember correctly, they built in something that makes the techs more expensive as you go along and research other things.
That way, if you are advancing steadily down the line of lasers, and all of a sudden you run into enemy ships with really strong shields you can't just go back and zip through the mass drivers line... you actually have to put some money and effort into researching it. Helps keep you and the AI from easily, and immediately, adapting to enemy ships.
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
@HEEGZ

- As I said, in both cases I have 100% Budget shifted toward Research. So no, it's not like what you say. Also I'm summing the actual points that I have on screen.

@Symbiance

I reckon it's the case, I had researched Plasma MKIII for 4 turns just later have to research Mass Driver for 6 turns with a stronger research capacity.


I sorfta make sense and it sorfta doesn't. I think it kinda unfair to the tech nerd becuase the nations thatlag behind can catchup with the advance nation very fast.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I sorfta make sense and it sorfta doesn't. I think it kinda unfair to the tech nerd becuase the nations thatlag behind can catchup with the advance nation very fast.


I believe you're mistaken there. The nations that lag behind will research the first few techs to catching up with you quickly, but the more techs the research, the longer it will take per tech, just like it did for you. The only way they could get a potential benefit is if they fully flesh out a research world before putting money into researching.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Pretty much it was put in by the Devs to stop you from researching everything anytime you wanted. To force you to make choices. So that if you are going lasers.. you can't switch to missiles suddenly without some penelty.

Those going for the Research victory need to be very efficient in what they are researching.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Hmm, well I was under the impression that it was a straightforward so many BCs to unlock the earlier techs and the requirements increase steeply with the later techs. I've never had to go back and research a weapon tech later in the game though so if there is some sort of game balancing principle that kicks in I have yet to experience it. If that is the case I will probably try to spread out my techs a little bit more at the beginning than I am now. I'll have to do a search and see what/if the devs have said about this. I re-read your post and it makes more sense to me know after further discussion.

Hmmm, I can't see the search bar on the left anymore... Did they remove it all of a sudden?