When a tech advocates the coming of new ships, it only does so when all other tech requirements are met as well. See it as being "needed" components, rather than "sufficient" ones. This is confusing the first times you play the game, but you get used to it.
So if, for instance, your previous Skeeter design was something in the lines of:
- Tiny Hull
- 2 x Laser II
- Titanium Armor III
...then the Skeeter design will pop up in the tech displays of
Laser II and
Titanium III (since you start with Tiny hulls, you have no need to research them anymore). However, you can't build it until you have all the required components. So if you researched
Laser II, it would say you'd gain the Skeeter design, but you'd actually still need
Titanium III.
Hope that answers your question,
Tarbo
