Technology

Technology is the most crucial element of securing galactic hegemony. Each major race has its own technology tree, with staggered technology ages to help streamline the gameplay and avoid the age-old problem of attacking a tank with a phalanx (so to speak). Technology trees All major factions have their own unique technology tree, the minor factions share a technology tree, and custom factions can use any of the technology trees. Clicking on the faction name will take you to more information about that faction, while clicking on the technology tree description will take you to the technologies of that faction. In the Crusade and Intrigue expansions, the technology tree is no longer faction specific. Instead, different branches of the tree are present or absent based on the faction's abilities and traits. So, for example, the branch that has the Xeno Mysticism, Precursor History, and Dark Energy Research technologies is available to any faction that has the Ancient ability, not just the Altarians. Commonalities Every race has access to the basic necessities of expanding and growing their empire. Everyone has some kind of factory progression, for example, and access to colonization tech for extreme worlds. They differ in many of the details, though, and each race has one or more areas of expertise according to their general personality and proclivities. Major Factions Icon Technology Tree Description Altarian Resistance Altarian technology tree reflects their love of beauty and culture. Drengin Empire Drengin technology tree is ruthless, brutal, and often downright evil. Just like its inventors. Iconian Refuge Iconian technology tree focuses on their ancient lineage and the mysticism they've built up over the millenia. Iridium Corporation Iridium technology tree is, like the rest of Iridium culture, based on the creation of value and profit. Krynn Syndicate Krynn technology tree allows them to explore the Way, which shapes their developing culture along distinct paths. Terran Alliance Terran technology tree does it all, with a focus on diplomacy. Thalan Contingency Thalan technology tree is weird and wonderful. Living in exile from an apocalyptic future will do that. Yor Singularity Yor technology tree is particularly concerned with the extermination of dirty, messy organic life from the galaxy. Other Factions Icon Technology Tree Description Minor Factions Custom Race Minor races each borrow one of the major races' tech trees. Custom Factions Custom Race technology trees are of the players choosing, as they can choose any of the other races' tech trees. Colonization Techs The colonization portion of the tech tree focuses on techs for settling on other worlds, constructing better buildings for your colonies, and making your citizens happy. Precursor research is also centrally important to this particular part of the tree, since harnessing those ancient technologies can go a long way toward a better quality of life for your people - not to mention a much easier time expanding and colonizing previously uninhabitable planets. Culture Tech Tech Description Colonization Allows construction of colony modules and basic colony buildings. Colonial Administration Creates the department of colonization. Colonial Settlements Allows construction of improved colony buildings. Xeno Artifact Studies Allows the use of alien artifacts found on colonized worlds. Xeno Manufacturing Allows construction of improved colony buildings. Xeno Experimentation Allows construction of improved research facilities. Xeno Mysticism Allows for the construction of the Social Matrix. Planetology Allows for the improvement of a planet's ecology. Xeno Archeology Increases Precursor research, allowing greater use of their technology. Resource Processing Allows for the construction of unique resource-heavy improvements. Space Laboratories Allows for the construction of deep research facilities. Precursor Legacy Enables better study of Precursor space relics. Precursor Relic Understanding Allows for greater utilization of Precursor relics. Xeno Adaptation Allows for settlement on extreme worlds, at reduced production potential. Precursor Studies Increases Precursor research, allowing further use of their technology. Xeno Slavery (Drengin Only) Allows for construction of improved colony buildings. Xeno Industrialization Allows for construction of improved colony buildings. Xeno Research Allows for construction of improved research facilities. Environmental Engineering Allows soil enhancement and improves adjacency terrain efects. Advanced Foundations Increases Precursor research, allowing even greater use of their technology. Mechanized Slavery (Drengin Only) Allows for the construction of advanced manufacturing facilities. Advanced Construction Allows for the construction of advanced manufacturing facilities. Starbase Networking Allows for the construction of deep research facilities. Precursor History (Altarians Only) By better understanding the history of the Precursors, we can begin taking steps to make our race even greater than it already is. Extreme Colonization Allows for settlement on extreme worlds, at reduced production potential. Precursor Insight Increases Precursor research, allowing for greater use of their technology. Xeno Resource Mining Allows for the construction of unique resource-heavy improvements. Neuro Linking Allows for construction of improved research facilities. Colonial Engineering Allows for the construction of Civil Engineering projects. Xeno Biology (Terran Alliance Only) Allows for the construction of improved medical facilities and increases population growth. Precursor Investigation Increases Precursor research, allowing for greater use of their technology. Slave Masters (Drengin Only) Mastery of slave manufacturing techniques. Industrial Expertise Allows for the construction of the ultimate manufacturing facilities. Institutional Research Allows for the construction of improved research facilities. Terraforming Allows for the construction of terraforming plants. Colonization Focus Mastering living on an extreme world will make life there a lot more tolerable for the poor fools who volunteered for it. Agricultural Adaptation (Terran Alliance Only) Allows for the construction of improved farms and increases food production. Precursor Exploitation Increases Precursor research, allowing for greater use of their technology. Advanced Resource Mining Allows for the construction of unique resource-heavy improvements. Research Extraction Allows for the construction of galactic universities. Collaborative Experimentation (Onyx Hive Only) Allows for the construction of galactic universities. Research Centers (Terran Alliance Only) Allows for the construction of advanced research facilities. Terrestrial Harvesting Allows for the construction of civilian buildings and increases population growth. Atmospheric Cleansing Allows for settlement on more extreme worlds at reduced population potential. Population Enhancement (Terran Alliance Only) Allows for the construction of advanced medical facilities and increases population growth. Food Distribution (Terran Only) Allows for the construction of farming support buildings and increases food production. Slavery Focus (Drengin Only) If we start using the slavelings for the jobs they're best at, or even breeding them that way, we can make everything more efficient. Manufacturing Focus (Terran Alliance Only) There's no getting around it: "Incremental improvements in manufacturing techniques" isn't much of a headline. Which is a shame, considering the benefit we expect to see from them. Intelligence Amplification (Drengin Only) Boosts the intelligence of slaves. Integrated Research Allows for the construction of exotic research facilities. Dark Energy Research (Altarians Only) Allows for the construction of the Dark Energy Lab. Habitat Improvement Allows for the construction of advanced terraforming plants. Biosphere Perfection No longer must our colonists die without cause. Even the deadliest of planets are now perfectly survivable for us. High Yield Crops (Terran Only) Allows for the construction of advanced farms. Precursor Engineering Increases Precursor research, allowing for greater use of their technology. Research Matrix Allows for the construction of the ultimate research facilities. Advanced Resource Harvesting Allows for the construction of civilian buildings and increases population growth. Slaveling Recycling (Drengin Only) Recycles slaves. Xeno Irrigation (Terran Alliance Only) Allows for the construction of improved farming support buildings and increases food production. Mysterious Knowledge (Drengin Only) Allows for the construction of reduced torture research facilities. Deeper Knowledge Allows for the construction of deep research facilities. Soil Reclamation Allows you to add more tiles to your planets. Protein Resequencing (Drengin Only) Allows for the construction of protein sequencing farms. Biomass Resequencing (Terran Alliance Only) Allows for the construction of advanced farming support buildings and increases food production. Pain-Free Understanding (Drengin Only) Allows for the construction of torture-free facilities. Quantum Understanding Allows for the construction of improved deep research facilities. Environmental Resequencing Increases the amount of usable land on all colonized planets. Bio Replication (Terran Alliance Only) Allows for the construction of exotic medical facilities and increases population growth. Manufacturing Stimulus Substantially boost manufacturing levels for 15 turns (capstone). Research Stimulus Substantially boost research levels for 10 turns. Beyond Mortality Allows for the construction of advanced deep research facilities and prepares civilization for ascension. Precursor Understanding Increases Precursor research, allowing for greater use of their technology. Engineering Techs The engineering portion of the tech tree focuses on techs that will improve your ships by strengthening their hulls, increasing their speed, optimizing their life support, and more. Many of the techs also focus on building and improving minig facilities and increasing logistics. Some techs will also improve the speed and mobility of ships within hyperlanes. Engineering Tech Tech Description Engineering Allows construction of hyperdrives and tiny hulls. Artificial Gravity Allows the manipulation of gravity, which has endless applications. Spatial Manipulation Allows the manipulation of space and the building of hypergates. Space Elevators Allows for the building of supply ships and space elevators. Interstellar Travel Improves sensor, life support, and speed of all ships. Orbital Manufacturing Allows for the construction of a larger hull size. Deep Field Inspection Allows for faster-than-light astronomy. Life Support Allows for the construction of improved life support systems. Advanced Engineering Paves the way for the design and engineering of complex systems in zero-gravity environments. Subatomic Organization Enables miniaturization while maintaining mass. Precursor Traditions (Altarians Only) Increases shipyard output and quality. Ion Drive Allows for the construction of improved hyperdrives. Zero Gravity Construction Allows for the construction of medium hulls. Interstellar Resupply Improves logistics and starbase efficiency. Precursor Specialization (Altarians Only) With the lessons we have learned from our Precursor Traditions, we have been able to find new ways to make our ships superior to all others. Interstellar Survey Allows for the construction of improved sensors and survey modules. Hull Strengthening Allows for the construction of tougher hulls. Interstellar Logistics Allows for the construction of mining facilities and increases logistics. Interstellar Mining Allows for the construction of mining facilities. Hyperlane Tunneling Increases the movement of ships in hyperlanes. Hyperfield Projection Allows for the construction of speed boosting support modules. Energy Field Sensors Allows for the construction of advanced sensors. Hull Repair Systems Allows for the construction of hull support and repair modules. Fleet Logistics Greatly increases logistics. High Efficiency Mining Allows for the construction of improved mining facilities. Precursor Mysteries (Altarians Only) Allows the construction of the Precursor Protection Field support module. Dimensional Fatigue Studies theoretical weak points in the universe. Gravity Field Manipulation Allows for the construction of advanced speed boosting support modules. Warp Field Theory Allows for the construction of advanced hyperdrives. Large Scale Construction Allows for the construction of large hulls. Deep Space Logistics Greatly increases logistics. Resource Extraction Allows for the construction of advanced mining facilities. Hyperfield Disruption Allows for the construction of enemy speed reduction modules. Support Field Generation Allows for the construction of advanced life support systems. Carriers Allows for the construction of carrier modules. Self Healing Hulls Allows for the construction of tactical repair modules. Hyperlane Streaming Increases the movement of ships in hyperlanes. Stellar Field Projection Allows for the construction of advanced speed boosting support modules. Hyperwarp Waves Allows for the construction of exotic hyperdrives. Inherent Talent (Altarians Only) Increases accuracy and interferes with enemy targeting. Interceptor Drones Allows for the construction of cheap and light Interceptor drones. Massive Scale Construction Allows for the construction of large hulls. Galactic Logistics Greatly increases logistics. Lossless Mining Allows for the construction of targeted resource extractor modules. Living Ships (Altarians Only) Our ships no longer need to be maintained and will self-heal. Subspace Sensors Allows for the construction of exotic sensors. Support Field Mastery Allows for the construction of fleet life support modules. Guardian Drones Allows for the construction of cheap and light Guardian drones. Lossless Support Systems Allows for the construction of the ultimate life support systems. Stellar Folding Allows for the construction of the ultimate hyperdrives. High Capacity Carriers Allows for the construction of high capacity carrier modules. Drive System Optimization Substantially boost the speed of all ships for 15 turns (capstone).