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Next, build the merchant exchange and the supercollider secret projects in the same base. The merchant exchange's +1 energy to every square worked by that base gives you an advantage that grows with the base's population. When you build the supercollider (+100 percent labs) in the same base, the bonus to your research is greatly increased. Build the Theory of Everything for another 100 percent labs bonus in the same base, and your labs production will zoom off the charts.
Your headquarters base in the center of your empire often serves as the focus of your research efforts. |
If you try for this strategy, pick a base that is well-defended and has plenty of food sources around. You want this base to grow quickly to maximize the merchant exchange's power, and you should consider having this base produce few items other than facilities that increase labs production further. It's inefficient to build a command center in that base when you could be building a research hospital, unless you have exceptionally pressing reasons.
Two other projects can significantly augment your research efforts: The universal translator, which gives you two free techs, and the network backbone, which provides several additional research bonuses. For the University, the most relevant power conferred by the network backbone gives you +1 research for every network node on Planet, regardless of the owner. Since Zakharov can virtually manufacture net nodes just by building a new base, ownership of the backbone dictates a policy of expansion wherever possible.
Several base facilities also help speed your researchers in their efforts, including the biology lab, research hospital, fusion lab, nanohospital, and quantum lab. Build these facilities whenever you don't have more pressing problems with drones or enemy incursions.
Once you discover Doctrine: Air Power, your needlejets should handle any older units you encounter. |
Social engineering can add to your +2 research. Two settings can significantly boost your research: the knowledge and cybernetic choices. You can increase your research rate by as much as 50 percent if you pick both choices. Just be sure you're ready to deal with the negative consequences, including increased probe problems with the knowledge setting and reduced police effectiveness with the cybernetic choice. Remember that possession of the network backbone eliminates negative consequences from the cybernetic social setting.
Be sure to build plenty of solar collectors around your bases, since your research directly depends on the amount of energy harvested each turn. Rivers and monolith squares can also add to your energy production.
Next: Weaknesses: Probe Teams and
Drones
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