Technologies[]
All technologies but the Armor, Computer and Energy technologies require various technologies to be researched to a certain level before you can research them. Technologies also require Research Labs to be at certain levels before you can research them. For example, if you wanted to research the Laser technology, you would need a planet with 2 Research Labs and two levels in Energy to research it.
Energy[]
In physics, energy is a scalar physical quantity that describes the amount of work that can be performed by a force.
Energy technology gives a permanent 5% bonus to all energy structures per level.
Energy is one of the most critical technologies in the game, as it can quickly be researched to high levels due to a very small cost and gives a significant bonus to energy output. In the beginning stages of the game, this technology is crucial to research, as it is the prerequisite for Stellar Drive and Warp Drive.
The Energy bonus is empire wide, so all bases benefit. Unfortunately there is no way to display this bonus effect. It is included in the hourly energy creation, of all energy structures, on the base. The base's total energy production will be listed toward the top, center, above your base layout along with the area, population, and trade routes. The bonus percentage is only shown in the empire technologies screen.
Requires:
- Research Labs - Level 1
Computer[]
A computer is a machine that manipulates data according to a list of instructions. Its main use is for complicated tasks.
Computer technology is also one of the most important technologies for Astro Empires. Computer tech allows you to have one extra Fleet and commander per level.
A high computer level is crucial in the beginning of the game, as it is needed to increase the number of Campaign Fleets.
The level of your Computer Technology also determines the number of Base Commanders you can create.
Requires:
- Research Labs - Level 1
Armour[]
The armour in the outer part of a ship. Since most weapons penetrate any kind of armour, its main uses is to protect the crew from radiation and micrometeorites that are too fast to be stopped by the ship's shields. Armour is a very useful technology to research, as it gives a 5% bonus to all units, both ships and defenses.
Requires:
- Research Labs - Level 2
Laser[]
A laser is a device that emits light (electromagnetic radiation) through a process called stimulated emission. The term laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. In weapons, a laser is a powerful, short burst of electromagnetic radiation. Each level of Laser increases Laser Weapons Power by 5%.
Laser is a very important technology, as it increases the damage of Fighters.
Requires:
- Research Labs - Level 2
- Energy - Level 2
Missiles[]
A missile is a self-propelled projectile used as a weapon. Missiles are typically propelled by rockets or jet engines. Missiles generally have a chemical explosive or nuclear warhead, although other weapon types may also be used.
Each level of Missiles increases Missile Weapons Power by 5%.
Missile technology increases the damage done by Bombers, Frigates, Carriers and Missile Turrets.
Requires:
- Research Labs - Level 4
- Computer - Level 4
Stellar Drive[]
In a stellar drive, powerful engines propel the ship between Astros. However, it has only galactic range. Each level increases Stellar Units travel Speed by 5%.
Stellar Drive is used by Corvettes, Destroyers, Frigates, and Recyclers, and should be researched to mid-high levels.
Requires:
- Research Labs - Level 5
- Energy - Level 6
Plasma[]
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a partially ionized gas, in which a certain proportion of electrons are free rather than being bound to an atom or molecule. The ability of the positive and negative charges to move somewhat independently makes the plasma electrically conductive so that it responds strongly to electromagnetic fields. Plasma therefore has properties quite unlike those of solids, liquids or gases and is considered to be a distinct state of matter.
Each level increases Plasma Weapons Power by 5%.
Plasma technology affects the attack power of Heavy Bombers, Destroyers, Cruisers, and Heavy Cruisers. Plasma is generally researched to very high levels.
Requires:
- Research Labs level 6
- Energy 6
- Laser 4
Warp Drive[]
A Warp Drive, or in more specific terms, an Alcubierre drive, is a speculative mathematical model of a propulsion device that could theoretically travel Faster-than-light (commonly known as FTL). A Warp Drive is a method of stretching space in a way which would cause the fabric of space ahead of a spacecraft to contract and the space behind it to expand. The ship would ride this wave inside a region known as a warp bubble of flat space. Each level increases Warp Units travel Speed by 5%.
Warp Drive affects the speed of most units in the game, and is thus a quite useful technology that should be researched to high levels.
Requires:
- Research Labs level 8
- Energy 8
- Stellar Drive 4
Thanks to limbric_inofensiv
Shielding[]
A shield is an intense field of energy that stops anything moving at fast velocities. Each level increases Units and Defenses Shield Strength by 5%.
Shielding affects Ion Bombers, Ion Frigates, Carriers, and Fleet Carriers , as well as Cruisers, Heavy Cruisers, Battleships, Dreadnoughts, Titans, Leviathans, and Death Stars.
It also affects Ion Turrets, Photon Turrets, Disruptor Turrets, Deflection Shields, Planetary Shields, and Planetary Rings.
Requires:
- Research Labs level 10
- Energy 10
Ion[]
An ion is an atom or molecule which has lost or gained one or more electrons, giving it a positive or negative electrical charge. Ions are denoted in the same way as electrically neutral atoms and molecules except for the presence of a superscript indicating the sign of the net electric charge and the number of electrons lost or gained, if more than one. For example: H+ and SO4−2.
Each level increases Ion Weapons Power by 5%. Units affected are Ion Bombers, Ion Frigate, Battleship, Fleet Carrier, and Ion Turrets.
Requires:
- Research Labs level 12
- Energy 12
- Laser 10
Photon[]
In physics, the photon is an elementary particle, the quantum of the electromagnetic field and the basic unit of light and all other forms of electromagnetic radiation. It is also the force carrier for the electromagnetic force. This force's easily visible human-scale effects and applications, from sunlight to radiotelephones, are due to the fact that the photon has no mass and thus can produce interactions at long distances. Like all elementary particles, the photon is governed by quantum mechanics and so exhibits wave-particle duality: that is, it exhibits both wave and particle properties. For example, a single photon may undergo refraction by a lens or exhibit wave interference, but also act as a particle giving a definite result when its location is measured.
Each level increases Photon Weapons Power by 5%. This affects Photon Turrets and Planetary Rings, as well as Dreadnoughts, and Leviathans.
Requires:
- Research Labs level 16
- Energy 16
- Plasma 8
Artificial Intelligence[]
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science which aims to create it.
Each level increases all Bases Research Output by 5%. Very useful as this cuts drastically into research times, if researched to twenty in effect each research lab will give you 12 research points.
Requires:
- Research Labs level 18
- Computer 20
Disruptor[]
A Disruptor is a disturbance in space which can often be in the form of sonic waves. Anything in the affected area of space will experience a change in moleculor structure for a short time in which done repeatedly may destroy anything in the affected area.
Each level increases Disruptor Weapons Power by 5%. Used by Titans, and Death Stars, as well as Disruptor Turrets.
- Research Labs level 20
- Energy 20
- Laser 18
Cybernetics[]
Cybernetics is the interdisciplinary study of the structure of regulatory systems.
Each level increases all Bases Construction and Production Output by 5%. It is very important, because without this you cannot build Orbital Shipyards, which without you cannot build Capital ships. Also they greatly speed up your production and construction.
Requires:
- Research Labs level 22
- Artificial Intelligence 6
Tachyon Communications[]
Dev Log. A Tachyon is any hypothetical particle that travels faster-than-light. It has different properties that stops it from traveling slower than the speed of light. Basically, it can travel infinitely faster than, but not slower than, light-speed. Because of their FTL (faster-than-light) properties, Tachyon Communications make for very fast interstellar broadcasts.
Each level allows creating 1 research link between 2 bases (min labs 20 at each base). When a research link is formed from one base to another, the first base's research capacity will be added to the other's. The first base cannot do any research. Effectively, this merges the research capacity of one base into another's.
Requires:
- Research Labs level 20 on both bases
- Energy 24
- Computer 24