Research explained please

[datzap]

Since my other post on economics worked so well. I figured I would ask about research.

How do research institutes (I think that's what they are called) work?

Playing USA 36 start, I have 6 instituted. I have 7 research slots. Does that mean 1 slot per institute plus 1 additional? Or do that add a bonus?

Also I see estimated time left. It seems that it is always the highest value. Is it ever less?

Is there a penalty for researching items ahead of time? I.E. tech x has date of 37 and its currently 36, what penalties?

Thanks for the help in advance.

[GIJoe597]

Each nation gets one slot normally. Each Research Center you build adds a slot.


There is no penalty for research. The higher the tech, the more it costs. If you can afford it, you may research it.

[Maryondo]

"It seems that it is always the highest value"
I am usually far below the maximum time. Meaning: It takes less than it could take at maximum.

In my current game, I started in 1914 as Germany, reached 1953 now and I am researching stuff up to 2005.
Result: While other countries, that didn't put that much money into research, had still Mk 1 up to Mk 3 tanks (WW1 tanks) (GB and USA in this case) when I attacked them and rolled them over with Leopard 2A5's ;-)

As GIJoe597 said: The higher the tech, the more it costs - but the more advantages due superior/advanced tech you get. For example, higher power output from Solar-Energy etc.

[datzap]

Thank you. Good stuff.

[Duncan Mac Havoc Jr.]

Two addidtions:
1. Spending to much on research without growing your economy can easily cripple it. I tend to limit research spendings to max 10% of my income so there is enough money to do other stuff with
2. There are some main tech paths (for example computer techs in 1936) in the tech tree and bottleneck techs locking several tech branches behind them. You will want to watch out for these or you may end up in a situation you have some unused research slots, because there are no more techs or designs left for the moment

[tred7894]

Also, some research is easily gained through trade (espacially if you're playing cold war and beyond) so keep in mind that some powers will trade with you either you paying for their tech or you getting payed to sell tech. It can be expensive, but it is a time saver if you are playing nation that started out with little in terms of tech. Units can be expensive but make a lot of difference, so maximizing for the best designs in all areas of your military can really give you an advantage, especially if you start out with only basic units. Also, some tech cannot be sold between nations (many nuclear, military production, and era techs are like this) so I usually focus on those and purchase the newly available techs from better countries after more are available.

[Maryondo]

Originally posted by tred7894:

Also, some research is easily gained through trade (espacially if you're playing cold war and beyond) so keep in mind that some powers will trade with you either you paying for their tech or you getting payed to sell tech. It can be expensive, but it is a time saver if you are playing nation that started out with little in terms of tech. Units can be expensive but make a lot of difference, so maximizing for the best designs in all areas of your military can really give you an advantage, especially if you start out with only basic units. Also, some tech cannot be sold between nations (many nuclear, military production, and era techs are like this) so I usually focus on those and purchase the newly available techs from better countries after more are available.

If I recall right, the Devs stated once that bought tech will not give you the same advantages as the if researched on your own... But I cannot remember the details. It was somewhere here on Steam.

[datzap]

So I can buy research? How do I do that? And doesn't that mean that it has to be researched by someone else first?

[GIJoe597]

Yes - trade offer.
Yes.