Research & Development

You shove things into a destructive analyzer; it disintegrates them and the R&D console turns the results into research points. Spend those points to unlock technology nodes in tech trees. Each node adds new designs to the protolathe and circuit imprinter.

Scientists don’t need to understand the theory—it’s all about melting things down and playing with the toys. Ain’t life grand? Some machines can be upgraded by swapping in better parts from the protolathe.

Machinery

R&D console

Central control: holds the research database (tech trees, nodes, designs, points).
Run the destructive analyzer, unlock nodes, queue protolathe/imprinter builds, manage disks.
Links to one destructive analyzer, one protolathe, one circuit imprinter—each within 3 tiles, panel closed, not linked elsewhere. Use Find devices in settings after moving or building machines.
Has a disk slot. Scientists can lock the console (others can still use protolathe/imprinter/tech tree if left on that screen).
If destroyed or disassembled, all research on it is lost. Sync or use disks to back up.

Destructive analyzer

Load a hand-held item with technological origins (origin_tech). Run deconstruction from the console; the item is destroyed.
Awards research points and sends materials to the linked protolathe. You can eject without destroying.
Deconstruction modifier from stock parts: better parts = more materials recovered (up to 100%).
Must be within 3 tiles of the console, panel closed. Only one console per analyzer.

Protolathe

Builds items and parts from unlocked designs. Materials: metals, glass, chemicals, sometimes silver/gold/diamond/solid plasma (per design).
Queue builds from the R&D console. Receives material from the destructive analyzer when you deconstruct.
Linking: 3 tiles, panel closed.

Circuit imprinter

Builds circuit boards and electronics. Uses glass, sulfuric acid, often gold and diamond.
Queue from the console. Same linking rules as the protolathe.

R&D servers

Store a copy of research data. Sync Database with Network from a console uploads to all other consoles and to the CentCom R&D server (backup; admins can push back).
Each server has lists of console IDs with upload and download rights.
Servers take heat damage; at 0 health they forget a random technology. They back up to CentCom when damaged or destroyed.

R&D server control computer

Research Director access. Grant/revoke which console IDs can upload or download on each server; forget tech trees or nodes; (with access) transfer data between servers.
Use it to give robotics download access so they get your research.

Data disks

Store design files, technology node files, or research point files. Copy designs/nodes between disk and console; load research point files to add points.
Good for backup or sharing with one console without syncing the whole network.

Gaining research points

1. Destructive analyzer (deconstructing items)

Main source. Each item has origin_tech (e.g. materials 3, engineering 2).

Formula: Sum over each tech category of (level × base value).
Base values per level: Materials 250, Engineering 300, Plasma 600, Power 350, Blue-space 750, Biological 350, Combat 500, Electromagnetic 350, Data 450, Covert/Illegal 3500.
First time you research a given tech level in a category = full points. Repeats = 10% (circuit boards and integrated circuits = 0% on repeat).
If every tech level on the item was already researched, total is capped at 400.
Archaeological finds add 6,000–12,000 points (random).
Deconstructing also sends materials to the protolathe and can reveal hidden tech trees (e.g. Covert Tech from contractor items).

2. Science tool / portable destructive analyzer

Use the tool on the R&D console to upload stored data. Points for (first time per type unless noted):

Raw data points – whatever the tool has collected.
Autopsy weapon scans – 1,000–2,000 normally; special values for e.g. large organic needle, Hulk Foot, explosive blast, electronics meltdown, low pressure, facepalm.
Artifact/anomaly scans – 80,000–120,000; only certain artifact types count.
Slime core scans – gray 5,000; metal/purple/orange/blue 8,000; yellow/red/dark purple/silver/gold/dark blue/pink/green 13,000; black/light pink/oil/adamantine 20,000; pyrite/cerulean/sepia 28,000; bluespace 38,000; rainbow 55,000; unknown 2,000.
Plant data – fruit name 1,200–2,800; chem 2,200–4,800; trait 3,500–6,000.
Rock / odd matter data – age-based and exotic bonuses.

After upload, the tool’s data is cleared.

3. Research point files on data disks

Insert a disk with a research point file. Load it from the disk management (data) menu.
You get (file size × 1,000) research points. The file is consumed.
Useful for rewards, events, or transferring points between rounds.

Subdepartments and other point sources

These feed points into R&D. Automatic sources send to the core R&D console (ID 1); others use the science tool or disk at the console.

ADMS (Anomalous Data Measurement System)

Deployable machine. Insert a research points disk (or any disk; ADMS installs the program if needed).
Place in an anomalous region (deep maintenance, unexplored mines, away missions). While active it fills the disk with points; rate depends on area and scanner/laser upgrades. Hostiles may spawn.
Retrieve the disk and load it at an R&D console like any research point file.

Toxins (bomb testing)

Kinetic Energy Scanner (explosion watcher beacon): explosions within ~10 tiles award points.
Set expected explosion power (randomizes each time). Closer blast = more points (up to 40,000 per test). Points go to the core R&D console.

Xenobotany

Plants give unique fruit names, chem data, trait data. Scan with the science tool (e.g. from plant reports). Upload at the R&D console for points (first time per unique name/chem/trait).

Xenogenetics

Genetics analyzer: discover and combine mutations. Use Sync to upload new mutations to the core R&D console. Points (plus bonus for advanced genes) and Science channel announcement. Direct from machine; no science tool.

Xenoarchaeology

Artifact info reports and rock reports (age, odd matter). Scan papers with the science tool; upload at the console for artifact scans (80k–120k), rock age (10k–50k), odd matter (5k–10k+).
Deconstructing archaeological finds in the destructive analyzer gives 6,000–12,000 points once.

Xenobiology (slimes)

Scan slime cores/extracts with the science tool. Upload at the console; each core type pays first-time points (2,000–55,000 by type).

Ameridian

Liquid ameridian analyzer: attach a bidon of liquid ameridian (from the refinery). Run it; it converts liquid to stored points. Better parts = more value per unit and faster consumption. When you stop, stored points go to the core R&D console (Science announcement).

Mech construction (exosuits)

Finishing an exosuit (Ripley, Odysseus, Gygax, Durand, Firefighter, Phazon, Ivan, etc.) grants a one-time reward to the core R&D console. Amount varies by mech (e.g. Ripley 10,000, Gygax 25,000, Phazon 50,000). Robotics builds; R&D gets the points.

Deconstruction

Load an item with technological origins into the destructive analyzer; run it from the console. The item is destroyed; you get research points and materials go to the protolathe. You can eject without destroying. Some items (e.g. contractor gear) reveal hidden tech trees like Covert Tech. No tech data = can’t analyze. Bruise packs, flashbangs, lab oddities usually work. Experiment!

Protolathe

Unlock tech tree nodes, then build. The protolathe uses metals, glass, chemicals, silver/gold/diamond/plasma as per design. Link within 3 tiles; use Find devices if you moved things. Queue from the console and collect your toys.

Circuit Imprinter

Glass, sulfuric acid, gold, diamond. Boards need different data/materials research levels; some need biological or blue-space. AI law modules and machine boards (mech suits, power generators) are printed here, then assembled in frames or the exosuit fabricator. Link within 3 tiles; control from the console.

Server Saving

Sync Database with Network (in settings): uploads your research to all other R&D consoles and the CentCom server. Do it periodically.
You can disconnect a console from the network so it won’t receive syncs (e.g. dedicated robotics console).
Research Director: R&D server management computer — grant/revoke upload/download by console ID, forget tech or nodes, transfer between servers. Give robotics download access so they get your research.
Data disks: copy designs and tech nodes to/from a disk; load research point files. Handy for backup or sharing with one console without full sync.