Research and Development

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Research and Development

Research and Development (commonly called R&D or RnD) is the job of the Acolytes in Epistemics. Through scientific analysis of alien artifacts and obsequious service to a talking statue, you'll unlock the secrets of new technology for the entire station.

R&D gameplay largely revolves around the acquisition and use of research points to gain new technologies for the station.

Point Generation

Research points can be acquired through a few different sources.

Research points are generated passively by active Glimmer Probers. Your passive generation is limited to (7,500 * Probers). You can also generate points actively by activating alien artifacts and obeying The Oracle. The Oracle is a stone statue somewhere on the station that requests different items be given over to it. In exchange, you will be granted research points disks and bluespace crystals.

A profitable form of point generation is Xenoarcheology, which is the process of analyzing and activating different randomly generated artifacts that can be found via events or salvage debris. Most artifacts have more than one "Stimulus-Reaction" combination (known as Nodes), so make sure to scan and activate as many of them as you can before destroying the artifact for points, selling it to cargo, or keeping it around because it's effects are cool enough to warrant keeping.

Another highly valuable source of research points is Anomalous Research. Most Epistemics departments come equipped with an Anomaly Generator, Anomalous Particle Emitters (A.P.E.) and Anomaly Vessels, which are used to spawn, interact with, and generate points from anomalies respectively. Anomalies can come in different forms, ranging from raging balls of pink-hot matter, to electrically-discharging motes of light, to radioactive gravity wells, so make sure to wear some protective gear while studying them.

Points can also be acquired through research disks, which can be found in maintenance, salvaged from space, given as a result of identifying a disease or from giving the Oracle what it desire.

Equipment

R&D Computer

The R&D computer at the start of the Round with no technologies researched.

In the R&D computer new technologies can be unlocked via points. To research a technology, click on it if it's in the Unlockable technologies column. Technologies in the Future technologies are locked behind others, requiring you to research a previous technology (in the Unlockable technologies column). Technologies in the Unlocked technologies section have already been researched.

Autolathe

The Autolathe doesn't require any research but only makes engineering and botanical tools as well as low-voltage cables. Requires plastic, steel and glass to use.

Protolathe

The Protolathe is a machine capable of printing most of what you've researched. It can make things such from beakers or ammo. Requires steel, glass and sometimes plastic to use.

TechFab

Your purple departmental techfab holds most of your cool lategame recipes. All of the bluespace crystals go here. You can use them to make cool stuff like bags of holding, quantum spin inverters, and so on.

Circuit Imprinter

The Circuit Imprinter is a machine capable of printing machine boards used for creating machines and computers. They require steel, glass and sometimes gold.

Technology Trees

New tech will usually unlock new recipes for machines which have synchronized their database with the R&D Server in use. New technology builds on the old: to unlock the secrets of space-time technology, you'll need to learn plenty of other things along the way. Technologies are roughly grouped, but some items may require research from outside its "tree."

Basic Research
Points: 2,500
Recipes: Mug, Metal Mug, Drinking Glass
This is always the starting point of your journey.

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Janitology Tree

Cleaning Technology
Prerequisites: Basic Research
Points: 5,000
Recipes: Bucket, Mop, Advanced Mop, Spray Bottle, Light Replacer, Body Bag, Trash Bag, Wet Floor Sign
Replacement tools and upgrades for your indispensable sanitation technicians.

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Entertainment Sciences Tree

Applied Musicology
Prerequisites: Basic Research
Points: 5,000
Recipes: Synthesizer, Digital Audio Workstation Circuit Board
Usually (hopefully?) the only thing a Musician will ask you for.

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Applied Physics Tree

Surveillance Technology
Prerequisites: Basic Research
Points: 12,500
Recipes: Surveillance Camera Router, Surveillance Camera Wireless Router, Moveable Wireless Camera, Wireless Camera, Surveillance Camera Monitor, Surveillance Wireless Camera Monitor, Television Circuitboard
Big Brother is watching.

Security Technology
Prerequisites: Basic Research
Points: 10,000
Recipes: Flash, Flash Payload, Handcuffs, Insulative Headcage, Stun Baton
The bread and butter tools of the Security Force, and a jumping-off point to more advanced weaponry.

Non-Lethal Technology

Prerequisites: Security Technology

Points: 8,000

Recipes: .20 Rifle Rubber Round, .25 Caseless Rubber Round, .30 Rifle Rubber Round, .35 Auto Rubber Round, .45 Magnum Rubber Round, .50 Beanbag, .50 Soulbreaker Shell, .50 Tranquilizer Shell, Shock Collar

Not that Security knows it has this, but they can use their Secfab to make the Armory riot-ready. Or ready for everday use, if the Captain can be persuaded ...

Ballistic Technology

Prerequisites: Security Technology

Points: 15,000

Recipes: .30 Rifle Cartridge, .35 Auto Cartridge, .45 Magnum Cartridge, .50 Flare Shell, .50 Buckshot Shell

Lethal ammunition for most standard ballistic weaponry.

Direct Energy Technology

Security Technology, Compact Power Technology

Points: 15,000

Recipes: REDACTED Lockbox

This REDACTED can be used to REDACTED the worst criminals, those completely beyond saving.

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Scientology Science Tree!

Scientific Technology
Prerequisites: Basic Research
Points: 5,000
Recipes: Capacitor, Matter Bin, Micro-Laser, Micro-Manipulator, Scanning Module, Node Scanner
Unlocks basic parts fabrication for new machines, and the Node Scanner for artifact analysis.

Robotics Technology

Prerequisites: Scientific Technology

Points: 7,500

Recipes: Proximity Sensor, Left Borg Arm, Right Borg Arm, Exosuit Fabricator Machine Board

Basic 'bot parts for underfoot droids and an imprint for constructing larger Exosuits.

Archaeological Technology

Prerequisites: Scientific Technology

Points: 10,000

Recipes: Analysis Computer, Artifact Analyzer, Travel Distorter Machine Board

Replacement parts for your Xenoarchaeology equipment and a mysterious machine.

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Junkyard Dog Tree

Salvage Equipment
Prerequisites: Basic Research
Points: 7,500
Recipes: Appraisal Tool, Mining Drill, Ore Processor Machine Board
The Mining Drill is quite an upgrade over the basic Pickaxe.

Exosuit Ripley

Prerequisites: Salvage Technology

Points: 30,000

Recipes: Ripley Legs, Ripley Arms, Ripley Harness, Hydraulic Clamp, Ripley Central Control Board, Ripley Peripherals Board

"I can drive that loader. I have a Class-2 rating."

Spacefaring Equipment

Prerequisites: Salvage Equipment, Industrial Engineering

Points: 10,000

Recipes: Shuttle Control Computer Board, Radar Console Computer Board, Thruster Machine Board, Gyroscope Machine Board

Due to extremely high rates of negligence and dereliction of duty by salvage teams, this technology may be restricted.

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Factorio Tree

Industrial Engineering
Prerequisites: Basic Research
Points: 10,000
Recipes: Intercom Electronics, Conveyor Belt, Flashlight, Fire Extinguisher, Firelock Electronics, Door Electronics, Air Alarm Electronics, Fire Alarm Electronics, Mailing Unit Electronics, Autolathe Machine Board, Protolathe Machine Board, Circuit Imprinter Machine Board
"Why is my Main Bus stopped?"

Material Sheet Printing

Prerequisite: Industrial Engineering

Point Cost: 5,000

Recipes: Bluespace Crystal, Glass, Plasma, Plastic, Plasteel, Reinforced Glass, Steel

Lets you get the listed materials back out of a machine. Finally!

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Electronics Tree

Electromagnetic Theory
Prerequisites: Basic Research
Points: 10,000
Recipes: LV Cable, MV Cable, HV Cable, Incandescent Light, Fluorescent Light, APC Electronics, Substation Machine Board, Remote Signaller, Signal Trigger, Voice Trigger, Timer Trigger
Wait, are those bomb components?

Compact Power Technology

Prerequisites: Electromagnetic Theory

Points: 5,000

Recipes: Wallmount Substation Electronics, Wallmount Generator Electronics, Wallmount APU Electronics

Smaller versions of industrial electronics, usually for insertion into shuttle projects.

Advanced Parts Technology

Prerequisites: Scientific Technology, Compact Power Technology

Points: 15,000

Recipes: Advanced Capacitor, Advanced Matter Bin, High-Power Micro-Laser, Nano-Manipulator, Advanced Scanning Module

Look, I'm not supposed to tell you this, but ... upgrading machines is really, really good.

Spacetime Technology

Prerequisites: Compact Power Technology, Advanced Parts Technology, Archaeological Equipment, Chemistry Technology

Points: 20,000

Recipes: Quantum Spin Inverter, Bluespace Beaker, Bags of Holding, Normality Crystal, Trashbag of Holding

Some of the most advanced toys Epistemics can get, plus the ability to construct a Glimmer Drain.

Electrical Engineering

Prerequisites: Electromagnetic Theory, Industrial Engineering

Points: 15,000

Recipes: RCD Ammo, Power Drill, Holographic Sign Projector, SMES Machine Board, Power Monitoring Computer Electronics, Generator (Plasma) Machine Board, Generator (Uranium) Machine Board, Solar Control Computer Electronics, Emitted Machine Board

Replacements and expansions for the station's power net.

Rapid Upgrade

Prerequisites: Electrical Engineering

Points: 7,500

Recipes: RPED

Makes the Chief Engineer's RPED widely available to Engineering.

Advanced Atmospherics Technology

Prerequisites: Electrical Engineering

Points: 7,500

Recipes: Holofan Projector, Freezer Thermomachine Machine Board, Portable Scrubber Machine Board, Gas Recycler Machine Board

Allows Atmospherics to expand or replace their capabilities if needed.

Basic Powercell Printing

Prerequisites: Electromagnetic Theory

Points: 2,500

Recipes: Small-Capacity Powercell

Advanced Powercell Printing

Prerequisites: Basic Powercell Printing

Points: 5,000

Recipes: Medium-Capacity Powercell

Super Powercell Printing

Prerequisites: Advanced Powercell Printing

Points: 7,500

Recipes: High-Capacity Powercell

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Biology Tree

Biological Technology
Prerequisites: Basic Research
Points: 10,000
Recipes: Scythe, Hatchet, Shovel, Kitchen Knife, Butcher's Cleaver, Microwave Machine Board, Deep Fryer Machine Board
Lots of replacements for the Kitchen and Botany's capabilities.

Advanced Botany

Prerequisites: Biological Technology

Points: 7,500

Recipes: Health Analyzer, Implanter, Seed Extractor Machine Board, Hydroponics Bay Machine Board

Potentially beneficial to both Botany and Medical.

Advanced Surgery

Prerequisites: Biological Technology

Points: 7,500

Recipes: Scalpel, Retractor, Cautery, Drill, Metal Saw, Hemostat

What do you mean we can't perform surgery? Well, whatever!

Virology

Prerequisites: Biological Technology

Points: 10,000

Recipes: Latex Gloves, Nitrile Gloves, Sterile Mask, Sterile Swab, Vaccinator Machine Board, Diagnoser Machine Board

Replacement disease-fighting capabilities!

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Medicine Tree

Chemistry Technology
Prerequisites: Basic Research
Points: 10,000
Recipes: Beaker, Large Beaker, Cryostasis Beaker, Chemical Payload, Dropper, Syringe, Pill Canister, Bottle, Reagent Grinder Machine Board, Hotplate Machine Board
Replaces and expands Chemistry's capabilities.

Medical Machinery

Prerequisites: Biological Technology, Chemistry Technology

Points: 10,000

Recipes: Handheld Crew Monitor, ChemMaster 4000 Machine Board, Chem Dispenser Machine Board, Crew Monitoring Computer Electronics, Biomass Reclaimer Machine Board

More replacements for Medical's capabilities, and the ability to fabricate tracking devices? Sure!

Advanced Life Support Systems

Prerequisites: Medical Machinery, Virology

Points: 20,000

Recipes: Metempsychotic Machine Board, Medical Scanner Machine Board, Stasis Bed Machine Board, Cloning Console Machine Board, Cryo Pod Machine Board

Access to the most advanced Medical imprints, the absolute cutting edge of medicine. And also a replacement board for a broken Metampsychotic Machine.

Troubleshooting

"I can't get any points!"

The R&D Computer probably isn't synced up to the R&D Server. Click Server List, then ID x || RDSERVER and exit the window.

"I can't print anything!"

The machine you're using also need to be synced up to the R&D Server. Follow the steps above and click "Sync." Also, recipes do not appear on all machines; for example, most Machine Boards only appear in the Circuit Imprinter, and most ammunition only appears in the SecFab.