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Chapter 3: R & D
Secret Projects (cont)

The Command Nexus
Once you research the early technology Doctrine Loyalty, The Command Nexus secret project will become available for research. The Command Nexus is a valuable secret project in times of war, as it creates a command center at every city in your empire. The command center not only repairs damaged units more rapidly, but every new unit created will start at two morale levels higher than normal, making your force considerably more experienced and ready for combat.

TIP If you've already constructed a command center in your base prior to developing the Command Nexus, head to the City Screen for the base in question and dismantle the command center you built. This will save you the expense of upkeep for something that will now be free!

The Human Genome Project
One of the earliest secret projects available for research, the Human Genome Project, places an extra talent at every base. If you're playing your game at a low difficulty level, where drones and riots are not much of an issue, the Human Genome Project won't be that valuable. However, at the higher difficulty settings, access to the Human Genome Project can make the difference between a city that is happy and productive and one that is up in arms with rioting.

Maritime Control Center
The Maritime Control Center is a valuable secret project for those times when you have very little landmass to work with and are forced to explore through naval means. Not only does the Maritime Control Center increase the movement rate of every single naval unit by two squares, it automatically builds a naval yard at every base, repairing damaged units in double -time, and creating new naval units with two morale upgrades.

The Planetary Transit System
Once you have discovered industrial automation, access to the Planetary Transit System secret project will become available. This is especially useful if you have a large landmass to populate with new cities. This project, once completed, will begin your cities at a level 3 population as opposed to level 1. This gives each new city a huge jumpstart on growth.

Recap
* Turn blind research off when starting a new game. This lets you select research projects manually.
* The more output you get from your labs, the faster you will research new projects.
* Researching Explore opens the door to mobile units and terraforming.
* Researching Discover gains access to bigger and better engines, orbital spaceflight, and the ultimate in home defense, the planet buster.
* Researching Build leads to improvements in armor and a whole host of city improvements.
* Researching Conquer invents the bulk of weapon improvements.
* Secret projects are first come, first served. If an opponent beats you to it, you must research something else.
* Secret projects can be taken from the enemy by conquering the city that built it.

Next: Chapter 4: Military Fundamentals

 
 

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