Research & Progress
Research is how your civilisation moves forward. At your HQ, open the research panel to see available projects. Each completed technology unlocks buildings, ships, abilities, or economic bonuses.
Research takes time — queue projects that match your strategy. A trader might prioritise logistics and storage; a warlord might rush weapons and hull upgrades. You cannot research everything at once, so choose deliberately.
Some technologies depend on others — complete prerequisites first. Special locations or rare finds may also gate advanced projects.
Check research regularly. A finished project frees the queue for the next breakthrough. The gap between you and rivals often comes down to who invests wisely in knowledge.