[suggestion] Research buildings

i must be missing something non of my buildings are upgradeable at all

I agree with this idea. add to an exsisting station.

I believe there is a strategic point in having multiple research centers. To have only one facility that conducted your entire empire's research work would marginalize that point and more importantly take away from the overall relative realism and immersion value.

While I'm on the subject, for what its worth, I think there should be a separate research center for each branch of tech tree and that facility should be upgradeable.

I disagree, making one build more research station is far better. When I'm managing an empire of over 40 or so planets, i don't want to be worring about "is my one research station level 3 yet?" Just make three of them. I'm perfectly happy the way it is, this way, the focus is on what topic you pick, not how you get there.

i would vote to keep buildings non-upgradeable, i really don't like the idea of leveling for ships/buildings, though upgrading (as in armor/weaps and whatnot) is fine

in this case: why put all your eggs in one basket, if i played on a large map i'd want to put my research stations in different systems so my opponent couldn't take it out in one attack

i think the idea of having different research stations for different types of research is intriguing, i say this because it would force someone to choose an initial research branch right from the start, so everyone's starting strats have the possibility of being unique

one question for those more observant than i: if i overbuild research centers (more than the minimum required for a certain research item) do i research that item faster? if not i think it should work that way, the cost can be the same, but the speed should increase...

@Wraith - that is one of the major problem points with the current phased lane system. If I control the entry point to my home system placing my single research center there would be the safest place. Hell if I toss in a wall of gauss guns and hangers any enemy ships that would be lucky enough make it through the check - err... choke points on the way to my planet would be toast quickly.

Regarding you question, yes your times get reduced.

heh ya, choke points might work on a ww2 battlefield, but not in 3d space with hyperspace... (who am i kidding? soase isn't 3d...)

good to know about the research, still though, at least with multiple stations you have the option of putting them all together, or keeping them separate

same here, plus its sorta lame to have 10-15 planets and only 1 uber research center... Its more fun to build 5-6 of them!