Second Sphere Technology Rules

Basics

This page is entirely self-contained; references to tech index modifiers on other pages are duplications for completeness and/or clarity.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing

A graphical representation of the relative tech levels and cost.

Technological development costs is controlled by the comparison of appropriate Tech Level ('Global Tech Level') compared to the Tech Level of the advance in question.

For every Tech Level that the advance is over the Global Tech Level, all costs are increased by 10%.
For every Tech Level the advance is greater than 5 points below the Global Tech Level, all costs are reduced by 5% to a minimum of 50% of base.

Furthermore, over time the Global Tech Level increases due to the effects of fundamental research being disseminated across the Sphere. This means over time, more advanced technologies become cheaper to develop.

Technological Fields

Not all technological research projects are created alike. Some are derivations of a long history or common need, while others are esoteric and specialized. Thus they are broken into several types as follows.

Common Technologies

Common Technologies are universally available and cover fields such as conventional newtonian propulsion systems, electronics, shipbuilding, various forms of weapons, materials science, biology and civilian engineering.

The following are all Common Technologies:

Shipbuilding

Aerospace Construction

Mecha Construction

Ground Vehicle Construction

Electrochemical Weapons

Railgun Weapons

Particle (Pulse-Beam) Weapons

Missiles

Propulsion (STL)

Materials

Stealth

Shields

Power

Electronics

AI

Transgenics

Cyberware/Supersoldier

Industrial/Mass Production

Catapult

Civilian

Signature Technologies

These are more unique technologies that are the outgrowth of strong, directed research into a specific field, one that is often neglected or unknown to others. These will often have commensurately high difficulties making them difficult (but not impossible) for others to research into them.

Signature Techs/Applications may be treated as Common Techs/Applications during nation creation only if their paths or template explicitely grants a starting amount into a Signature Tech.

The following are all Signature Technologies:

Mega Particle Weapons

Hangarize

Collarize

Advanced Stealth

Theotechnologies

The posthumans (and before them, the Precursors) used metric-alteration technology far beyond baseline human understanding. Even after a century of intensive investigation mankind's understanding of its operating principles is limited to hazy theories and empirical engineering uses.

Theotechnology will often rely upon a Common Tech as well, thus T-Forced Fusion Reactors will require a certain minimum Power tech index.

Theotechnology can have a very wide spread of difficulties; to compensate, artefacts and the expenditure of dust can temporarily increase the level of theotechnologies for research projects.

Basic Theotechnology

FTL Drives

Advanced Theotechnology

Xenotechnology

National Tech Indices

Note that in all cases, specific Tech Levels override more general Tech Levels.

Any route that does not grant a tech index modifier instead provides 1 SP.

Universal

[Busy Child] +5 AI Tech, +5 Basic Theotech, +5 Xenotech

[Mixed Population] +2 Transgenics

[Dominantly Transgene] +4 Transgenics

[No Suitable World|Adapt] +5 Transgenics

[No Suitable World|Build Our Own] +5 Xenotech or +2 Shipbuilding

[No Suitable World|Posthuman Structures] +5 Basic Theotech

[Hell World|Adapt] +5 Transgenics

[Hell World|Make Do] +2 to any two techs you have at least +4 in

[Terraformable World|Terraforming Failure] +5 Civilian tech

[Terraformable World|Artifact Rush] +5 Basic Theotech

[Transgene Migration] +2 Transgenics

[Crisis|Get Help from Earth] +2 to any field

[Crisis|Innovate Madly] +2 to any field

[Military|Feral Drone Attack] +10 Xenotech

[Military|Superpower Squabble] +2 to any field

[Artifacts!] +5 Basic Theotech

[Artifacts!|Feral Drone Attack] +5 Xenotech

[Artifacts!|Reverse-Engineerable] +5 Basic Theotech

[Artifacts!|Active Machinery] +100 Advanced Theotech

[Isolated|Juche!] +2 Power

[Isolated|Go Weird] +4 Transgenic

[Isolated|Experiental Drives] +5 Basic Theotech

[Broken-down|Become energy independent] +2 Power

[Broken-down|Theta Hub] +5 Basic Theotech

[Catapulted|Hyperdrive Repair Research] +5 Basic Theotech

[Catapulted|Catapult Construction] +20 Catapult

[Future Government] +2 transgenics or +2 AI

EU

Global Technology Level: 20

Shipbuilding: +5 [25]

Ground Vehicles: +5 [25]

Materials: +5 [25]

Railguns: +10 [30]

Transgenics: -10 [10]

Catapults: +30 [50]

[To Go Boldly] Propulsion +5 [25]

[New European Millenium] Ground Tech +3 [28]

[New Golden Age] Shields +3 [23]

[Center for Research] +4 Global Tech Level [24]

[Fraying Patchwork] Transgenics +5 [15]

[Arms Production Center] Railguns +3 [33], Mass Production +2 [22]

[Ignore the War] +5 Civilian Tech

[Drastic Military Reformation] Any Technology +2 [22]

[New Golden Age] Railguns +5 [25]

[Gundam Counterattack] Mecha +5 [25]

[Foreign Legionnaries] Infantry +5 [25]

[The Special Aerospace Service] Stealth +5 [25]

[The Silent Service] Stealth +5 [25]

[Keep 'em Flying] +3 Civilian Tech

[Tin Soldiers] +5 AI [25]

PACT

Global Technology Level: 20

Shipbuilding: +2 [22]

Aircraft: +5 [25]

Electronics: +5 [25]

Beam/Pulse Weapons: +5 [25]

Shields: +5 [25]

Stealth: +5 [25]

Transgenics: -5 [15]

[Arms Production Center] Mass Production +2 [22]

[Corporate State] Civilian Tech +3 [23]

[Transhumanize!] Transgenics +3 [18]

[Center for Research] Beam/Pulse Weapons +3 [28], Mass Production +2 [22]

[Blood for Dust] Basic Theotech: +15 [35]

[Ignore the War] +5 Civilian Tech

[Zoom and Boom] Propulsion +3 [23]

[The Fleet does the Flying ] Materials +3 [23]

[Send in the Marines]: Ground Vehicles +3 [23]

[Rangers Lead The Way] Railguns +3 [23]

[Once Tom Clancy Is Mass Produced...] Stealth +3 [28]

[Area 52] +2 Technology (Any)

[Once Tom Clancy Is Mass Produced...] +3 Stealth

[Tin Soldiers] +5 AI [25]

[Beta Carbon Samurai] Mecha +2 [22], Propulsion +2 [22]

[Keep 'em Flying] +3 Civilian Tech

China

Global Technology Level: 20

Shipbuilding: +10 [30]

Aircraft: +5 [25]

Electronics: +2 [22]

Missiles: +5 [25]

Stealth: +5 [25]

Transgenics: -2 [18]

[Running Back into the Fold] +2 Civilian Tech [24]

[Still Free] +2 Weapons Tech (any) [22]

[One Nation, Twenty Systems] +2 Civilian Tech [22]

[Send in the Blue-Helmets] -2 Global Techlevel, +2 Missiles Tech [30]

[Former Trading Hub] +3 Civilian Tech [23]

[Nationalized] +2 Mass Production Tech [22]

[Financially Independent] +5 Civilian Tech [25]

[Brain Drain] -2 Global Techlevel

[Outsystem Research Facility] +2 Any Technology [22], +2 Any Other Technology [22]

[Crysis Situation] Stealth +3 [28]

[Supersoldier Factory] Transgenics +3 [21]

[Long March into Space] Propulsion Tech + 3 [23]

[FIST Teams] Ground Vehicles + 3 [23]

[Steel Dragons] Mecha +5 [25]

Russia

Global Technology Level: 20

Shipbuilding: +5 [25]

Propulsion: +5 [25]

Materials: +5 [25]

Railguns: +10 [30]

Transgenics: -2 [18]

Collarize!: +30 [50]

[Tsar Putin III] Transgenics +2 [20]

[Sovetskiy Soyuz] Propulsion +2 [27]

[Whatever The Cost] Transgenics +2 [20], Mass Production +2 [22], Civilian Tech -2 [18]

[Industrial Heartlands] Mass Production +2 [22]

[Resurgent Economy] Civilian Tech +5 [25]

[Bunker Mentality] Materials +2 [27]

[Infodump] +4 Global Tech Level [24]

[Under the Radar] Stealth +5 [25]

[Strategic Missile Command] Propulsion +3 [28]

[Where No Man Has Gone] +20 Basic Theotech [40] OR +580 Advanced Theotech [600]

[Big Gun Lobby] Materials +2 [27], Propulsion +2 [27], Stealth -2 [18]

[Military Surplus] -2 Global Tech Level [18], +2 Shipbuilding [25]

[Soldier of the Future] Transgenics + 3 [21]

ZOCU

Global Technology Level: 18

Shipbuilding: -3 [15]

Hangarize: +32 [50]

Mecha: +7 [25]

Power Systems: +7 [25]

Propulsion: +7 [25]

Mega Particle Weapons: +32 [50]

Basic Theotech: +22 [40]

[Put It Behind Us] +3 Civilian Technology [21]

[Center for Research] +4 Global Tech Level [22]

[Arms Production Center] Mass Production +2 [20]

[Guiding Star] Transgenics +2 [20]

[House of War] Transgenics +2 [20]

[Regional Hub] +3 Civilian Technology [21]

[Transhuman Resources] Transgenics +3 [21]

[Crash Industrialization] Mass Production +4 [22], -2 Civilian Technology [16]

[Fort Up] Materials +5 [23]

[The Silent Service] Stealth +4 [22]

[Crush them WITH YOUR MIND] Transgenics +5 [23]

[Giant Robots Rule] Mecha +2 [27]

[Midseason Uglies] Basic Theotech: +5 [45] + Global Tech +1 [19] or Advanced Theotech: +777 [795]

[Internal Collapse] Any Weapon: +2 [20] Civilian -3 [15]

League

Global Technology Level: 12

Shipbuilding: -2 [10]

Ground: +8 [20]

Materials: +3 [15]

Projectiles: +13 [25]

Feral Xenotech: +38 [50]

Collarize +18 [30]

[Still Alive (And Out There!)] -2 Global Tech Level [10]

[Law of the Gun] +5 Any Weapons Tech [17]

[High Tech Bullshit] +3 Global Tech Level or 21 points, max of +7 in any field.

[Regional Hub] +5 Civilian Tech [17]

[Exploration Launching Port] +8 Basic Theotech [20], +10 Collarize [40]

[Copycat] +8 Mecha [20]

[Mao Mode] -2 Global Tech Level [10]

[Stalin Mode] +3 Any 2 Weapons Techs [15], -2 Civilian Tech [10]

[Magnate Killteams] +3 Stealth [15]

[League Production Center] +3 Mass Production [15]

[Evil to Fight Evil]/[Transhuman Supremacy] +5 Transgene [17]

[Regional Port] Shipbuilding +5 [17], Collarize +5 [35]

Magnate

Global Technology Level: 16

Railguns +4 (20)

Materials +4 (20)

Transgenics +9 (25)

Ground +4 (20)

Xenotech +14 (30)

Collarize +14 (30)

[Front Lines]: +4 Mass Production Tech [20]

[Voice for Peace]: +4 Civilian Tech [20]

[Perfected Society]: +2 Transgenics [27]

[Diplomatic Cunning]: +2 Civilian Tech [18]

[We're People Too]: +2 Global Tech Level [18], +4 Civilian Tech [20]

[THINK HARDER]: +4 Global Tech Level [20]

[Exhumanize]: +5 Transgenics [30]

[Time-Motion Engineers]: +4 Shipbuilding [20], Collarize +10 [40]

[We come in Sixpacks]: +2 Mass Production Tech [18]

[Evangelical Transhumanism]: +2 Propulsion [18], Collarize +5 [35]

[Face Dancers]: +9 Stealth Tech [25]

[Series VII Replicants]: +3 Ground [23], +3 Transgenics [28]

[Holy Shit It's the Clans]: +4 Global Tech Level [20], +2 Weapons Tech [22], -4 Civilian Tech [16]

[Reverse Engineering]: +4 Mecha Tech [20], +10 Xenotech [40]

[War Winner]: +24 Basic Theotech [40]

Independent

Global Technology Level: 18

25 points to distribute as desired, no more than +7 points in any single field

[Get Sirius] Shipbuilding -3 [15], Hangarize +30 [48], Power Systems: +7 [25]

[Be Interventionist] Ground +2 [20], Aircraft +2 [20]

[Fie on the Homeland] Global Tech -3 [15]

[Still Alive (and out there!)] Global Tech -8 [10]

[Phezzan] Stealth +7 [25]

[Transhuman Supremacy] Transgenics +3 [21]

[Expanse Production Center] Shipbuilding: +3 [21], Materials: +2 [20], Mass Production: +7 [25]

[Transhuman Resources] Transgenics +3 [21]

[Center for Research] Global Tech Level +4 [22]

[The Tensor Building] Global Tech Level +2 [22], Specific Weapon Tech +5 [25]

[Fort Up] Ground +7 [25]

[Zoom and Boom] Aircraft +7 [25]

[The Fleet does the Flying] Shipbuilding +2 [20], Specific Weapon Tech +2 [20]

[Friends from ZOCU] Mega Particle Weapons: +27 [45], Mecha: +7 [25]

[Hypertech Bullshit] Basic Theotech: +22 [40] + Global Tech +2 [20] or Advanced Theotech: +782 [800]

[Low Profile] Stealth: +7 [25]