Why don't my Dominator materials stay in the Lab?

from Stardock Forums
When I sell my Dominator parts to Science stations, I see the number of "tons avaiable for research" goes up, the Research Efficiency goes up, and the Time to Complete Research comes down.

Unfortunately, when I go back later on, the materials seem to be gone, and the research doesn't seem to be sped up more than a hair.

Anybody else notice this? Am I missing something, or is this a bug? I can't duplicate the error every time, but I've seen it most times, even when I've donated hundreds of tons of equipment "to the cause".
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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
This has puzzled many (myself included) and I don't have a definitive "scientific" answer to that, and can't remember seeing any watertight explanation.

However I do have a "homemade theory":
The research is a journey to a destination that is (in a way) known, you want to find a way to stop Doms. The rangers provide the fuel (Dom parts) to keep the research moving and it does move, in stages. When one stage is researched the fuel is spent and the science guys need more. But just as any research this isn't straightforward either and that's why you see the days to finishing the research to go back up. Somewhere in the background the total time to finishing the research comes closer though.

Anyway this is all a little theoretical really, as while you're playing you'll find out ways to get rid of Dom bosses without having to wait for the science guys to finish their research. So I just do it for the money mostly, directing my efforts to Blazer research (who is the most difficult boss to get rid of without research).
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Well, have you noted the following values?

- time to complete before giving material

- amount of material given

- time to complete after giving material and associated research efficiency

- time to complete after all materials have been spend

That could be useful to get the correct formula between research efficiency, available material for research and time consumption

WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
That could be useful to get the correct formula between research efficiency, available material for research and time consumption

>task: make formula
>enter variables
>enter data
>calculate
!!!!Beeb Beeb Beeb!!! Alarm!! Danger!! System overload!!
Abandon ship! Abandon ship!   

Ok! thanks anyway for your suggestion, hopefully I find a way to put it to good use.



Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
heres an idea. they experiment with it but the scientists have no clue what they are doing end up getting just a bit of info on it and throwing it out because is got blown up, fried, selfdistructed, ect...
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Yeah, I guess it makes sense that, one way or another, the submitted materials get "Used up" through the course of research. Still, I'm surprised at how QUICKLY they get used up.

Combine that with the fact that research by different bases doesn't seem to be additive, and the research angle seems pretty weak (selling the Dominator parts still represents the best way to cover at least many of the expenses incurred in blowing up the Dominators in the first place!).

I don't know exactly what happens when one research program is finished, but I don't want spoilers (that's one of the most fun parts of the game!), so I guess I'll find out sometime soon.

If anybody is able to acquire the code and build a sequel, I think beefing up the research piece (i.e., allowing different bases to share research, and allowing more incremental advances through research) would be a natural candidate.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Combine that with the fact that research by different bases doesn't seem to be additive

Strange, I was under the impression it was additive: if I sell enough material to research and I go to another research base, I will see that the available research material has decreased. This means that it is in common. But it supposes that I was able to go another research base fastly enough

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
If you don't want spoilers, then suffice it to say that this behaviour is entirely normal. You need to contribute truly huge quantities of dominator materials over the course of the game if you're going to finish all three research projects (there are other ways to complete the game). Expect to spend multiple years of game time just slaughtering hundreds of dominators, collecting their stuff, and depositing it at research stations. I can't remember exactly how much you need, but it works out to something like running all three projects at 100% for a few years.

Research is global, but research materials go down really fast, so until you're dumping the stuff on research stations by the hundred (near the end of the game), it's usually all gone by the time you reach another station.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Good to know. Thanks for the explanation--that's a lot more research than I was ever able to do.

One of the things I love about the game is how you're left to puzzle out how the various pieces fit together.

But on the research, it's a shame that a little more of that wasn't explained, or at least hinted at, in the game. Or maybe it was and I just plain missed it? In any event, it's good to have some idea what's going on!
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
hola guys,

i know its a little late for this comment but, if no one else has realised it, if you go to the Business center and invest into more science bases, the research variable does go up a bit.. i built 4, and it seemed to increase by roughly 12% give or take.

- building more warships and military bases will make sure you hold more turf in your Dom fight

also notice.. when you do finish projects against the dominators, some (ive only noticed 3 ships so far) will also use the research


ive built more pirate bases, 2 so far, and it SEEMS to increase your standings with them, though don't quote me.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
I haven't played SR2 in quite awhile; I got the game as soon as Excalibur offered it.

Research materials are a consumable. The three research projects will progress slowly (20% irrc) without you bringing any materials. When you sell dominator salvage to the science stations the research rate will be increased while the materials are consumed. If you bring materials regularly you can easily keep at least the Terron research line at 100% continuously. You just need to bring in parts quickly enough.

Blazer and Keller are easy to defeat without completing the research. What I would do is sell any salvage that sells at double price to the correct dept. Check sell prices and you'll notice for non-equipables the corresponding dept will pay double. Every thing else I would sell to the Terron dept to fuel research.

Edit: Sorry I think I confused Terron and Blazer. You definitely don't need research for Keller. There's probably a non-research way to defeat all the bosses but for Blazer I always used research.