From left the right, the research board includes the following research areas: Terraforming, Navigation, Artificial Intelligence, Gaia Project, Economy, Science.
The different levels grant you the effects described below. Only the level your player token is on counts; Previous levels do not have any effect. Bonuses identified by a star and a white outline are one-time bonuses.
Terraforming
- Level 0: Each terraforming step costs you three ore.
- Level 1: Each terraforming step costs you three ore. Immediately gain two ore.
- Level 2: Each terraforming step costs you two ore.
- Level 3: Each terraforming step costs you one ore.
- Level 4: Each terraforming step costs you one ore. Immediately gain two ore.
- Level 5: Each terraforming step costs you one ore. Immediately gain the federation token placed here. Gaining this federation token counts as "Forming an Federation".
Remember that you must have a previously acquired federation token in order to advance to level 5 of this research area and claim the federation token there.
Navigation
- Level 0: Your basic range is one.
- Level 1: Your basic range is one. Immediately gain one Q.I.C.
- Level 2: Your basic range is two.
- Level 3: Your basic range is two. Immediately gain one Q.I.C.
- Level 4: Your basic range is three.
- Level 5: Your basic range is four. Immediately place the Lost Planet token on an accessible space that does not contain a planet, satellite, or space station. The accessibility of a space follows the same rules as the "Build a Mine" action. This counts as a "Build a Mine" action, meaning you can gain VP and your opponents can gain power.
Do not place a mine on the Lost Planet token. You are considered to have colonized the planet; place one of your satellites on the Lost Planet token as a reminder. The Lost Planet counts as its own planet type, and as a planet with a mine. You cannot upgrade this mine.
Artificial Intelligence
- Level 0: This level has no effect.
- Level 1: Immediately gain one Q.I.C.
- Level 2: Immediately gain one Q.I.C.
- Level 3: Immediately gain two Q.I.C.
- Level 4: Immediately gain two Q.I.C.
- Level 5: Immediately gain four Q.I.C.
Gaia Project
- Level 0: This level has no effect. You cannot start a Gaia Project.
- Level 1: To start a Gaia project, you must move six power tokens to your Gaia area. Immediately gain one of your Gaiaformers.
- Level 2: To start a Gaia project, you must move six power tokens to your Gaia area. Immediately gain three power tokens.
- Level 3: To start a Gaia project, you must move four power tokens to your Gaia area. Immediately gain one of your Gaiaformers.
- Level 4: To start a Gaia project, you must move three power tokens to your Gaia area. Immediately gain one of your Gaiaformers.
- Level 5: To start a Gaia project, you must move three power tokens to your Gaia area. Immediately gain 4 VP and 1 additional VP for each Gaia Planet with one of your structures on it (you do not gain VP for Gaiaformers on Gaia Planets).
Economy
- Level 0: This level has no effect.
- Level 1: During each income phase, gain two credits and charge one power.
- Level 2: During each income phase, gain one ore, two credits, and charge two power.
- Level 3: During each income phase, gain one ore, three credits, and charge three power.
- Level 4: During each income phase, gain two ore, four credits, and charge four power.
- Level 5: Immediately gain three ore, six credits, and charge six power. Remember that you no longer receive the income from level 4.
Science
- Level 0: This level has no effect.
- Level 1: During each income phase, gain one knowledge.
- Level 2: During each income phase, gain two knowledge.
- Level 3: During each income phase, gain three knowledge.
- Level 4: During each income phase, gain four knowledge.
- Level 5: Immediately gain nine knowledge. Remember that you no longer receive the income from level 4.
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