Technologies

Technologies

Technologies are a core part of progression in OGX. They unlock new ships, buildings and missions, improve your combat performance, and increase your empire’s overall efficiency.

Research is performed from the Research Lab on each planet. Some technologies are global (affect all planets), others are mainly used as prerequisites.

Research basics

To start a research, you need:

• A Research Lab on the planet.
• Enough resources (Metal, Crystal, Deuterium).
• Sufficient energy on the planet.

Research time depends on:

• The technology level you are researching.
• The level of the Research Lab (and, if enabled, global features such as Intergalactic Research Network).
• Possible bonuses (Commander Account, events, etc.).

Only one research can be active at a time per account, but OGX offers advanced Commander Account – Service terms of use features such as a research queue.

Main technology categories

In OGX, technologies can be grouped into several categories:

• Basic technologies – fundamentals and prerequisites.
• Drive / propulsion technologies – ship speed and unlocks.
• Combat technologies – Weapons, Shields, Armor.
• Advanced / economy technologies – Plasma, energy-related techs, etc.
• Exploration technologies – mainly Astrophysics Technology.

Below is an overview of the most important techs. (Names and exact effects may vary slightly depending on the universe configuration.)

Basic technologies

These are usually among the first technologies you will research:

• Energy Technology
  • Increases energy efficiency for certain buildings and advanced techs.
  • Often required as a prerequisite for other research.

• Computer Technology
  • May increase some mission slots depending on server configuration.
  • Required for several other technologies.

• Espionage Technology
  • Improves the quality of espionage reports.
  • Helps detect incoming hostile fleets and reduces the chance that your probes are destroyed.

Drive / propulsion technologies

These technologies determine the speed of your ships:

• Combustion Drive
  • Increases the speed of early ships (Small Cargo, Light Fighter, etc.).
  • Required for several basic ships.

• Impulse Drive
  • Increases the speed of mid-tier ships.
  • Often required for ships like Cruisers and some advanced units.

• Hyperspace Drive
  • Increases the speed of late-game ships.
  • Required for the most advanced and powerful ships.

Higher drive levels reduce travel time for missions (attack, transport, expedition, colonization, etc.).

Combat technologies

These technologies increase fleet effectiveness in battle:

• Weapons Technology
  • Increases the attack power of all your ships and defenses.

• Shielding Technology
  • Increases shield strength, making ships and defenses more resistant.

• Armor Technology
  • Increases hull integrity, helping ships and defenses survive longer in combat.

Even a few levels in these technologies can make a huge difference in battle outcome.

Advanced / economy technologies

Some technologies directly or indirectly improve your economy:

• Plasma Technology
  • Increases the production of basic Resources (Metal, Crystal, Deuterium).
  • Very strong long-term economic upgrade.

• Other advanced techs may improve special buildings, unlock unique ships or provide additional bonuses depending on the universe rules.

Exploration: Astrophysics

• Astrophysics Technology is one of the most important techs in the game.
  • Unlocks additional colony slots.
  • Increases the number of simultaneous Expeditions.
  • Allows colonization of more distant positions in a solar system.

Full details are available on the dedicated page: Astrophysics Technology.

Research strategy for beginners

In early game, a simple priority can be:

1. Unlock basic economy and infrastructure techs (Energy, Computer).
2. Get a few levels of Espionage Technology.
3. Research Combustion Drive for faster Small Cargos and early raids.
4. Start investing into Weapons, Shielding and Armor for combat efficiency.
5. Push Astrophysics Technology to unlock more colonies and expedition slots.
6. Gradually invest in Plasma Technology for long-term resource gain.

Your exact priorities will depend on your playstyle (miner, fleeter, raider, explorer) and on the universe speed.

Tips

• Do not neglect combat techs: a smaller but better researched fleet can win against larger unresearched fleets.
• Higher Research Lab levels significantly reduce research times and unlock advanced techs.
• Use the research queue (via Commander Account – Service terms of use) to chain long research while you are offline.
• Combine tech upgrades with a solid resource base – see Resources and Getting started for economic guidelines.

Technologies are a long-term investment: the earlier you start building a strong research base, the more powerful your empire will become.