It's not enough to learn a new scientific principle: you need to actually build something based on that knowledge in order to give your empire access to the technology. Once you've progressed to the appropriate level in a given School for a technology to become available, a research project is initiated and your scientists will begin creating the first prototype. This process can vary in the amount of time it takes. During this time the project is subject to cost or time overruns, as well as being vulnerable to enemy spies. Once the project is complete, the technology is available to your empire.
ADVANCES
Technological Advances affect your entire empire and don't need to be built. Once their research project is complete the Advance is automatically applied throughout the empire.
OVERRUNS
Scientific research is never entirely predictable. Unexpected roadblocks sometimes appear, and promising theories sometimes turn out to be false leads. Ultimately, perseverance will bring success, but sometimes these roadblocks, known as Project Overruns, can cause a project to cost more money or take longer than expected. Sabotage by enemy spies can also cause Project Overruns.
SECONDARY REQUIREMENTS
Some technologies require more than just a certain level of research in the original School in order to be available for research. To find out if this is the case, you can look at the icon for the technology in the Technology Matrix screen.
The Technology Matrix screen shows all the projects that your empire or other empires have completed and the levels achieved in each of the six Schools. It also displays those technologies that are upcoming and will be available soon. This differs from game to game — not everyone gets every technology.
VIEW BY
This drop-down lets you view the Technology Matrix from the standpoint of any race with whom you have made diplomatic contact. It defaults to showing your own information. This is very helpful when deciding what sorts of trade offers to make.
The technology system in Master of Orion 3 places the various areas of scientific research in six major categories, called Schools. These are:
ECONOMICS
This school studies practices and institutions that involve, or have significant effects on, the production and allocation of resources under conditions of scarcity. Theories include that of Law, Economics, Process Engineering and Education.
ENERGY
This school investigates the underlying structure and functioning of the universe by studying the nature of the various forces at work within it. It involves theories in Relativistic Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Subatomic Physics, Energy Fields, Matter-Energy Conversion, Transwarp Physics, Temporal Physics, Optronics, Quantum Electronics and Transdimensional Electronics. Its benefits include new weapon types and shield abilities.
BIOLOGY SCIENCES
This school investigates the structure and functioning of living organisms and life processes. It involves Bioelectronics, Bioharvesting, Medicine, Genomics, Bioengineering, Nano-Medicine and Xeno-Biology. Its primary benefits relate to farming and medicine.
MATHEMATICS
This school investigates the structure and functioning of symbolic systems and their practical applications. The theories it involves are those of Computer Science, Number Theory, Game Theory and Robotics. Its benefits involve primarily Robotics and Artificial Intelligence but it tends to overlap a number of related areas as well.
PHYSICAL SCIENCES
This school investigates the underlying structure and functioning of the universe by studying the nature of matter. Funding this area of research involves investigations into Astro-Engineering, Astro-Physics, Construction, Materials Science, Mineral Extraction and Planetology. Its primary benefits include new methods for building materials, mining procedures, weapon types, and construction.
SOCIAL SCIENCES
This school investigates the thoughts, behavior, and institutions of sentient life forms with a strong emphasis on understanding their frames of reference and on facilitating cooperative activity. Associated theories include Psychology, Xeno-Psychology, Political Science, Philosophy, Cultural Enhancement, Criminology and Military Science. Primary benefits include tactics, diplomacy and race relations.
MoOving In: A Detailed Preview of Master of Orion III