it wasn't like this in beta 4 and I think "back then" it made more sense too

Stated in another thread that IC changed it so to have access to that tech you need to keep the required amount of research posts, which in my opinion seems right otherwise people will just quickly rush up 8 military research station research everything destroy them all and do the same thing with civilian

Check reply #4 for why IC changed it

reread reply #4   now feel like idiot sorry all

I like that you have to maintain the required number of labs. IRL things break down and require repairs/maintenance. You also need to train staff and for support.

{tongue-in-cheek} Are you telling me that once TS have set-up your office PC that the department can be disbanded becuase their work is done?! {/tongue-in-cheek}

Makes no sense. As it has been stated before, once you researched it, you've researched it. That's like saying because I don't know how a gun works I can't shoot it. Completely irrational, while I understand from a gameplay point of view, it takes so long to research that far up the tree's, by the time they have all of one type researched, they will be so lacking in the other department I doubt they will actually be a threat.

its a game mechanic the devs introduced to stop people from cheat reaserching EVERYTHING  




and it adds tactical depth by allowing players to knock out each others research station to cripple your enemy MWA HAHAHAHAHA   

Does that mean you have a tank cannon to shoot at people you don't like?

Firing it is so stressful on its systems that it requires hundreds of trained technicians to check it over before firing again, hence the long recharge time.

If you knock down the labs, who's gonna train the technicians?

I don't think that you can compare simplistic weaponry with a massively powerful device from a society at the edge of it's technology curve. A reasonable comparrison would be the Space Shuttle and it's attendant support/logistics infrastructure. Just because NASA have built the thing, they don't just hand it over to those who fly it and let them get on with it. If NASA chose to halt future development projects then they would still stay in existence and maintain the Shuttles - if you actually remove them then there is no way the Space Shuttle is still viable. The Shuttle is not a unit in isolation and requires the NASA labs to support it, regardless of whether NASA chose to advance to the next level.

Also, don't ignore the issue that the limit on tech tiers is artifical - those meeples inhabiting the game environment won't know that they've reached the limit and will continue to press for improvement and the next generation of techs. Why would a society that has continually expanded it's military research base scrap it all? Especially when competing races will gradually reach parity and then perhaps supremacy. Surely they would press for development and strive onwards.