The research model in RotS: A step in the wrong direction

[Larsenex]

If you remove the empire wide research and put it only on a 'per station' value, how is over all research then calculated? Would it not then make the speed different on each of the main trees vary greatly? As an example if I had 3 stations at black holes and each only was for say weapons (8%, 15% & 33%), I should in theory research the weapons branch of tech (faster) then energy and high tech. I for this change. It would add great flavor to an otherwise already great game. I also like some of the 'directional' weapons that are mentioned in another thread.

[hewwo]

Also, it would be cool to surgically strike and destroy certain research stations of a rival empire. Actually, if you make it a bit difficult to figure out where these stations are it gives the spying part of the game a big boost. Would be totally awesome! (and terrible for the ai)

[Carewolf]

Put diminishing returns on everything. Well at least research and mining.

[Bingeling]

One easy fix could indeed to lower the starting potential.

As for having huge bonus for research stations in special locations... Research is done in labs and offices. Preferably at nice location with good night life and food (even for a lot of researchers). Data is collected in special places. Of course, some research benefit more from location, like colonization tech. Notice that in the real world, researchers go into the field to collect data, then they sit at "home" for two years to examine the data collected. So, require one research module to be placed on a station at a tech bonus location as a data collector, but like today it should not matter where the rest are. Stuffing all your researchers at a black hole makes no sense.

Also, notice that this is a game with instant message flow across the galaxy, so don't argue about distances and delay for result sharing