Engine types and how they differ?

[Vesson (OP)]

Can anyone explain the differences between the first kinds of engine tech?

Ion, nuclear thermal, and nuclear pulse. . .  what are the differences between them?

[SakSak]

Do you mean fluff-wise, or simply mechanics-wise?

Because mechanically the only difference really is power produced per HS of engine.  And price of course.

[Vesson (OP)]

Im talking mechanics wise.

Would be nice if later tech had some kind of strategic differences. . .  like maybe different fuels or efficiencies, etc.

Different engine tech doesn't lead to different engines down the tech tree, then?

[Brian Neumann]

Each level of engine tech just increases the power to weight ratio.  For better fuel effeciancy there is the fuel efficiancy line of reasearch to help there.  Each engine tech is also the prerequisite for the same type of missile and drone engine tech, so it will lead to faster missiles.  Better fuel efficiancy will also give your missiles longer range as they use fuel as well.  There are very few techs in this game that give more than an incremental increase on the previous tech, and they are all from ruins or precursors.  Even there they only give a differerent line of reasearch to explore.

Brian

[Vesson (OP)]

It would be nice if Ion engines had, say, a big EM signature but no thermal, or nuclear was more powerful but more unreliable. . .

Just some *choices* which are fun to make.

Right now it looks like I can research engine tech 1, engine tech 2, or engine tech 3, all of which are identical.

[voknaar]

You can modify the engines to change how efficient vs power output once you research the fields. Then when designing them you may build that function into the design. Also you can decide if u want your engine to be hyper capable or not. So there are options available, but the tech research is linear. Just research allows for more customization for when you design the engines themselves.