Critical research areas

[Erik L (OP)]

Posing an open question to everyone here.

What are YOUR critical areas of research when you play?

Mine are
1. Power/Engines
2. Areas pertaining to primary weapon system (missiles/beam/etc)
3. Sensors (including fire control)
4. Research Rate
5. Shipyard Rate
6. Armor

[Cassaralla]

1. Power/Engines
2. Primary Weapons
3. Research Rate/ Wealth rate (they go hand in hand for me unless you want to operate a deficit economy.)
4. Shipyard Rate
5. Sensors
6. Construction/Ordnance/Fighter Rates.

[waresky]

mine r

1> Weapons-FireC and SubSystems
2> Mining field
3> Shipyard
4> Drive Science
5> Armor
6> Electronics

[SteveAlt]

I find mine has been different in each campaign. It's usually influenced by the research specialization of my best governors, or by an immediate need for something. As a default I would probably go for:

Mine are
1. Production rates, such as research, shipbuilding, wealth and mining.
2. Power/Engines
3. Sensors (including fire control)
4. Missiles
5. Point defence
6. Armour
7).Beam weapons
8) Shields - since the new armour rules I think shields are a little underpowered.

Steve

[sloanjh]

1) Economy - Construction, Mining, Research, Wealth
2) Speed - Engines+Power Plant, Armor (increases % payload)
3) Survey - Grav and Geo up by 1, Shipyard +1 too
3) Specialized components - Terraforming, Troop Transport, Jump gate construction, minimal hyperdrive according to circumstances
4) Sensors
5) Weapons

John

[Father Tim]

1. Essentials (Trans-Newtonian tech, basic armor & weapons, terraforming modules, cargo handling equip, tractor beams, troop transport modules, sector cmmand, flag  bridge, JG const, salvage, improved/advanced geo & grav surveyinstruments)
2. Wealth creation  (I go broke  a LOT, probably due to my drive for 100% employment)
2. engines/reactors
3. Beam fire control range & speed
4. Thermal & active sensor strength
5. Ground unit strength  (I like invading my enemies, and since occupation values are based on Defence strength, it's a huge boost to suppressing unrest)

[Sotak246]

1.Engines
2.Wealth/Research
3.shipbuilding
4.Main weapon
5.Armor/shields
6.Point def weapon
7.Everything else as needed (tractors, fuel harvesters, etc.)

[Randy]

My typical priorities are:
1. Research, Wealth, Mining, Factory rates  (Core Production)
2. Other production rates (this includes missiles, fighters, shipyards)
3. Power and engines
4. Sensors (including survey sensors)
5. Primary weapon system
6. Armor
7. Point defence
8. Shields
9. Secondary weapons (alternative weapon system to primary)

[ZimRathbone]

I tend to follow this pattern BUT it varies a lot according to Circumstance, and the Great God Murphy  

1.Wealth/Research
2.Engines
3.Sensors
4.Production
5.Main Weapon
6.Point Defence weapon