Bug or 'feature'

Not a bug You need to maintain the number of research labs. For example, if you research Kodiak Cruiser hull but then lose some labs so you don't meet the minimum needed, you won't be able to build Kodiaks anymore.

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

the research it already done and its put into production, silly that u need to keep the labs.

its like someone in a kitchen baking some bread with a recipe and as soon as hes learnt hot to bake it but throws the recipe away the kitchen wont let him bake!

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

hi all
  
Yes I must say is rather daft especially when you are on smaller maps with only a few planets I do hope that ironclad devs change this or release a good reason as to its being like this in the first place.

Check reply #4 for why IC changed it

it's designed to be that way so you have to chose what kind of game you want to play, economist of militaristic. It's been stated in the X-play video and some other beta video's i think on game trailers.com

reread reply #4   now feel like idiot sorry all

I agree, this should not be changed. It makes perfect sense to keep your research stations so you can build what you have researched. Also, it provides additional tactics. Imagine you have just taken out your opponent’s super weapon and part of their fleet but at a huge cost to your own forces. The enemy force has retreated. Do you lick your wounds and sit idly by while your enemy builds another super weapon? Or do you take a strike force into enemy territory to destroy a few research stations, to allow yourself more time to rebuild your fleet?

God I love this game.

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}

I agree that the system should stay the way it is right now. Makes sense and adds strategic depth.

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.

Those research labs are maintaining the technology, improving it over time, building parts for use in light factories, etc.

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   

Here's a good analogy:  The United States currently has 1 armory that is able to make the cannons for tanks (I used to live near it).  If an enemy were to take it out (or the government were to close it), we literally wouldn't be able to build new tanks or repair existing cannons.  Doesn't affect the tanks that have already been built, but it definitely would eliminate any new ones.

It's the same thing in Sins.

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

sorry to poke Yarlen, but by that logic, shouldn't the Novalis Cannons the OP already built still work?

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 suppose it could be argued that the Novalith requires intense and constant maintenance (particularly after firing) and that the lack of the support infrastructure renders it unusable (do you really want *THAT* to malfunction?).

On the other hand, dropping from 8 mil labs to 7 probably wouldn't justify de-activating the Novalith from a "realism" standpoint.

It does improve gameplay, however, as it allows you to counter a Novalith bombardment by taking out military labs rather than having to storm the enemies (probably very well defended) planet with the cannon itself. Accordingly, it provides some motivation to the Novalith-er to build more than 8 mil labs for redundancy.

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.

You are not only destroying a structure, you are destroying the knowledge base, scientific instruments, blueprints/prototypes, infrastruture, and scientists/technicians that maintain and understand the complexities of a given technology.