Advanced Research Communications Network

The Advanced Research Communications Network, or ARCNet for short, allows scientists on multiple planets across your empire to work together on new technologies simultaneously. Each level of ARCNet researched allows scientists from one extra Research Lab to join in.

Effect

When researching a new technology, the time required is as follows:

Time(hours) =

Ore Cost + Crystal Cost 1000 * (1+Research Lab Level)

Without ARCNet, the level of the Research Lab which initiated the technology is used. With ARCNet, the level of other labs may be added. ARCNet will automatically use the highest available Research Lab Level to help increase times.

Example A player has a Level 10 Research Lab on their Homeworld and a Level 8 Research Lab on a colony. They wish to Research Level 10 Armor Tech (cost of 512,000 Ore) from their homeworld. Without ARCNet the time required would be:

Time(hours) =

512,000 1000 * (1+10)

T= 46.54 hours.

With ARCNet Level 1 (making the effective Research Lab Level 18 rather than 10) the time required would be:

Time(hours) =

512,000 1000 * (1+18)

T= 26.95 hours.

Costs

Level	Ore	Crystal	Hydrogen	Additional Labs
1	150,000	200,000	80,000	1
2	300,000	400,000	160,000	2
1	600,000	800,000	320,000	3
4	1,200,000	1,600,000	640,000	4
5	2,400,000	3,200,000	1,280,000	5
6	4,800,000	6,400,000	2,560,000	6
7	9,600,000	12,800,000	5,120,000	7
8	19,200,000	25,600,000	10,240,000	8

There is no benefit to researching ARCNet beyond Level 8.