Technology

The Technology Strategy Card gives players the chance to pick up a free tech at the cost of going later in the game round. The secondary allows other players to pick up a tech at a cost of 8 resources and a CC.

Technology II, released in the Shattered Empire expansion, maintains a "7" in the turn order but has these slight differences: primary adds the chance to aquire a 2nd tech for 8 resources, secondary reduces the resource cost to 6.

Technology is both a boon and bane depending on the race. Some races need it in the worst way, others can play through a game without giving it a second thought. Enhancements include everything from unit enhancements to production bonuses to Status Phase bonuses. Other ways of gaining tech are Action Cards and Distant Suns tokens.

As of the Shards of the Throne expansion, each player can research two "racial techs" that can give benefits that no other race can enjoy (except possibly the Nekro player). Printed costs of these racial techs are in excess of the normal tech purchase price per the SC in use.

Technology comes in 4 "colors" - red, blue, green and yellow. Certain planets offer a tech discount noted by a colored icon next to the planet's description on both - and prerequisites need to be researched prior to gaining a new technology.