⚠️ Eco v0.14 is coming — the next major update reworks upgrade modules, so some of these numbers will change. They reflect the current version. What’s changing →
  • Simpler tiers: the 1–4 tiered upgrades become a single Basic / Advanced / Modern upgrade each.
  • Permanent upgrades: a module placed in a workstation is permanent — no more swapping lower tiers out as you progress.
  • Power transitions: a module can change a station’s power type/draw (e.g. a Modern upgrade moves a sawmill from mechanical to electrical power).
  • Talent-integrated: modules now use the same bonus/talent system — any talent benefit (power, labor cost, recipe unlocks) can come from a module.
  • Cheaper to upgrade: with the multi-tier parts gone, fully upgrading a workstation costs significantly less.

We’ll update this calculator shortly after the update releases.

Home › Topics › Research

Research

Research

Research creates new shareable knowledge, unlocking new types of products and abilities.

Research creates new shareable knowledge, unlocking new types of products and abilities. It is conducted at a ResearchTableItem where you craft a skill book. Once created, a skill book can be used to create an unlimited number of skill scrolls, which will unlock the specialty for a citizen that uses one.

Each skill scroll is a one-time-use consumable that unlocks a new Specialty in whomever uses it, which must then be claimed with a level-up through the Skills system. Using a new skill scroll also grants the citizen the benefit of a set of ClaimPaperItem, which allows them to claim more land as they gain in skill.
Skill books are some of the most difficult items to create, and citizens will typically need to collaborate to acquire all the various resources and labor required to produce them. As such, research projects are especially well-suited for Work Parties, as citizens can use them to share the work needed to create them along with the knowledge reward upon completion.