R&D system rework suggestion
Created by: MercuryDoll
Since noone likes the menial task that is stuffing a list of items into the destructive analyzer, here is an idea that i thought up that, with the right execution, should reward active research as well as help out if noone bothers to do research with an automation feature. Borrowing from TBS and RTS games, research is now done with a "progress bar".
Items, or "Technologies", have a categorical (Research Level) requirement that is just like the current one and a Research Point (RP) requirement. Research Points are produced by CPUs. A new machine, called the Processor Rack (similar to server racks) will hold up to 8 CPUs. There are different qualities of CPUs, each producing a different amount of RP per second. R&D starts out with two basic CPUs. Additional CPUs can be either bought via cargo or produced by R&D themselves, with higher quality CPUs available at specific Research Levels.
Research is done by activating a technology's research, CPUs are either automatically or manually assigned, so multiple things can be researched at once or scientists can focus on getting one specific technology faster. Additionally, there's an Auto-Mode which automatically starts research on the next new tech whose requirements are met.
Once research of a technology is completed, it can be produced instantly. Specific Technology Level points are also rewarded depending on the nature of the item. These TechPoints increase the Research Level (eg. Power). The Destructive Analyzer will function similar, but instead of directly upgrading the Research Level, it instead rewards a small amount of techpoints that could potentially upgrade Research Levels, as well as reduce the necessary RP to research the analyzed item by 90%, has it not been researched yet.