Ahrens Lab
Games, systems & experiments
Curiosity lives here
New FrontiersHandbook
Player Manual · Live Catalog · v0.68.6

Technologies

The complete research tree, prerequisites, costs, effects, and readiness.

75 documented entries

aerial_reconnaissance

Aerial Reconnaissance

Cameras, radio reports, and long-range navigation turn aircraft into fast server-authoritative scouts.

Gameplay readyModernDiscoveryCity tier
agronomy

Agronomy

Field trials, soil measurement, and trained specialists turn practical farming into a repeatable science.

Gameplay readyExchangeAgricultureCity tier
airlift_logistics

Airlift Logistics

Reinforced floors, loading systems, and practiced crews create long-range aircraft for moving full detachments.

Gameplay readyModernCommerceCity tier
amphibious_operations

Amphibious Operations

Landing craft, embarked logistics, and shoreline coordination carry armies and Colonists across long water routes.

Gameplay readyModernMilitaryCity tier
animal_husbandry

Animal Husbandry

Managed livestock broadens rural food production and supports specialized pasture land.

Gameplay readyAgriculturalAgricultureVillage tier
archery

Archery

Dedicated ranged formations support infantry from a neighboring H3 cell.

Gameplay readyAgriculturalMilitaryVillage tier
aviation

Aviation

Aircraft cross terrain and water to scout, transport, trade, and fight at global range.

Gameplay readyModernDiscoveryCity tier
banking

Banking

Trusted deposits, credit, and long-distance accounts support larger commercial networks.

Gameplay readyExchangeCommerceCity tier
bridge_engineering

Bridge Engineering

Water routes automatically become straight shoreline-to-shoreline bridges.

Gameplay readyClassicalEngineeringVillage tier
bronze_working

Bronze Working

Standard weapons and drilled spear formations answer early cavalry and armored threats.

Gameplay readyAgriculturalMilitaryVillage tier
cartography

Cartography

Measured maps reveal the city-and-province scale while helping Scouts see farther.

Gameplay readyAgriculturalDiscoveryVillage tier
castles

Castles

Layered stone defenses protect cities, roads, and strategic crossings.

Gameplay readyMedievalEngineeringCity tier
chivalry

Chivalry

Mounted professional troops exploit exposed ranged and siege formations.

Gameplay readyMedievalMilitaryCity tier
civil_service

Civil Service

A professional administration manages cities, taxation, and public works across great distances.

Gameplay readyMedievalSocietyCity tier
combined_arms

Combined Arms

Infantry, armor, artillery, and air power operate as one coordinated force.

Gameplay readyModernMilitaryCity tier
combustion

Combustion

Compact engines power vehicles that can operate far from rails and fixed machinery.

Gameplay readyMachineEngineeringCity tier
computing

Computing

Programmable machines turn immense quantities of information into useful decisions.

Gameplay readyInformationKnowledgeCity tier
container_shipping

Container Shipping

Specialized freighters, cranes, and roll-on logistics turn Cargo Ships into long-range direct-control troop transports.

Gameplay readyModernMaritimeCity tier
containerization

Containerization

Standard cargo moves cleanly between ships, railways, highways, and regional depots.

Gameplay readyModernMaritimeCity tier
crop_rotation_systems

Crop Rotation

Rotating field cycles restore soil, spread harvest risk, and keep worked Farms productive across the year.

Gameplay readyMedievalAgricultureTown tier
cultivation

Cultivation

Communities organize dependable food production around worked land.

Gameplay readyFoundingAgricultureCamp tier
currency

Currency

Standard measures and accounts let the capital support one additional permanent trade route.

Gameplay readyClassicalCommerceTown tier
deep_mining

Deep Mining

Powered ventilation, pumps, and hoists let Strategic Mines work deeper seams at a sustained pace.

Gameplay readyIndustrialEngineeringCity tier
electricity

Electricity

A shared power grid transforms homes, industry, communication, and research.

Gameplay readyMachineKnowledgeCity tier
fighter_aviation

Fighter Aviation

High-performance airframes, trained pilots, and coordinated interception create direct-control combat wings.

Gameplay readyModernMilitaryCity tier
forestry

Forestry

Managed cutting plans, saw teams, and forest renewal turn woodland into a dependable material economy.

Gameplay readyClassicalAgricultureTown tier
gunpowder

Gunpowder

Gunpowder formations overpower medieval armor and open a new battlefield.

Gameplay readyExplorationMilitaryCity tier
industrial_automation

Industrial Automation

Sensors and programmable controls keep industrial equipment working efficiently between manual orders.

Gameplay readyInformationEngineeringCity tier
industrial_fishing

Industrial Fishing

Powered trawlers, preservation, and coordinated crews let fishing vessels work natural fishing nodes.

Gameplay readyIndustrialMaritimeCity tier
industrialization

Industrialization

Factories concentrate labor, machinery, and resources into powerful production centers.

Gameplay readyIndustrialEngineeringCity tier
internet

Internet

A planetary information network links citizens, markets, institutions, and research.

Gameplay readyInformationCommerceCity tier
interplanetary_travelPreview

Interplanetary Travel

Long-duration vessels carry civilization outward into the Solar System.

Preview onlySpaceDiscoveryCity tier
iron_working

Iron Working

Iron equipment produces durable close-combat units for classical front lines.

Gameplay readyClassicalMilitaryTown tier
mass_production

Mass Production

Standard parts and repeatable processes make large production queues practical.

Gameplay readyMachineCommerceCity tier
mechanized_agriculture

Mechanized Agriculture

Powered equipment lets fewer citizens work larger areas of productive land.

Gameplay readyIndustrialAgricultureCity tier
mechanized_forestry

Mechanized Forestry

Powered saws, skidders, and managed replanting scale timber work without requiring new Lumber Camps.

Gameplay readyMachineAgricultureCity tier
metallurgy

Metallurgy

Controlled furnaces and measured alloys shorten every Steel cycle without changing its recipe.

Gameplay readyMachineEngineeringCity tier
meteorology

Meteorology

Systematic weather observation turns local conditions into useful forecasts for citizens and commanders.

Gameplay readyExplorationKnowledgeCity tier
modern_medicine

Modern Medicine

Laboratories, vaccines, and hospitals protect growing populations from disease and injury.

Gameplay readyModernSocietyCity tier
motorways

Motorways

The owned road network becomes highways while the separate Track network remains intact.

Gameplay readyModernEngineeringCity tier
natural_philosophy

Natural Philosophy

Repeatable observation strengthens Libraries and makes field discoveries more useful.

Gameplay readyClassicalKnowledgeTown tier
naval_warfare

Naval Warfare

Fast escorts combine radar, gunnery, damage control, and fleet doctrine into a direct-control naval formation.

Gameplay readyModernMilitaryCity tier
navigation

Navigation

Charts, instruments, and repeatable bearings let expeditions reliably return home.

Gameplay readyExplorationDiscoveryCity tier
networked_warfare

Networked Warfare

Sensors, vehicles, and distant weapons share one live command picture.

Gameplay readyInformationMilitaryCity tier
oceanic_surveying

Oceanic Surveying

Radio navigation, measured charts, and purpose-built hulls support long direct exploration over navigable water.

Gameplay readyMachineMaritimeCity tier
oral_tradition

Oral Tradition

Shared stories, customs, and identity allow a frontier to begin generating and spreading Culture.

Gameplay readyFoundingKnowledgeCamp tier
orbital_flightPreview

Orbital Flight

Reusable orbital craft make permanent activity above Earth possible.

Preview onlySpaceDiscoveryCity tier
passenger_aviation

Passenger Aviation

Reliable cabins, crews, and navigation turn the first airframes into practical long-range transports.

Gameplay readyModernDiscoveryCity tier
pathways

Pathways

Engineers can queue up to five connected land sections from owned territory or their active route network.

Gameplay readyFoundingEngineeringCamp tier
petroleum_engineering

Petroleum Engineering

Reservoir science, powered pumps, and continuous distillation strengthen both Oil Wells and Refineries.

Gameplay readyModernEngineeringCity tier
powered_quarrying

Powered Quarrying

Steam drills, cranes, and crushing equipment increase usable stone from every worked Quarry.

Gameplay readyMachineEngineeringCity tier
printing_press

Printing Press

Cheap, repeatable texts spread technical knowledge and public debate between cities.

Gameplay readyExchangeSocietyCity tier
provincial_governance

Provincial Governance

Delegated councils and provincial records let one civilization govern a third permanent city without requiring a capacity building.

Gameplay readyMedievalSocietyCity tier
radio

Radio

Wireless signals connect distant cities, armies, ships, and aircraft in real time.

Gameplay readyModernDiscoveryCity tier
railways

Railways

Engineers can construct a separate Track network without replacing Roads or later Highway upgrades.

Gameplay readyIndustrialEngineeringTown tier
record_keeping

Record Keeping

Permanent records allow a settlement to construct its first Library.

Gameplay readyAgriculturalKnowledgeVillage tier
regional_administration

Regional Administration

Mapped records and trained administrators reveal the regional scale and let a City capital govern regional settlements.

Gameplay readyClassicalSocietyCity tier
rifling

Rifling

Accurate firearms transform the reach and discipline of armies.

Gameplay readyMachineMilitaryCity tier
roadbuilding

Roadbuilding

Shaped stone and surveyed routes turn paths into durable roads.

Gameplay readyAgriculturalEngineeringVillage tier
robotics

Robotics

Autonomous machines extend industry, construction, exploration, and warfare.

Gameplay readyInformationEngineeringCity tier
rocketryPreview

Rocketry

Powerful launch vehicles are the first step beyond Earth's atmosphere.

Preview onlySpaceKnowledgeCity tier
sailing

Sailing

Purpose-built vessels move units and goods along navigable water.

Gameplay readyAgriculturalMaritimeVillage tier
sanitation

Sanitation

Clean water and organized waste systems let dense cities grow safely.

Gameplay readyExchangeSocietyCity tier
satellites

Satellites

Orbital instruments observe the planet and connect distant regions continuously.

Gameplay readyInformationDiscoveryCity tier
scouting

Scouting

Frontier pathfinders learn to explore beyond settled land and report what they discover.

Gameplay readyFoundingDiscoveryCamp tier
shipbuilding

Shipbuilding

Larger shipyards produce vessels capable of carrying armies and cargo between regions.

Gameplay readyExplorationMaritimeCity tier
siege_engineering

Siege Engineering

Purpose-built siege engines let armies challenge fortified cities.

Gameplay readyMedievalMilitaryCity tier
space_habitatsPreview

Space Habitats

Self-sustaining orbital settlements become a new frontier for civilization.

Preview onlySpaceEngineeringCity tier
steam_power

Steam Power

Stored mechanical power breaks production and transport free from muscle and wind.

Gameplay readyIndustrialKnowledgeCity tier
steamships

Steamships

Powered vessels make sea travel reliable regardless of wind or current.

Gameplay readyIndustrialMaritimeCity tier
stonecutting

Stonecutting

Surveyed faces, shaped tools, and organized stone crews improve every worked Quarry.

Gameplay readyClassicalEngineeringTown tier
strategic_bombing

Strategic Bombing

Long-range navigation, targeting systems, and heavy strike aircraft extend air power against fortifications and infrastructure.

Gameplay readyInformationMilitaryCity tier
telegraphy

Telegraphy

Messages cross continents faster than armies or caravans can travel.

Gameplay readyIndustrialDiscoveryCity tier
universities

Universities

A permanent university can move civilization-wide research administration from the capital to a specialized city.

Gameplay readyExchangeKnowledgeCity tier
warrior_code

Warrior Code

A shared martial code prepares settlements for organized defense.

Gameplay readyFoundingMilitaryCamp tier