The Research and Development system, accessible through the research center, is a crafting mechanic that allows the player to create unique equipment, including weapons, armor, mods, and augmentations. You can also perform upgrades to the Nomad with this crafting mechanic. Equipment technology is based on one of the three types of Research Data (displayed in the scanner HUD).
This system rewards a player for going the extra mile as a Pathfinder who actively participates in extracurricular activities like scanning, space exploration, collecting, and mining.
You can start your research gathering near the beginning of the game, as several scannable objects are found in the prologue mission on Habitat 7. By the end of the mission, you can leave with a sizable amount of Research Data to spend at a later date.
R&D Game Flow
- Gather Research Data points through scanning various objects.
- Use the Research Center interface (found on the Tempest or in colonial science labs) to spend Research Data points on blueprints of a particular technology.
- Gather the required minerals and materials to develop the blueprint item (some can be purchased from vendors).
- Craft the item using the Development tab of the Research Center interface.