Investing Research

[phantom000]

So i have 398 Research points and no idea what to spend it on. Any suggestions? Here is an image of my techtree as it currently stands.

Everything to the right has not been researched and everything to the left has been.

Edited March 23, 2016 by phantom000

[bewing]

It doesn't look like you really want to do atmospheric stuff (jet planes). But if you change your mind about that, then aerodynamics. Along a similar line, the atmospheric analysis device gets you lots of science points (but only if you fly it around a lot).

If you only want to do rocketry, then the HECS is really vital. Even if you want to use pilots on a lot of your missions, you still will need probe cores for some. OKTOs are just not capable enough. Once you really understand how to use it, retrograde hold is a wonderful thing.

After you have RCS going nicely, the next vital step is docking -- and then you will want the Klaw. It is much better than docking ports, and fills the same function.

Edited March 23, 2016 by bewing

[Zoidos]

Errr... The screenshot says you have 180 RP...

I would go for the electrics update (bottom) to get solar panels. And if you have enough left, for the pods.

[GeneralVeers]

Also consider the possibility that the right thing to do is "nothing at all".

Humans have this instinctive need to be doing "something". When there's a tool available, we want to use it. Instead, maybe you should simply save the research points for something big. Like advanced science instruments......

[samstarman5]

@bewing does bring up a good point. Even if you are doing nothing with the aeronautics part of your aerospace program, there are a lot of useful tools in the aerodynamics slots.  Airbrakes, for one, are something you will want for your skinnier craft.  I've lost so many Mk1 pods bringing them in and they just refuse to slow down enough to deploy chutes, meanwhile the Mk1-2 slows down plenty on the same angle of approach.  If you ever want to bring a Mk1 in on a bit of a hot trajectory, then airbrakes will be your friend.

And one doesn't have to use jet engines for horizontal flight only.  They are a cheap option for a launch assist, especially when deploying satellites into orbit.

Edited March 24, 2016 by samstarman5

[eddiew]

When in doubt, unlock the next science instrument! If you can't unlock one and are still in doubt - wait until a need presents itself

[Scotius]

What eddiew wrote And if you don't have access to a science equipment yet, go for the nodes that let you build more and better ships. Struts, fuel lines, radial separators, docking ports, NERVA engines - when you have these, you can really get everywhere in the system.

[Enorats]

Solar panels if you don't yet have them. Once you've got unlimited power you can easily biome hop around mun/minmus and unlock most of the remainder of the tree in a couple launches.

[Cornholio]

Priorities should be science > docking > NERV.