Fwurg

[Mercury]

Here is a proposal for a higher level upgrade to allow alternative growth options.

This set of upgrades and technologies introduces a new type of power called "blue power". This power is different in that it can be used in advanced heavy-duty industrial use and scales much better than the normal in-system power generated by normal power zones and orbital power capture. Blue Power can later also be linked to existing plans for Dyson Sphere like projects!

Dark Energy Expansion Deceleration (tech)
--------------------
Prerequisites: Hyperspace Energy Conduits, Micro-Singularity Power Extraction
Cost: 8000
Time: 8

//Using the FLRW metric (an exact solution of the field equations of general relativity that describe the homogeneous isotropic expansion of the universe) to lead to a Lambda-CDM model, you can manipulate the cosmological constant in a local area to extract dark energy from zero-dimensional points in space, converting it blue power, a more usable form.//

This tech provides a deeper understanding of "blue power". Allows the construction of a Transformer Zone.

Transformer Zone (zone)
---------
Cost: 4000 + 1000

The transformer zone allows the transformation of "blue power" to at a rate of 1
"blue power" to 5 . It also allows the transformation of to "blue
power" at a rate of 15 to 1 blue power.

Non-Baryonic Production Processes (tech)
-----
Prerequisites: Dark Energy Expansion Deceleration, Orbital Lifting Mechanics
Cost: 10000
Time: 5

//Exploiting the unique properties of dark energy, new production processes are enabled that use the much more advanced technologies powered by blue power, significantly upgrading the industrial potential of production facilities//

Allows upgrading with the Quintessence Field Projectors , an upgrade that provides further production bonuses beyond regular upgrades.

Quintessence Field Projectors (zone upgrade)
------------
Requirements: Orbital Processing Cluster
Cost: 15000 + 1500 + 1000

Gives a +150 production bonus, adds a power cost of 1 blue power to the zone.

[Dragonmaster352]

Looks really cool, at least. I really like the fact these techs use Dark Energy.

I think Blue Power would also be used in transferring power between systems.

Just one question: Is there a basis for the 1:5 and 15:1 conversion rate and if so what is it? 5 and 15 just seem a bit strange to me.

[Mercury]

The idea is that 1 blue power is equivalent to 10 , but that the exchange rates suck (i.e. you get 5 power less when transforming blue power to and have to pay 5 power extra when transforming to blue power. The plan is to add more techs or special options later to get a better exchange rate, but that's for a later expansion.

[Brend]

How does this work with regards to transfering power to other orbits? Does blue powe transfer in the same way, or is there some other mechanic.

Alternatively, it could be fixed by simply requiring the Lagrange Point Conduit Stations be present in the system before allowing the construction of a Transformer Zone.

[Mercury]

I like the latter option with the mandatory Lagrange Point Conduit Stations

[Brend]

I think Blue Power would also be used in transferring power between systems.

You are correct!

I even have the systems thought out already, together with several options for interacting with different levels of the economy and military.

[Gerben]

Great idea ;)
When can we have these new shiny things?

[Brend]

If there's no objections, I want to put these technologies and zones on the wiki in the weekend of 17 and 18 December.

[Chriz]

I have no objections.

[Brend]

I have created the following wiki pages:

• Blue Power
• Dark Energy Expansion Deceleration
• Blue Power Transformer
• Non-Baryonic Production Processes
• Quintessence Field Projectors

While working on putting all these pages on the wiki, I noticed that Mercury forgot to mention a rather important fact for which we balanced the Quintessence Field Projectors (and I apparently missed it as well during my reading of this thread):

The Quintessence Field Projectors upgrade can only be applied on zones that already have the Orbital Processing Clusters upgraded. This is what we balanced the costs for, and this intention can already be seen (a little) in the Orbital Lifting Mechanic prerequisite of the Non-Baryonic Production Processes tech.

I have added this oversight to the wiki pages, presuming that there will not be any objections to this correction due to the inherent high-end nature of these technologies and upgrades — however, in the interest of fairness and correctly introducting new things, I extend the "no objections" period to the weekend of 24 and 25 and will leave this thread marked "Open" for that period.

[Gerben]

Quintessence Field Projectors (zone upgrade)
------------
Requirements: Orbital Processing Cluster
Cost: 15000 + 1500 + 1000

Gives a +150 production bonus, adds a power cost of 1 blue power to the zone.

As far as I can tell it was stated correctly in the original post by Mercury (as quoted above).

[Brend]

Ah, right... I misread the Requirements :'(

Apologies to all involved ~_~

Well then, I'm closing this thread.