Research Institute and the Idea Tree Explained: Buildings 2

Learn how to build the Research Institute and access the Idea Tree in Frostpunk 2. Discover ways to speed up research and understand the impact of your choices on factions.

Alright, let's talk about getting the ball rolling with research in Frostpunk 2. To even get a peek at the Idea Tree, you first need to build a Research Institute. This sounds simple, but it's a two-step process. First, you'll need to establish a Housing District. This requires 200 Workforce and some Prefabs, and don't forget it'll cost you 40 Heatstamps. If you're finding Heatstamps a bit scarce early on, there's a dedicated guide for that, so give it a look!

Once your Housing District is set up, you need to expand it to get a building slot. Then comes the Research Institute itself. This building is a bit pricier, costing 100 Heatstamps and a hefty 400 Workforce. Keep in mind that both the district expansion and the Institute itself will add to your city's Heat and Workforce Demand, so plan accordingly to avoid creating a deficit.

After all that, you'll finally have access to the Idea Tree, which appears as a new option in the bottom right of your UI. It's your gateway to new technologies and policies!

Speeding Up Your Research

Researching ideas in the Idea Tree takes time – measured in weeks. Since there's so much to discover and you should always have something cooking, you'll want to know how to speed things up. Luckily, there are two main ways to do this.

The most straightforward method is to simply build more Research Institutes. Each one you place in New London contributes to reducing research time. Just remember that each additional Institute increases your city's Heat and Workforce Demand.

The second method involves exploring the Frostland. As you send out your scouts, you might find special nodes. If you can connect these nodes back to New London via a trail or Skyline, they can significantly decrease research time as long as they remain active. One such settlement can be found between the Old Dreadnought and New London, making it a relatively easy one to establish a connection with. If you manage to double your Research Speed this way, you'll even unlock the New Oxbridge Achievement!

Understanding the Idea Tree

So, what exactly can you do with the Idea Tree once it's unlocked? Researching new buildings is just the start. You can also research new policies that can then be put to a vote at the Council. Be aware, though, that the different Communities and Factions within your city will have their own priorities, often leaning towards either Progress or Adaptation. They'll offer different solutions for the policies and buildings you can construct.

In the center of the Idea Tree, you'll see a meter that fills up based on your research choices, leaning either left or right. While favoring one side might displease the other faction, fully embracing an ideal can unlock powerful Cornerstone abilities. For example, choosing the Progress route might grant you Automation Primacy, which can drastically reduce Squalor.

As a general rule, you should always have something researching. It should be one of your primary uses for Heatstamps. If you find yourself with no active research and no Heatstamps to start one, consider requesting them from a Community or Faction you have a good relationship with. Research is that crucial!