Index -> Playing the Game -> Beginning of Turn
As each new turn begins, your race may make a "research breakthrough," giving you additional tech you can spend to play your cards.
When there is a research breakthrough, a dialog box appears, asking you which of the two types of tech for your deck's primary race will be generated. Your choice cannot be changed later. You will be able to spend this tech immediately.
In the early game, research breakthroughs are quite frequent. However, as time passes and it becomes more difficult for your race to make new discoveries, research breakthroughs become less common. Research breakthroughs occur at the beginning of turns 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 16, 20, 25, and 30. (This pattern continues in games lasting longer than 30 turns; that is, after every two research breakthroughs, it takes one turn longer than before to reach the next one.)
You also gain tech at this time if you conquered any artifact planets during the previous turn. (This is described fully under Conquer Phase.)
A dialog box appears for each new source of artifact tech, asking you which of the five types of tech will be generated. Your choice cannot be changed as long as you continue to control that source of artifact tech. You will be able to spend this tech immediately.
