colonization Tech Comparison
Megastructure Foundations vs Terraforming Protocols
Comparing the Megastructure Foundations (Tier 4) and Terraforming Protocols (Tier 3), both colonization technologies in Starforge MMO. Use this to decide which to queue first when your research lab can only run one project at a time.
Research Comparison
| Attribute | Megastructure Foundations | Terraforming Protocols |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | T4 | T3 |
| Research time | 72 | 20▼ |
| metal cost | 200,000 | 45,000▼ |
| crystal cost | 100,000 | 22,000▼ |
| dark matter cost | 3,000▼ | — |
| gas cost | — | 6,000▼ |
| Effect | +50% max population cap | colonize hostile worlds: true; +40% terraforming speed |
▼ marks the lower resource / time cost. Cheaper isn't always better — weigh it against the effect each tech unlocks.
Megastructure Foundations
Engineering principles enabling ring-worlds and ecumenopoleis. Adds +50% max pop cap.
Unlocks buildings: megastructure core
Requires: colonization 3, colonization 5
Terraforming Protocols
Advanced atmospheric processors enable colonization of hostile desert, arctic, and volcanic worlds.
Unlocks buildings: terraforming station
Requires: colonization 7
Which Should You Research First?
The Terraforming Protocols is the lower-tier prerequisite step and typically comes first in the colonization branch, opening the path toward Megastructure Foundations.