colonization Tech Comparison
Megastructure Foundations vs Megacity Planning
Comparing the Megastructure Foundations (Tier 4) and Megacity Planning (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 | Megacity Planning |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | T4 | T3 |
| Research time | 72 | 25▼ |
| metal cost | 200,000 | 50,000▼ |
| crystal cost | 100,000 | 25,000▼ |
| dark matter cost | 3,000▼ | — |
| Effect | +50% max population cap | +40% max planet population |
▼ 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
Megacity Planning
Arcology design and urban stacking increases maximum planetary population capacity by 40%.
Unlocks buildings: arcology district
Requires: colonization 7
Which Should You Research First?
The Megacity Planning is the lower-tier prerequisite step and typically comes first in the colonization branch, opening the path toward Megastructure Foundations.