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Frostpunk 2builds on the successes of the first game by expanding on the game’s scale, but some things about it have remained largely the same. Where the first game had the Workshop, which unlocked a technology tree for engineers to research and develop ideas on new buildings and tech, Frostpunk 2 has the Idea Tree.
The difference here is that different Factions will have different solutions to problems, and will put forward their own ideas that support their own agendas. So for a single issue, you might have two or more possible ideas that you can research and perhaps enact into law. This adds layers of complexity to governing your city, but don’t worry – we have you covered with our guide to Ideas.
How Do You Unlock The Idea Tree?
In the story mode, you’ll unlock the Idea Tree early in Chapter 1 by placing aResearch Institutein anExpanded Housing District’sempty Building slot. The Research Institute is the first building made available to you. Once the Building is up, you’ll be able to begin researching Ideas.
You can build multiple research institutes to increase research speed.
What Does The Idea Tree Do?
The Idea Tree represents multiple solutions to a problem or issue that your city might be facing, and how different factions want you to respond to it. In order tomaximise your city’s efficiencyas well asunlock new buildings and laws, you’ll have to develop new ideas.
The ideologies of different groups will influence the solution they come up with, and you’ll have animproved relationshipwith whichever Community you choose to develop an idea.
Each idea developed contributes toward a different value in yourZeitgeist, combined of three pairs of opposing principles. There’s Progress versus Adaptation, Equality versus Merit, and Reason versus Tradition.
Different groups will value these differently, and it’s up to you tocombine research, laws, and community actionsto keep different Factions happy.
How To Research New Ideas
Research itself is simple: justaccumulate the resourcesyou need to research a given idea,select the solution variantyou want to look into, and click research.
Make sure youcompare the details of the different solutions, because they might have different construction costs, upkeep needs, and research lengths.
Not every idea will be available to you at first – some may require that you research other ideas first, or that the Council be formed.
You’ll find there are some ideas that all Factions agree on, like Housing Insulation. These act more asupgradesthan as Ideas per se because they don’t contribute to the interests of any one faction. Youshould opt to research these whenever you can.
How Do You Implement Ideas?
However, just looking into an idea doesn’t actually put it into action. Ideas are just Ideas, and the majority of this research has no effect unless youactively implementit in New London.
Some Ideas may result inBuilding types, and you’ll have to build them in your Districts for them to have an effect on your city. Others may be more abstract and manifest in legislation, meaning you’ll have to bring it to Council Hall so it can beenacted as Law.
Again, in the case of the Coal Mine, you’ll have to actually construct these buildings in the appropriate Districts for them to have any effect. In other, more abstract cases, you’ll need to have the council vote on an idea to enact it into law and have it take effect.
