Universal simulation appears to only rely on on the third tier of Energy science, as this is a prerequisite to research supercomputer, which is needed to research and use it.

In fact, it requires high end circuit, which is a tier 3 material science technology (as well as tier 3 energy). This should be a prerequisite.

I'm not seeing it.

Supercomputer 3 requires HCP circuits, but it only requires supercomputer 2 to do universal simulation, so the prereqs look correct to me.

Manufacturing the tier 2 computer requires quantum whatsits, which requires HCP circuits. Which requires superconductors. Which required me hand delivering supplies to space, to ground, to space, and the bots take it from there to make a single supercomputer after about one hour.

It is hella overpriced too. But that's not my complaint. If I had made a base that can do 1 SPM I'd have won ages ago

Which required me hand delivering supplies to space, to ground, to space, and the bots take it from there to make a single supercomputer after about one hour.

Do what now? o.O

Anyway, I see it now. What to do, I am less sure about. Quantum processors are used in enough things that do not require M3 either via tech tree or ingredients that I'm inclined to agree something should change. I can think of a few possibilities:

• Change the hcp circuit in quantum processors to something else.
• Change the hcp circuit recipe to use something other than superconductive cable, rejigger tech tree accordingly.
• Remove M3 as a prereq from superconductive cable. (And possibly add it to sniper laser turret 3?)
• If one takes the magnetic canister and recipes using it as justifying the M3 requirement, split those off into another tech with superconductive cable and M3 as prereqs, then as the previous.

My preference would lean towards options 3 or 4, since they change no recipes, but they're all significant enough changes that even if I could make unilateral changes to the mod, I wouldn't feel comfortable doing so.

My gut tells me that the cost of quantum processors - in particular the cost in holmium - is too high. I remember in SE that they weren't cheap, but I still feel they are WAY more expensive here given what they are actually used in, and the added HCP intermediate, which doesn't take productivity, as neither do the superconductive cable or the quantum processors.

But once I automate things, they will get made, at some speed.

My annoyance was at having to kludge together 600+ science which wasn't expected to unlock some key technologies before I start laying my endgame orbital base. (Which I didn't get BTW. tier 3 bio and this advanced composite science are just too expensive for a hand fed kludge, so I will build around endgame data card recycling, and advanced servers, and then downgrade it to the level I have actually unlocked, fluids and all).

FWIW, I ran into the same issue as this when I wanted to unlock the wide area beacon. Which I thought was due to the energy control unit. Maybe it was the energy crystals which go into that? Or it has been fixed since. Either way it was a while ago so I can't remember, but I do remember being very frustrated that unlocking it was not close to being able to actually build it.

My gut tells me that the cost of quantum processors - in particular the cost in holmium - is too high. I remember in SE that they weren't cheap,

The holmium cost, at least, has gone down actually, due to holmium cables having half the holmium replaced with cobalt nanotubes. (HCP circuits add some back, but not all.) Productivity does narrow the gap some, but optional holmium uses would widen it back up again. Of course, since in ATOM holmium requires those annoying calcium plates, maybe it feels like more. And, of course, the overall cost and complexity is higher; I'd attribute a lot of that to the parts from Bob's Electronics.

FWIW, I ran into the same issue as this when I wanted to unlock the wide area beacon. Which I thought was due to the energy control unit. Maybe it was the energy crystals which go into that?

That's plausible. It looks to me like the other materials should have been available at that point, but the energy crystals require fusion 1, which you probably hadn't done down yet. AFAICT nothing's changed around that; while making every prereq line up exactly probably isn't viable, it might make sense to add the tech to make those crystals as a requirement for energy control units.