Tech points: costs and sources of red, green and blue
The whole tree costs 11,157 red, 5,129 green and 4,132 blue, and each colour has its own sources.
Mechanics
New items are crafted once the relevant technology is unlocked, and technologies are paid for with tech points. Red points stand for hand-crafting and working with materials, green points for knowledge of nature, and blue points for spiritual knowledge of the immaterial world.
Studying every item once pays 4,760 red, 6,020 green and 5,115 blue - more green and blue than the whole tree costs, and less than half of its red. The rest of the red comes from gathering and crafting, and from Elder's meal, Red Techbook II, Fisherman's pie, Heavenly salmon and Red Techbook when used.
What each branch costs
| Branch | Technologies | Red | Green | Blue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building | 52 | 4,470 | 257 | 670 |
| Metallurgy | 45 | 3,680 | 330 | 340 |
| Farming | 34 | 5 | 2,575 | 360 |
| Theology | 28 | 930 | 795 | 1,120 |
| Anatomy and Alchemy | 47 | 2,072 | 1,172 | 1,642 |
| All 5 branches | 206 | 11,157 | 5,129 | 4,132 |
The Cooking tab is not researched: its 20 entries cost no tech points. Each is granted by an event: 6 by quests, 5 by harvests, 4 by catches, 2 by repairs, 2 by crafts and 1 by using an item.
Four sources of points
Studying an item at the Study Table keeps the item, uses up the Science it needs (and 1 Faith for 38 items), and pays red, green and blue points. Each item pays once. Science comes from decomposing Clean Paper, Science Kit I or Science Kit II at the Study Table.
- Where
- Study Table
- Energy
- 6 to 32 per study (2 to 14 with Researcher)
- Science per study
- 1 to 50 per item
- Runes
- Studying also uncovers the alchemy runes of the items that carry them
Trees, stones and bushes pay points the moment they break, and so do digging graves and harvesting garden beds.
| Action | Red | Green | Blue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breaking stones and ore | 1 to 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Picking berry and flower bushes | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Clearing bushes | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Chopping trees | 0 to 2 | 1 to 3 | 0 |
| Uprooting stumps | 0 to 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Harvesting garden beds | 0 | 2 to 12 | 0 |
| Digging and burying graves | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Most finished crafts pay tech points.
Most red per craft
- Marble Fence I+15 red at Stonemason's Workbench - 36 energy
- Marble Fence II+15 red at Stonemason's Workbench - 36 energy
- Master Armor+12 red at Steel Anvil - 24 energy
- Master Sword+12 red at Steel Anvil - 24 energy
- Building Kit II+10 red at Assembly bench III - 12 energy
- Fine Jewelry+10 red at Jewelry Table - 48 energy
- Marble Cross I+10 red at Stonemason's Workbench - 36 energy
- Marble Cross II+10 red at Stonemason's Workbench - 36 energy
Most green per craft
- Chocolate+10 green at Kitchen Table II - 16 energy
- Farming Fertilizer III+8 green at Formulation Bench - 18 energy
- Supply: Preserves II+8 green at Kitchen II - 16 energy
- Supply: Preserves I+6 green at Kitchen I - 16 energy
- Supply: Vegetables+6 green at Kitchen I - 16 energy
- Luxury Drapes+5 green at Sewing Table - 36 energy
- Prosthetic Hand+5 green at Steel Anvil - 16 energy
- Small Printing Press+5 green at Steel Anvil - 16 energy
Most blue per craft
- Marble Cross II+15 blue at Stonemason's Workbench - 36 energy
- Marble Fence II+15 blue at Stonemason's Workbench - 36 energy
- Marble Cross I+10 blue at Stonemason's Workbench - 36 energy
- Marble Fence I+10 blue at Stonemason's Workbench - 36 energy
- Gravestone II+7 blue at Stonemason's Workbench - 24 energy
- Hypno Prayer+6 blue at Writing Desk - 64 energy
These items grant points directly when used: the 6 Techbooks, Elder's meal, Fisherman's pie, Kraken steak, Fried golden carp and Heavenly salmon. A dish pays its points once for every colour of point it lists, so Elder's meal pays 90 red + 90 green + 90 blue where its tooltip lists 30 red + 30 green + 30 blue and Fisherman's pie pays 30 red + 30 green + 30 blue where its tooltip lists 10 red + 10 green + 10 blue.
- Elder's meal+90 red + 90 green + 90 blue points (the tooltip lists 30 red + 30 green + 30 blue)
- Red Techbook II+100 red points
- Green Techbook II+100 green points
- Blue Techbook II+100 blue points
- Fisherman's pie+30 red + 30 green + 30 blue points (the tooltip lists 10 red + 10 green + 10 blue)
- Kraken steak+50 blue points
- Fried golden carp+50 green points
- Heavenly salmon+50 red points
- Red Techbook+25 red points
- Green Techbook+25 green points
- Blue Techbook+25 blue points
Every item that can be studied (359)
 Wooden Kit IMixed | 25 | 0 | 10 | 35 | 10 |
 Advanced RodGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 Apple JuiceGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 Baked appleGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 Baked fishGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 Baked salmonGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 Berry JuiceGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 Blank Hardcover NotebookBlue | 0 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 20 |
 Blue CrystalMixed | 0 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 15 |
 Blueberry CiderGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 10 |
 Blueberry JuiceGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 5 |
 Bowl of sauerkraut (silver)Green | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 Brain (any grade)Blue | 0 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 3 |
 Bronze Zombie CollarMixed | 0 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 5 |
 Brown MushroomGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 BurgerBlue | 0 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 10 |
 Cabbage soupGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 CarrotGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 Carrot soupGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 CoalMixed | 20 | 10 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
 Comet's TailBlue | 0 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 10 |
 Copper NuggetMixed | 20 | 0 | 10 | 30 | 2 |
 CrucianGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
 Fancy IncenseBlue | 0 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 15 |
 Fish nuggetsGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 Fish soupGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 FlaxMixed | 10 | 20 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
 GlassMixed | 20 | 10 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 Golden ingotMixed | 20 | 10 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 Grape Juice (bronze)Green | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 5 |
 GudgeonGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
 Guts (any grade)Mixed | 0 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 3 |
 Heart (any grade)Mixed | 10 | 0 | 20 | 30 | 3 |
 HoneyMixed | 0 | 20 | 10 | 30 | 3 |
 InkBlue | 0 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 5 |
 Insect BaitGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 Iron IngotMixed | 10 | 0 | 20 | 30 | 2 |
 Keys for LootersMixed | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 | 3 |
 LaceMixed | 10 | 20 | 0 | 30 | 5 |
 Magnificent CandleBlue | 0 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
 Marble Cross IBlue | 0 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
 Marble Fence IBlue | 0 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
 Marble PlateRed | 30 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 10 |
 MuffinGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 10 |
 OnionGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
 Onion ringsMixed | 0 | 20 | 10 | 30 | 3 |
 Polished StoneRed | 30 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 5 |
 Pumpkin soupGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 RhododendronRed | 30 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
 RoachGreen | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
Tech point questions
Where do blue points come from?
Studying every item at the Study Table once pays 5,115. Crafts pay blue too: the most per craft are Marble Cross II (+15), Marble Fence II (+15), Marble Cross I (+10) and Marble Fence I (+10). Used as items, Elder's meal (+90), Blue Techbook II (+100), Fisherman's pie (+30), Kraken steak (+50) and Blue Techbook (+25) grant blue.
Can an item be studied twice?
No. Each item pays once. Items that come in bronze, silver and gold quality count as separate entries, one study each.
What is Science?
Science is what the Study Table spends to study an item. Clean Paper gives 1, Science Kit I gives 30 and Science Kit II gives 60 when decomposed at the table.
What pays green points?
Studying at the Study Table covers the whole tree's green on its own. Gathering pays per object: picking berry and flower bushes 1; clearing bushes 1; chopping trees 1 to 3; uprooting stumps 1; harvesting garden beds 2 to 12. Crafts pay green too: the most per craft are Chocolate (+10), Farming Fertilizer III (+8), Supply: Preserves II (+8) and Supply: Preserves I (+6). Used as items, Elder's meal (+90), Green Techbook II (+100), Fisherman's pie (+30), Fried golden carp (+50) and Green Techbook (+25) grant green.
Do crafts pay more points with a higher mastery?
No. A recipe always pays the same tech points: mastery, perks and quality do not change them. A craft done by a zombie pays that zombie, not the Keeper. An auto-crafter keeps the points of its finished crafts and pays them out when its output is taken. A star craft with no successful tick still pays its points.
What pays red points?
Studying every item once pays 4,760. Gathering pays per object: breaking stones and ore 1 to 3; chopping trees 0 to 2; uprooting stumps 0 to 1; digging and burying graves 2. Crafts pay red too, and Elder's meal (+90), Red Techbook II (+100), Fisherman's pie (+30), Heavenly salmon (+50) and Red Techbook (+25) grant red when used.
Related pages
- The six-day weekGluttony to Wrath: the event tied to each day and the quest that unlocks each day's wheel picture.
- Graveyard qualityHow skulls and wreaths score a grave, every headstone and decoration, and what the score pays.
- ZombiesHow zombies look, resurrection on Envy, collars, masteries, perks, jobs and the zombie limit.
- Energy and insanityWhat costs energy, what causes insanity, and every food and drink with its values.
- Money and tradingBronze, silver and gold, trader purses, town orders on Pride, Likes caps and the sources of income.
- FAQShort answers with exact numbers: days, recipes, saving, zombies and fast travel.
- Pre-order bonusWhere the Sauna and the platform outfit are, and what they do.
