The only choice I get for Capsule Construction is "Survival Pods"? Where are Battle Pods and Troop Pods? It seems like several techs are missing, and I am *not* playing as an uncreative race.

I've never heard of this problem before, but suggest installing the game again. Assuming you purchased it from GOG it doesn't take long to DL.

.. neilkaz ..

Is tactical combat turned on? If you can't design your ships, those technologies (and maybe a few more) are not available. And by default, tactical combat is off.

Another way tech can be missing from research options is if your spies have already stolen it from another race. Once you research the tech field, you will have access to all the tech you've stolen that becomes available at that level.

You may be exactly right with the tactical combat. I may not have checked that.

As for techs being stolen, that isn't the case, because this is very early in the game before any contact has been made.

How embarassing! I've played this game off and on since its release in 1996, and I totally ignored the "tactical combat" option, as though I'd never seen it before :( That fixed my "problem". Thanks for your quick reply !