Welfare research (Welfare 1)

The Welfare 1 research arc (story_research_welfare_1.xml, 2112 lines) is the base game HQ research line for unlocking the original Welfare module. The arc spans a research announcement, meeting NPC Drek, completing a race time trial, and concluding with module unlock.

Script: story_research_welfare_1.xml
DLC: Base game (no DLC required)
MDScript version: 4

Sectors anchored

Variable	Macro	Vanilla name
`$Anomaly_1_Sec`	`cluster_04_sector001`	Nopileos’ Fortune (anomaly 1 location)
`$Anomaly_2_Sec`	`cluster_08_sector001`	Silent Witness (anomaly 2 location)
`$CutsceneSector`	`cluster_50_sector001`	(cutscene-specific sector)

The arc references HQ-adjacent sectors dynamically (find_sector_in_range mindistance="1" maxdistance="3" from HQ for placement).

Persistent character

Character	Role
Drek	Race-organizer NPC, drives the time trial mission

Setup phase

Cue	Purpose
`Find_Mission_Stations` (10s polling)	Periodically check for valid mission stations
`Research_Announcement` (10s polling)	Announce research availability
`Research_Announcement_Dialog` (refs LIB_Dialog.Speak_Actor)	Spoken research announcement
`Research_Entry_Selected` (instanced)	Player selects research at HQ
`ResearchStarted_SpeakEnd` (instanced)	Speak-end after research starts

Mission entry: “Research Announcement + Selection”

Cue chain: Check_Research_Unlocked → Research_Announcement → Research_Entry_Selected
In-game name: Welfare research available at HQ
Find in game: HQ research menu, after triggers fire
Prerequisites: HQ available + research-system active
What player encounters:
- 10-second polling for research announcement availability
- Announcement dialog plays via LIB_Dialog.Speak_Actor
- Player selects research → research begins
- Speak-end event after start
Reward: Research entry started; mission unlocks
Chains to: Start_Mission

Mission entry: “Start Mission + Supervisor”

Cue: Start_Mission (instanced) → Supervisor_Conv_Handler (instanced)
In-game name: First mission with supervisor
What player encounters:
- Mission starts
- Player meets / talks to a Supervisor NPC
Chains to: Drek introduction

Mission entry: “Meet Drek + Race Ship Acquisition”

Cue chain: Drek_Conv_1_Start (instanced) → Drek_Conv_1_Next → Get_Race_Ship
In-game name: Meet Drek; acquire a race ship
Find in game: Talk to Drek
What player encounters:
- Conversation with Drek begins (triggered by event_conversation_started actor="$Drek")
- Drek explains the welfare arc + time trial requirement
- Player must acquire a race ship
NPCs involved: Drek
Chains to: Get_Race_Ship_Conv_Start → Get_Race_Ship_RML → time trial

Mission entry: “Get Race Ship”

Cue chain: Get_Race_Ship_Conv_Start → Get_Race_Ship_RML (mission library) → Get_Race_Ship_Additional_Checks → Get_Race_Ship_End_Dialogue → Check_Race_Ship_Status
In-game name: Acquire a race ship
What player encounters:
- Race ship acquisition mission (library-managed via RML)
- Additional checks ensure ship is valid race ship
- End-dialogue triggers on completion
- Status check polls for current state
Reward: Race ship in fleet
Chains to: Time Trial mission

Mission entry: “Time Trial”

Cue chain: Time_Trial_Intro_Dialogue (refs LIB_Dialog.Speak_Actor with $Drek actor) → Time_Trial_RML → Time_Trial_RML_Signal
In-game name: Race time trial
Path/Chapter: Welfare 1 (climax)
Find in game: After race ship acquired
What player encounters:
- Drek narrates intro dialogue (via cutscene)
- Time trial mission begins (RML-managed)
- Player races through a course against the clock
- Signal fires when trial completes (success or failure)
Where: Race course (likely involving Anomaly sectors)
NPCs involved: Drek (commentator)
Reward: Time trial completion advances arc
Chains to: Welfare module unlocked

Player-station integration

The arc dynamically interacts with player-owned stations:

$SelectedPlayerStation is referenced for nearby-sector finding
$ForceCasino flag adjusts distance bounds (10 sectors if casino, 3 otherwise)

This suggests the arc has a casino sub-mechanic linked to player station infrastructure.

Save migration

The arc uses standard Check_Research_Unlocked onfail="cancel" pattern — researches can be pre-unlocked via custom game start.

Path completion summary

A completed Welfare 1 arc yields:

Welfare module unlocked — habitation feature for player stations
Drek as recognized contact
Time trial completion record
Prerequisite for Pirate-DLC Welfare 2 (Gambling Hall) research

Mod conflict risks (Welfare 1-specific)

❌ Mods that disable Drek NPC break arc
❌ Mods that change race ship mechanics break Get_Race_Ship_RML
❌ Mods that change Anomaly sectors (cluster_04, cluster_08) affect arc context
❌ Mods that disable HQ research break entire arc
⚠ Race-rebalance mods affect time trial difficulty
⚠ Mods affecting player station mechanics affect $SelectedPlayerStation logic

Code references

Concern	Cue
Research unlock check	`Check_Research_Unlocked`
Announcement polling	`Research_Announcement` (10s)
Mission stations polling	`Find_Mission_Stations` (10s)
Drek intro	`Drek_Conv_1_Start` (instanced)
Race ship acquisition	`Get_Race_Ship_RML`
Time trial	`Time_Trial_RML` + `Time_Trial_RML_Signal`
Drek intro cutscene	`Time_Trial_Intro_Dialogue` (refs LIB_Dialog.Speak_Actor)
Supervisor handler	`Supervisor_Conv_Handler` (instanced)
Casino flag	`$ForceCasino`

Mission encyclopedia — landscape
Pirate Welfare 2 — follow-up arc (Gambling Hall)
Story arcs catalog — high-level catalog

The Welfare 1 arc is the base-game predecessor to the Pirate-DLC Welfare 2 chain. Together they unlock the full Welfare module → Gambling Hall progression. Your mod’s interference with HQ research, race mechanics, or Drek NPC breaks the cumulative welfare progression.