This idea comes from an original post by kendryll found at: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9542&p=83151#p83151

I liked his idea a lot and added my own twist so here is just my Twist, I only take credit for what I thought up: that being everything here.

Research Sub Tree:
There would be 5 tiers for each combination each would have 3 ranks.
Two finished tiers in the Primary Tree would open one Tier in the Sub Tree.

Example:
Finish Weapons and Energy Tier 2 and gain access to [Weapon X Energy] Research Tier 1
Finish Shield and Scanning Tier 4 and gain access to [Shield X Scanning] Tier 2
Finish Armor and Cloaking Tier 6 and gain access to [Armor X Cloaking] Tier 3
All the way to Sub Tree Tier 5, requiring 10 Tiers in two Primary Research Tree's
Each combination would require its own prerequisites be met.

Cost:
The cost of each Sub Tree Tier would be the cost from both Primary tiers x 1.5
Example:
Weapon: Phased Energy Tier 6, Quantum Capacitors Tier 6 opens Sub Tree [Weapon x Energy] Tier 3.
Phased Energy (9,000) + Quantum Capacitors (7,000) = (16,000) x 1.5 = 24,000 research points per mark.

Sub Tree List:
Weapons X Energy [Over Charging]
Armor X Cloaking [Stealth Alloys]
Shield X Scanning [Energy Fields]
Thruster X Dampener [Omni Defense]

Limit 2 modules per Sub Tree, Limit 1 Sub Tree Module per 100 ranks to a maximum of 8 modules at rank 800... (I'm a fan of progression).
A rank 75 ship could have 0 sub tree modules.
A rank 114 ship could have 1 sub tree module.
A rank 298 ship could have 2 sub tree modules.
A rank 344 ship could have 3 sub tree modules but not more than 2 from the same sub tree.
A rank 421 ship could have 4 sub tree modules, but not more than 2 from the same sub tree.
Etc.

This is not a new idea for lower ranking ships, this is a new idea to give higher ranking players something to focus on and give lower ranking players something to look forward to.

I will list examples of Over Charging [Weapon X Energy] tech below but these are just suggestions, Dan could change/add whatever he wanted of course.

As a sub tree you would NOT need to research it to continue along the research tree as normal, this is something you might bypass till you are rank 100 pick the 1 module you want
as you are limited to 1 at 100-199 and then use your research points to get it. Worry about the next one at rank 200, you do have to finish the Sub Tree research in order though, you
could not just skip to Sub Tree Tier 5 because you are rank 400, you would have to finish Tier 1: M1, M2, M3, Tier 2: M1, M2, M3 etc.

Exampled with basic idea behind the ship module.
Tier 1
Finish: Linear Induction Weapon Tier 2 & Cold Fusion Energy Tier 2, will open Over Charge Tier 1 "Fusion Induction" 1800 Research.
Fusion Induction M1: Size 16, Attack 8 / Energy 8 [Limit 2 per ship]
Fusion Induction M2: Size 17, Attack 9 / Energy 9 [Limit 2 per ship]
Fusion Induction M3: Size 18, Attack 10 / Energy 10 [Limit 2 per ship]
Tier 2
Finish: Graviton Induction Tier 4 & Ion Channeling Tier 4, will open Over Charge Tier 2 "Graviton Channeling" 7500 Research.
Graviton Channeling M1: Size 20, Attack 12 / Energy 12 [Limit 2 per ship]
Graviton Channeling M2: Size 21, Attack 13 / Energy 13 [Limit 2 per ship]
Graviton Channeling M3: Size 22, Attack 14 / Energy 14 [Limit 2 per ship]
Tier 3
Finish: Quantum Capacitors Tier 6 & Phased Energy Tier 6, will open Over Charge Tier 3 "Phased Capacitors" 24000 Research.
Phased Capacitors M1: Size 24, Attack 16 / Energy 16 [Limit 2 per ship]
Phased Capacitors M2: Size 25, Attack 17 / Energy 17 [Limit 2 per ship]
Phased Capacitors M3: Size 26, Attack 18 / Energy 18 [Limit 2 per ship]
Tier 4
Finish: Matter Disruption Tier 8 & Antimatter Containment Tier 8, will open Over Charge Tier 4 "Antimatter Disruption" 57000 Research.
Antimatter Disruption M1: Size 28, Attack 20 / Energy 20 [Limit 2 per ship]
Antimatter Disruption M2: Size 29, Attack 21 / Energy 21 [Limit 2 per ship]
Antimatter Disruption M3: Size 30, Attack 22 / Energy 22 [Limit 2 per ship]
Tier 5
Finish: Micro-Singularities Tier 10 & Singularity Control Tier 10, will open Over Charge Tier 5 "Micro-Singularities Control" 157500 Research.
Micro-Singularities Control M1: Size 32, Attack 24 / Energy 24 [Limit 2 per ship]
Micro-Singularities Control M2: Size 33, Attack 25 / Energy 25 [Limit 2 per ship]
Micro-Singularities Control M3: Size 34, Attack 26 / Energy 26 [Limit 2 per ship]

By all means this system could raise as tech levels raise, I only say to rank 5 because if Dan were to do something like this, going to Tier 5 Sub Tree
would be a nice to start. Every six months add 1 new Sub Tree Tier until the Sub Tree is a capacity and then release a new Sub Tier every 6 months,
this would require a new Primary Tier every 3 months. New tiers of research doesn't necessarily mean NEW weapons but maybe reanalyzing older tech
or modifying current systems or even the development of artifacts that could be gained.

Please offer feedback.

I like it. It seems a simple enough system. What about Laser Relays? Filtered Plasma Relays? etc.

I left relays out because they are apart of the energy primary tree and if added made an odd number, sub tree's need an even number. 8 Primary Trees = 4 Sub Trees, aside from that I figured Dan would be more accepting of the idea if it was +Energy instead of +Charge, as charge modules are much more limited in the game.

So far I got 2 likes and 2 dislikes but no one is saying anything.
If you dislike the system say why, if you like the system please offer some feed back to improve it.

As you used my post as reference .. I obviously love this idea .. I like anything that allows for a little more customization, something that doesn't let any level 350 with a massive star destroyer look exactly the same, and I personally like the hybrid module approach.. and I like things that provide a bit more strategy to the overall process..