Can you have 2 or more research tables working simultaneously? I can't seem to complete much of the tech before I inevitably die horribly.
I've never tried two tables, but just in case you're trying to research stuff from the get-go; don't bother. Establish your colony core first: beds, power, farming, freezer, and some defense. I don't even build the table until i'm confident i can defend the colony successfully. Tasking your colonists with research early on takes them away from other duties like hauling free goodies across the map to your storage, while also slowing construction and keeping you vulnerable longer.
I made the mistake early on myself and was often overwhelmed, but nevermind if you knew all that.
Yes you can have multiple research tables running simultaneously.
It's not going to save you if you're struggling with core game concepts however as most of the research doesn't significantly decrease game difficulty.
Pretty much the only two researches you really NEED are Geothermal and Stone-cutting, especially since they're removing tree-farming so there's likely no wood, and besides, building things other than tables and chairs out of wood is a deathtrap. Everything else is gravy or useless. It is not clear to me why anyone would need more than one research table given the limited and short tech tree. When you've only got 3 colonists, you want to allocate MORE of them to this?
Thank you everyone. The reason I ask is that I have downloaded and installed many mods that add much more tech. I have also added a fair few mods which make it much harder to defend the base. As a direct result I am having trouble attaining the tech I need in order to stop the bad mods overcoming the good. That is why I ask. xD
I've asked the same question myself, and from my recollection Tynan said that the research points are pooled to research the current target.
So it's like Civ, where the tables are the cities. You choose something to research, and the colonists generate points toward that research at each table. Still, you can only research one thing at any given time.