I have done a lot of exploration in the early and mid game. By now my colonies are making me more money then I could ever spend. They are also annihilating all fleets that are sent against them by themselves.
But I'm still missing blueprints, especially high tech ones. So I decided trying to raid Tri-Tachyon.
I hit both military markets and the only not common thing I got was a light needler blueprint.
That's really underwhelming considering I blew up a star fortress, bombed their ground defenses, raided with a 90% effectiveness and went hostile with a major faction for this result. I mean Culann is now sitting at 0 stability.
So I am wondering if exploration is currently the only decent way to find blueprints? I might try [REDACTED] next but I have read in another thread that the loot there is rather bad as well.
Somewhat unrelated I want to say that I really like the raid/bomb mechanic itself. Slipping past the station for a quick raid but having to deal with the added defense the station itself gives and the ground defenses. Or just blasting through and straight up bombing the defenses.
Or possibly targeting trade convoys to the target carrying marines and supplies so that the defenses are only working sup-optimally.
Something that might be even possible early to midgame.