Is there a file w/ Research Tree?

[freduk]

I always use PPB as early as possible and for a very long time, until my economy can't take it anymore and then I switch to Ripper Beams (A very underestimated weapen- I haven't seen any people use them) They only have range 3 but are very cheap, and also smaller in tonnage so you can fit more of them on a ship or have space left for more armor.
If you make a fleet with half PPB battleships and half shield-depleter+ ripper beams you will have a fleet that is very functional and way cheaper than PPB only.

Apart from that, I have the idea that my ripper beams hit more often than PPB's which is something I am not really sure of, so a question: what is the calculation of possibility to hit at distance??? It seems to me point blank gives more chance to hit than 7 sectors away.
And which weapons have a hitting bonus???