EcoEEco
May 4

Beyond the meteor

I’m catching up on some streams recently, and had an interesting idea that I felt tied into the game mechanics fairly well under the category of “beyond the meteor” challenges. Tying into the theorized “chemistry” profession, could form hydrogen and oxygen. If near water, both could be made through electrolysis, but costs a lot in electricity. The alternatives could be inspired methane/natural gas to make hydrogen so tied into oil drilling. This method would pollute and be easier to accomplish. Oxygen could just have a “compressor” or something similar make it. I’d say barrels could house the gases just fine as well. Next, you could use electronics and industry to make components for a space program. One that couldn’t happen before due to the meteor. This space program would have multiple uses, but namely the victory condition could be the sun will have a solar flare in 45 days that wipes out all electrical using components and we find a way with the space program to prevent this solar flare, especially with our atmosphere weakened by how we polluted it so badly taking down the meteor. The space program, to keep things realistically not too hard to develop would be unmanned missions. Nobody “goes” to space. But they still are highly collaborative missions to build non-reusable rockets for various missions. Like… one could mine an asteroid for a substance not found on earth to fight the solar flare. Another could build a solar mirror to give a power boost to all solar panels on the planet. I think space program that takes high collaboration to just KEEP giving an entire server feelings of another WIN over and over, is really beneficial. On the other hand two countries could compete for space resources too. Maybe uranium fuel, or titanium for space projects that benefit all? Or a country/town keeps it to themselves. Here’s a better summary example of a chain: Oil Drilling now has a tied in profession: Refining Refining makes natural gas/methane Chemistry makes Hydrogen from this methane and steam. Chemistry also makes oxygen from a compressor. Chemistry could make both oxygen and hydrogen from electrolysis… if it has water. These two gases can be made into fuel… which I’ll explain later. The lab would be a huge undertaking made up of 4 parts and NO PROFESSION. I want to get away from the feeling of a “quarterback”. The engineer-mechanics-industry or however it works out always being the hero. I want the space program to truly feel like EVERYONE is a part, not whoever is taking industry is saving everyone. I’d rather the votes upon country or federation or team of people united and accomplished this. The lab’s 4 parts could be the in different places on the planet. 1 would be a launch pad/manufacturing facility. This would be the industrial center… usually would probably be made in the desert with steel and concrete. But would still have to import electrical components to build the ships. The 2nd part would be a communications array, to communicate with spacecraft (per se). This would be crafted where gold is prevalent as it leans more towards electronics. 3rd would be a fueling facility (this will tie in really well into oil spills) this is where hydrogen and oxygen are used to make rocket fuel, this area would prolly lean to whoever has oil near them. But would take shipping fuels from all over the world or pipelines which need to be maintained. Maybe fuels aren’t an item and are not put in barrels anymore? Maybe new boats and trucks specialize to carry liquids? Not items? New stockpiles that can take pipes? That are “tanks”? Anywho, lastly, number 4 would be the control center. This would probably be the civilization that led in culture, prevailed in government or wherever the government is at its strongest. All 4 of these “lab” parts tie into every late game industry, and finish the game off really nicely. Each lab part could critically help the space effort. The refueling is obvious, the manufacturing/launch pad could also be a maintenance town/team, things go wrong with the spaceships? It would make it very immersive and feel tied together. The communications array would get back information about the mission, and have to relay that to the control center. The control center has to make the actual decisions, have a risk vs reward system. Different scenarios. Add rocket tests and with each test success chances are higher and higher for a mission. Sorry for the idea vomit, y’all are the experts here. Thanks for taking the time to read my idea, and thank all of you for the most recent bug fixes and added content, yall are doing some amazing work and keep it up! Much appreciated from my friend and I!
PendingPending
May 10, 2024

Building on the Chemistry idea, various chemical compounds and elements can be collected from the world to develop new materials such as alloys, fertilisers, disinfectants (to maintain kitchen machines), medicines (if it ever becomes a necessity?) and many others using lab equipment. Lab equipment can range from basic machines like test tubes and beakers, lab benches and Bunsen burners (using methane piped to the bench or via other means). To modern machines like fume hoods (for more advanced recipes), centrifuges, heating mantles (to replace the Bunsen burners) and powered lab benches (to facilitate the modern machines' requirement of electricity).

May 11, 2024

Philip Miller Love all of it! I think this is coming along well!

May 8, 2024

This could use some tweaking and some really cool concepts and ideas could stem from this. It's a foundational idea that really brings people together.

May 9, 2024

Selsun Agreed! Would love to see some tweaking and some new ideas stem out from the community surrounding this idea. Hoping to see it expanded upon and maybe even one day be implemented.

May 7, 2024

Meteor or not, people lose interest very quickly. Once we get to spend a few stars and have built our home, our shop and our workspace, it seems like people see no challenge any longer. How to keep it interesting? I always keep playing daily as long as a server is up, never get bored, so I don't understand why other people leave. I wish people like you come up with ideas and those get implemented in the game.

May 7, 2024

I definitely hear you there… that happens to me quite often as well. I hope my idea, or anyone else who might have a better idea, ropes in the challenging aspect. One that unites servers and increases not just the servers population but the game in its entirety. I will say though, I’m extremely excited and hopeful for the upcoming progression. Watching their livestreams and seeing people’s ideas here and a lot of them confirming to be planned definitely has been reinstilling a lot of hope and excitement for everything coming up.

May 7, 2024

This has some really nice thought-out parts to the concepts! Like the idea of 4 parts of a lab spread across the world. And the rocket tests! Would the labs have to be spread out? I think so. But how to ensure this, beyond laws? Critically thinking here, would some labs benefit from being closer to some resource types than others (i.e. closer to Mountains for Ores?) The core mechanics of the game now are that transport plays a major role. Transporting to the individual labs thus seems important to keep the game balance. Can you think more on each of the 4 lab types and if they SHOULD be only buildable in their particular region of effect? I.E. SHOULD the fueling facility be NEAR oil, or must it always be AWAY from oil, necessitating transport of oil to its predetermined region type? Those kinds of thoughts about the 4 lab types, their inputs needed, and where the labs must be constructed (or cannot be) will play a role in government laws and restrictions. But thinking more of the defaults would help the developers understand more how this might work and keep transportation, sea/land, a continued bit of specialization (tugs that only transport Oxygen tanks - and can haul more per load when specialized, as an example). Grind, Work, and proficiency in a Specialization are key here... and we cannot eliminate those entirely. Let me know your further thoughts. Take some more time to critically think through your great idea. Don't rush!

May 7, 2024

I hear you there… I believe that the four labs being conveniently located towards each resource respectively will necessitate them being far enough away from each other to not hyper-focus in one area. But at the same time, there would certainly need to create a consistent dependency on each others resources at that same time. If one dominant resource (in your example the fueling one) pulls this towards the chemistry/oil drilling path… you’re absolutely right about necessitating MORE trade for that specific resource. Barrels are certainly something that would require foreign needs, and also exporting this to the landing pad (assuming it’s not built there) but let’s pretend for this we’d need forklift pallets or simply “pallets” since it’s hydrogen and generally, to avoid hazardous issues needs to be elevated… those pallets could be made from lumber. Thats ropes in logging, carpentry, smelting and the whole flaxseed chain, as well as adv smelting for the barrels themselves. Maybe hydrogen’s look would have a wood pallet base with steel barrels. I mean, this late in the game… we could use composite pallets? Just theorizing with one example… there are certainly a multitude of options for each lab where we could ensure higher all rounded collaboration at each lab. I have a habit of word vomiting when I get excited for new things to eco, so I hope that answered your question!

May 7, 2024

The communications array would most likely settle in the mountains, and being electronics focused. But would most certainly still import iron, fuels for a power-hungry array, and industry components (which is generally in desert). Lots of options… definitely room for improvement on my idea, would love what the community could add and make it more balanced.