Wind power...

[T-Gunn]

I realize this is early access. I find it very annoying that wind power is so unreliable. I even thought that on top of a mountain it should be better, but it isnt that dynamic (yet, i hope) all 4 large windmills face the same way and give the same horse power even though they are spread out.

To Developers,

Please consider making it more reliable, give us a wind sock or something that we can determine the best place for wind power.

[laughing man]

First i was a bit annoyed by it too but i figured its ok. Once you get your economy started having multiple wind power engines is not that expensive any more. The best thing to do is combine it with some water wheels. That way you only have downtimes on wind-still drought days. But every other day if at least one of both power sources is active you have permanent energy. With this i come down to about 1 day of no energy while droughts, all the other days im perfectly fine with energy.

[sdarkpaladin]

Yeah, having windmills all be turning at the same time or not at all kinda defeat the purpose of having it. It's just a more unreliable water wheel as at least water wheel can be predicted.

I thought having multiples of them would be good as if one is down another one could cover for it. But since they activate and deactivate at the same time, I either have unlimited power or none at all.

At this point it's better to just rely on water or beaver power.

[Gyger]

Looks like the beavers need to invent flywheel energy storage. Otherwise there needs to be an automatic (wind-powered) pump that can move water into a reservoir and then use that to turn a waterwheel on demand.

[rini.17]

Pumped water energy storage would be more in line with the game. Like, when the wind blows the water gets pumped to upper reservoir.

[Ephora]

I also find it a bit unsatisfying. I think having them always turning /a little bit/ would be better, and then completely still days would be an exception rather than the norm.
Either that or adding wind powered pumps as mentioned above.

[Shas'O O'Kais]

Originally posted by T-Gunn:

I realize this is early access. I find it very annoying that wind power is so unreliable. I even thought that on top of a mountain it should be better, but it isnt that dynamic (yet, i hope) all 4 large windmills face the same way and give the same horse power even though they are spread out.

To Developers,

Please consider making it more reliable, give us a wind sock or something that we can determine the best place for wind power.

I experimented with wind power in my first couple of towns then abandoned it entirely. It is too unreliable.

These days I dynamite channel the river deeper, throw waterwheels down there in ludicrous numbers, narrow the river to 4 tiles wide, then cover it all up with platforms and build my industry on top of it. With the right sort of dam you can keep water flowing 100% of the time, even during droughts.

I don't find the "staying near water" limitation for power generation to be that constraining anyway because tree and crop growth is already restricted to water either way, so it synergizes regardless.

[CG]

Originally posted by Shas'o O'Kais:

Originally posted by T-Gunn:

I realize this is early access. I find it very annoying that wind power is so unreliable. I even thought that on top of a mountain it should be better, but it isnt that dynamic (yet, i hope) all 4 large windmills face the same way and give the same horse power even though they are spread out.

To Developers,

Please consider making it more reliable, give us a wind sock or something that we can determine the best place for wind power.

I experimented with wind power in my first couple of towns then abandoned it entirely. It is too unreliable.

These days I dynamite channel the river deeper, throw waterwheels down there in ludicrous numbers, narrow the river to 4 tiles wide, then cover it all up with platforms and build my industry on top of it. With the right sort of dam you can keep water flowing 100% of the time, even during droughts.

I don't find the "staying near water" limitation for power generation to be that constraining anyway because tree and crop growth is already restricted to water either way, so it synergizes regardless.

if you place your waterpumps at the right place in the damn, their produced current will make the wheels go brr.
and if you pump the water downsteam and bring it upstream you got your power during droughts.

[Chinsukolo]

I was annoyed at first as well, but then i thought about the fact that this is a game about BEAVERS - and beavers make dams and control water.

So i figured the inconsistent wind is likely on purpose, and i wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't change. As of now it drives you to use water wheels and make damns and do Beaver like things to get more power.

This leaves wind mills decent for 1 offs like the metal grinder way off in the distance or temp power while you adjust your resivours to keep the wheels flowing.

Really I feel we need a bottom of dam pipe/exit, then you could make a water battery that exits in drought, turns the wheels gets pumped back to top, bam! still power in drought and water only decreases from crops and beaver baths.

[Shas'O O'Kais]

Originally posted by CG:

Originally posted by Shas'o O'Kais:

I experimented with wind power in my first couple of towns then abandoned it entirely. It is too unreliable.

These days I dynamite channel the river deeper, throw waterwheels down there in ludicrous numbers, narrow the river to 4 tiles wide, then cover it all up with platforms and build my industry on top of it. With the right sort of dam you can keep water flowing 100% of the time, even during droughts.

I don't find the "staying near water" limitation for power generation to be that constraining anyway because tree and crop growth is already restricted to water either way, so it synergizes regardless.

if you place your waterpumps at the right place in the damn, their produced current will make the wheels go brr.
and if you pump the water downsteam and bring it upstream you got your power during droughts.

Having extra pumps as well as dumps to artificially create current is a waste of jobs when you can do it entirely for free with a reservoir that maintains itself.

https://i.imgur.com/EHqfBpA.jpg

^ This baby automatically fills and releases water with zero attention or jobs required. Even during 2 week long droughts, the water flows continuously.

[legeis90]

I mean it depends on the map. I am playing Plataues and waterwheele won't cut it. Wind is neccecary. but yes it is unreliable.

[Shadow Draxis]

Wind power being more unreliable than the engine is annoying. Engine costs more but at least it works when you want it to.

[legeis90]

Originally posted by Shadow Draxis:

Wind power being more unreliable than the engine is annoying. Engine costs more but at least it works when you want it to.

Disagree. I mean yes it is unreliable.... But wind power is generally unreliable. Plus it is only necessary on more difficult maps. I would like it things like placement mattered and there was more to it. But no I don't think it should be consistent or reliable as wind power would just be overpowered and unbalanced.

[Stabbity]

Originally posted by Shas'o O'Kais:

Originally posted by CG:

if you place your waterpumps at the right place in the damn, their produced current will make the wheels go brr.
and if you pump the water downsteam and bring it upstream you got your power during droughts.

Having extra pumps as well as dumps to artificially create current is a waste of jobs when you can do it entirely for free with a reservoir that maintains itself.

https://i.imgur.com/EHqfBpA.jpg

^ This baby automatically fills and releases water with zero attention or jobs required. Even during 2 week long droughts, the water flows continuously.

I think the resources/time you pour into that reservoir is still cheaper than doing 10 windmills for unreliable performance. I regret using windmills. I'm going to make a reservoir much like yours.

[Izunyami]

Originally posted by T-Gunn:

I realize this is early access. I find it very annoying that wind power is so unreliable. I even thought that on top of a mountain it should be better, but it isnt that dynamic (yet, i hope) all 4 large windmills face the same way and give the same horse power even though they are spread out.

To Developers,

Please consider making it more reliable, give us a wind sock or something that we can determine the best place for wind power.

So... it's realistic? lol