Auto Trash Collector

[lozza_dearnley]

The return on investment is just pitiful on this item. The auto trash collector is 200 scrap to unlock, which is 400 trash. I grinded to get it, expecting it to just suck all the trash out of the ocean and that I could come back to empty it periodically of a few dozen trash pieces, and save myself a day of swimming around just to get all the trash I needed to keep up with crafting (cos you need ALOT of trash/scrap), as well as keeping the ocean free of debris. Came back a few days later and it was empty - clearly it doesn't run when you're not there.

So I picked it up, moved it over to where some trash was, and watched it VERY SLOWLY move over a small area to pick up a few pieces. It took at least a minute to do what would have taken me less than ten seconds, and that's not counting how long it took to return to the dock.

Then I took it into one of the caves and placed it, expecting it to suck up all the trash there and at least be helpful. Nope, it doesn't work inside the caves even though they are now underwater.

Am I doing something wrong or is this just a really badly balanced game mechanic? Maybe its useful when you're clearing up the ocean, but I'd already done that by the time I purchased the ATC so I'm just working with the smaller scrap piles that spawn in.

[ArdiStairway]

Hello ,
Can you send your save file and video your issue to [e-mail] ?
You can write 'Auto Trash Collector - Steam Discussion - [Steam username]' in the subject.

[lozza_dearnley]

Originally posted by ArdiStairway:

Hello ,
Can you send your save file and video your issue to [e-mail] ?
You can write 'Auto Trash Collector - Steam Discussion - [Steam username]' in the subject.

Hi thanks for the reply but I don't think its a bug, unless the ATC isn't working as its meant to? The little drone does fly around and collect trash, its just so inefficient. What SHOULD happen when I place it?

[Joviiiiiiiii]

auto trash collector need buff

[snorlex]

I am having same problem here... It is not worh at all to make an auto trash collector! Just scrap waste :/ I am sad I could use all that scrap in other better upgrades and now I am stuck with this trash thing that does work but so much unefficient

[Indigo]

If you want to collect trash, I strongly recommend going diving. The ocean has a lot of trash piles to clear with a scythe, and a lot of it turns into trash you can pick up. These trash piles also drop various treasure chests, which you can have opened at the blacksmith shop for items that can be donated to the museum, or sold for a pretty good daily income.

If you have more real-world time and in-game stamina than a normal in-game day allows, I would also suggest dialing the in-game time progression to 50%, to maximize your ability to collect trash and chests.

Further info in the spoiler'd portion.

Once you've cleared enough of the ocean, there are repeatable daily caves that become available (with teleport locations at their entrances). These caves primarily have room after room of dense trash piles to clear out, which drop chests from the appropriate tier of the ocean they're located in.

It's fairly common for me to make over 10,000 coins/day, filling my shipping box to capacity and having some slosh items leftover for the next day, and I have so many piles of trash that I don't even bother refining it all anymore, I'll refine what fits into my recycling machines and compost bins, and sell all but one full stack of the rest.

My save is at Y2 Spring 15, but once I realized the value of diving I basically just did farming/ranching for unlock items, mining on an as-needed basis for ores, and am otherwise a full-time daily diver.

Spoilers, part 2:

It might feel like a grind to clear out the ocean, but if you get through it, you not only unlock a significant boost to the island's quality, but can become a merperson, which unlocks dashing underwater.

[lozza_dearnley]

Originally posted by Indigo:

If you want to collect trash, I strongly recommend going diving. The ocean has a lot of trash piles to clear with a scythe, and a lot of it turns into trash you can pick up. These trash piles also drop various treasure chests, which you can have opened at the blacksmith shop for items that can be donated to the museum, or sold for a pretty good daily income.

If you have more real-world time and in-game stamina than a normal in-game day allows, I would also suggest dialing the in-game time progression to 50%, to maximize your ability to collect trash and chests.

Further info in the spoiler'd portion.

Once you've cleared enough of the ocean, there are repeatable daily caves that become available (with teleport locations at their entrances). These caves primarily have room after room of dense trash piles to clear out, which drop chests from the appropriate tier of the ocean they're located in.

It's fairly common for me to make over 10,000 coins/day, filling my shipping box to capacity and having some slosh items leftover for the next day, and I have so many piles of trash that I don't even bother refining it all anymore, I'll refine what fits into my recycling machines and compost bins, and sell all but one full stack of the rest.

My save is at Y2 Spring 15, but once I realized the value of diving I basically just did farming/ranching for unlock items, mining on an as-needed basis for ores, and am otherwise a full-time daily diver.

Spoilers, part 2:

It might feel like a grind to clear out the ocean, but if you get through it, you not only unlock a significant boost to the island's quality, but can become a merperson, which unlocks dashing underwater.

I have already done all of that. My point is not "where is all the trash", it is "this auto trash collector is not worth the effort to craft it.

[Indigo]

Originally posted by lozza_dearnley:

I have already done all of that. My point is not "where is all the trash", it is "this auto trash collector is not worth the effort to craft it.

Sorry, I guess I misunderstood because I literally have so much trash coming out of my ears that I'm literally vendor trashing it and can't even imagine a desire for the automated trash collector in the first place... unless you are not engaging with the diving mechanic. My bad, yo.

[Speedkiller92]

they should add auto seed and fertilizer to the computer and instead of 11x11 do 12x12 that way When you do the basic sprinklers it's covering the plants instead of adding another crow to cover that little spot

[btccrow]

I hear you, I really thought auto trash collector would be more useful, but it really doesn't serve much practical function. I have cleaned up the ocean so not as much trash generates. It needs to just wander the sea floor cleaning up trash and have an icon on the map so you can find it. Right now, a few swipes with your scythe and you have done more work than the thing does in a month.