The optimizer and fuses were a mistake

[Sid Da Bear]

as a concept, they made a fair amount of sense. But to me, at late game; they become the only thing to do. I sit and wait for my trade rockets to bring me tokens, I make optimizers and drop fuses, and... wait some more. There is not a whole lot of purpose in doing anything else, from a game mechanics standpoint.

Plant production fuses alone; I got 24, made 8 optimizers and dropped 3 plant fuses in each, next to a couple of tree spread 3s

My total plant production went from 210T/s to over 600t/s, with the base. Why would I ever both with another tree spreader? my energy would be better directed at producing more trade rocket materials to get more fuses.

Why make more Ore Extractor 3's when I can just place a few dozen optimizers around and have nearly infinite resources?

Up to this point, the primary (grow the Terraformation Index) and secondary (explore and build) objectives of the game have been, mostly at least, intertwined. Focusing on one typically had a significant impact on the other.
Now I can choose one or the other. If I focus on TI, im basically just sitting around waiting for my trade rockets. If I focus on building, i am sacrificing probably 90-95% of my TI growth.

Ultimately, I don't have a good solution for this; but I wanted to make my thoughts known to the community in the hopes of getting perspective from others that are enjoying the game.

[Mr. Fibble]

I get the feeling that most folk just think that they need balancing because the way they are at present kills any progression while a few relatively minor tweaks would make them a worthwhile addition.

[Starseed]

I think personally, there is nothing wrong with them. They are there as a LAST resort tool and should be used as such. I think perhaps the is some skill to avoid the temptations and only use them as they are needed, a last resort. Prior to using them I will FIRST adjust demand and supply priorities.

I mean for example, I just went to get some Zeolite for Teleporters where Im building up levels at my new Beach Resort Production & Plantation Site. Having been certain Id checked all production is running smoothly, all containers of Zeolite were empty!

First thing I think is maybe it is time for an optimiser but NO, dont be tempted! First I changed the priority from low to high then wait. THen BOOM, suddenly the drones kick in and start filling it up. Lazy buggars needed to do something other than "hanging around" and gas-bagging at the drone station! So no need for extreme measures of a booster. Had there been no change I would have added another ore miner, simple, not an optimiser. Once that option was no longer an option due to say space in the cave, THEN Id use an optimizer.

IF I have plenty of space, like in the main Iridium Cave at Sandy Fall Rocks, Once I hit 8 Ore miners and still have issues with demand, THEN Id use the Optimiser. Its there for that LAST resort tool. I dont like to game-play beyond what I need and always work from the basic option first then work up to the next option. A process of eliminating the basics first. BUT having said that , I do have a very "calculating and logical" mindset and that just "me"

[maestro]

I have my high doubts that building hundreds of these machines are really what the developers intended.

Sure, you *CAN* do that, but there's really no point in it.

For normal play, the Optimizers are a welcome addition. Now, once you've gotten to the end of the game, well, you're at the end of the game.

We saw the same complaints in Stardew Valley once a player had gotten all items, and and a maxed out farm, bringing in millions of gold per day. They asked the same thing, "wtf is the point?"

The point, that they entirely missed as did the OP here, is the journey. There is no "end" of the game, you play a save as long as you like until you get bored of it, same with SDV.

If you want to make hundreds and hundreds of machines that your PC goes down to 5 frames per second and that there's no more room left in the world, you do you.

But don't go saying that stuff is OP because you're building hundreds of these machines. That's like saying that casks in SDV are overpowered when someone decides to fill every square on their farm with them and fill them all with Ancient Fruit Wine and then complain that they overflow the money counter in a single day.

[Calydor]

But it's not about hundreds of machines. It's about literally making just eight T3 Tree Spreaders with Shreox seeds, and just enough optimizers to use the fuses you find in the chests throughout the game and can afford with the leftover Trade Tokens after getting all the blueprints, and suddenly you go from 1 TTi to 100 TTi.

The balance of the game has been broken by this addition. The number of people in this thread who do not seem to comprehend the importance of balance for FUTURE content drops is mindboggling.

[satans_favourite]

why are people complaining? the game gives us options on how to play, the way we like it. its all they do give us more options. none of it is mandatory. if you dont like a option, dont use it. but dont complain when others do use it. this is a game, not a competition.....play the way you want and enjoy.

[Zellnagi]

I think its to help with lag prevention, fewer machines means less lag, also helps if you use the production fuses next to T3 ore extractors and stuff.

If you dont want to use them then the fuses can be sold for a lot, its your save file so its your choice.

[corisai]

Optimizers have nothing with "lag prevention" at all. If only devs wanted to reduce end-game lags - they would introduce a T2 rockets instead (not drawn, instant global effect without conditions => much less load on CPU then Optimizers).

[Calydor]

Originally posted by satans_favourite:

why are people complaining? the game gives us options on how to play, the way we like it. its all they do give us more options. none of it is mandatory. if you dont like a option, dont use it. but dont complain when others do use it. this is a game, not a competition.....play the way you want and enjoy.

Alright, imagine this scenario. The patch with the mammals is launched, and the requirements to reach the mammal stage has not been changed from the near-infinite level it is now.

Reaching it with a bunch of optimizers will take considerable time. Reaching it without optimizers (and I'm not talking about people who have played for ages here, I'm talking in a fresh game) is going to take AGES.

Either the optimizers will influence the developers' perception of how long a given task will take for the average player, or they will continue to throw all balance out the window if you use them. A new player will not know that they're essentially an easy-mode trap if the game isn't balanced around them, and if the game IS balanced around them they are literally the only way to play 'correctly'.

[Guard1an4]

They could add an option in the custom settings for fuses. Maybe with a few options.

[Arachnyd]

Well, I sold most of mine for a quick 17k in tokens.

Arach

[Baconator]

Hmmm, not had a chance to play with them yet as the game's not performing too well since the update. From what I've read here tough maybe diminishing returns would be the answer so that the effect could be capped at 100% or something similar to rockets.

How many optimises could i buy with 500k terra tokens? Interested to see how much i could boost my game as I'm planning a reset on launch anyway.

[Calydor]

One Production Fuse costs 5000 tokens. So yeah, you can boost your production massively. Oxygen Fuses are even cheaper and seem to be the most bang-for-your-buck for upping your terraforming index.

[Spam Sammich]

I don't have a problem with the optimizers or fuses. The thing I see as needing to be changed is the ability to stack them. I really think every device being affected should be limited to one optimizer.

[Baconator]

Wow, just boosted my free power from 12k to 134k by placing 4 optimisers >.< If they have planned the game to need these boosters, it's a great example of exponential growth requirements.

However, I suspect it's just ill thought out as we seem to already be at end game and if we are, it doesn't really matter if they are balanced; each to their own.

[Arianrhod]

I don't have any issue with the optimizers. Unless you start the game with everything unlocked (in which case any lack of challenge is your own choice), you can't get more than the small number of lootable fuses until breathable atmosphere, when the trading rocket becomes available. Frankly, after breathable atmosphere, even on hardcore, there was no real challenge left to the game anyway, just grind. The optimizers reduce that grind, which suits me just fine.