Fabricator matrix?

[GrumpyOne]

Doing a merchant run and spotted a wandering trader that had the fabricator matrix tech for sale. I've used them in the past on military missions so pounced on it, but I don't see the option to research its uses. Did I just waste my money?

[Flin Fredstone]

When you buy the tech from the trade ships it will already be researched.

[GrumpyOne]

Understood. I can now make the matrix, but the specific uses (CPU cores, electronics, metals, food) don't show up in the research list. I don't usually build the 3D printer (kind of useless when there's a shrieker nest nearby), but I've got one in the works. Hopefully the other stuff will pop up once it's complete.

[Flin Fredstone]

I perhaps have used those fabricator matrix's once in all my playthroughs so i can't comment on it's use sorry. Good luck getting it sorted.

[GrumpyOne]

Finally got enough CPU cores to build the fabricator matrix and the option to build a food fabricator popped up in the Production menu. I have a service bot for a cook so food is not an issue, but maybe other options will appear when I build more matrices.

[GrumpyOne]

Apparently on the merchant mission the fabricator matrix only allows you to make food, otherwise they're just expensive trade goods. Was hoping for more, but oh well.

[Flin Fredstone]

If you don't get the other fabricators listed in the research tree after you made a matrix then perhaps you have to buy the relevant tech from passing trade ships as well ?

The save i have from the playthrough where i used those matrix's has the material and fuel fabricator research done. So you do get it in the trade outpost scenario. Just don't remember how i got it as i said in the first part of this post.

[Stimpacker]

Later on, you may get a chance to buy material fabricator technology. That will allow you to make metal, fuel or silicon from energy.

It's no different from Military Outpost scenario. Fab Matrix is one research item and Material Fabricator is another research item. In Trading Outpost scenario, each research item is its own technology that you can buy.

[Reggie]

Say what? what are these techs? and how do you get them? i have been playing the granny out of this game and had researched everything, hadn't built the space dish thing as i thought that triggered the end of the game? but you get trade ships instead that sell you new tech?

[Stimpacker]

The OP asked about Fabricator Matrix, a crafted item exclusive to the Military Outpost scenario. This item is made on a soldering bench from CPU cores. It is needed to build a Material Fabricator. The Military Outpost mission needs this because of the heavy metal consumption needed to build up tech to operate and defend the relay.

The Trading Outpost scenario will eventually offer ALL the technology in the game in the form of trade from passing ships, it's just a matter of time. So you can farm Dandelion trees in Sobrius for example (they are from Saltu).