Am I missing something with automation?

[NaturalConfusion]

I see all these runs where they've got a whole automation set up with 10+ grabbers, but whenever I try to do automation I only get 1 conveyor and then nothing else. Is this bad RNG or am I missing something?

[vodspod]

you might want to get the copy machine so you can copy the conveyor. If you do that you don't have to wait for it to drop over and over. You also don't need to re-research it every time.

[Angelous Wang]

Turn 2, you should get research bench as one of your first blueprints, put this is the cabinet, don't buy it.
Turn 3, you should get another research bench as one of your blueprint since you don't have one (and the game is coded of favour research bench blueprints until you have one). Buy this one a then research the research bench hopefully getting the copy desk.
Turn 4 try an get a conveyor, put it in the cabinet, research & copy. And then do the same every turn after.

Assuming RNG is on your side should end up with a least 12 Grabbers by turn 15.

[Aragami󠁳⁧⁧ 󠁳_delp_]

Originally posted by Angelous Wang:

Turn 2, you should get research bench as one of your first blueprints, put this is the cabinet, don't buy it.
Turn 3, you should get another research bench as one of your blueprint since you don't have one (and the game is coded of favour research bench blueprints until you have one). Buy this one a then research the research bench hopefully getting the copy desk.
Turn 4 try an get a conveyor, put it in the cabinet, research & copy. And then do the same every turn after.

Assuming RNG is on your side should end up with a least 12 Grabbers by turn 15.

I recommend to get a blueprint desk before getting a copying desk, as this makes it much easier to get the blueprints you want (including getting another research desk which can be upgraded to a copying desk again)

[Omniconda]

my current idea since research desks are a staple early game.

put teh first desk into the cabinet then wait till another drops, usually the next day before buying one so there is one to upgrade immediatly

[Juicy Beefcake]

Originally posted by NaturalConfusion:

I see all these runs where they've got a whole automation set up with 10+ grabbers, but whenever I try to do automation I only get 1 conveyor and then nothing else. Is this bad RNG or am I missing something?

yes
getting the automation and surviving long enough to use it are both heavily rng dependent

Some dishes are highly automate-able (burgers, hot dogs)
requires 2 auto grabber, 1 combiner (1 smart grabber is bonus if you want to grab the final product)
Some dishes are moderately automate-able (pies)
these require more pieces such as a mixer for smacking dough
Some dishes defy automation (steaks, salad, pizzas)
steaks need to be cooked multiple times, salad because tomatoes turn into sauce if the line backs up, pizzas just have a huge amount of parts required
These dishes can still use automation but can't be "fully automated" in any reliable manner

The amount of days you survive is highly dependent upon how ♥♥♥♥♥♥ the restaurant cards you're offered are. Sometimes (aka all the time) you are only offered bad choices. Increased eating time and ordering again will kill you. Deserts and starters are generally very bad choices also. Basically anything that increases the time people are sitting in your restaurant is bad. You want the sloppy bastards to order 1 time, eat, then gtfo your restaurant.

[swolblu]

Note that not every seed will give you research desks in the shop early on. So you'll have to shop around for seeds that give you such blueprints.

As others have said the main strategy is to store the first research desk then buy the second one and upgrade the first. You ideally want a blueprint or copy desk because they help you get items you want. Discount is also important so you're not gated by money but it can come later.

[DsnowMan]

It happens, just not every time. You are likely to get a research desk on day 2, if not then also likely on turn 3. Put it in your cabinet, and you are likely to get another one on day 3 or 4. I can only think of one run recently I didn't have the two by day 5. I don't use seeds.

Once you have it, the new strategy is to upgrade the research desk into a blueprint desk, which you can then watch for whatever you want (including more desks and cabinets if you want to get silly and run a research office instead of a kitchen)

[Jakdaripper]

For the most part what they're saying is true about getting a second one early if you stash it. I would just like to say it doesn't always happen but i've not had a second desk not spawn until Day 10 before

[JaxTheReaper]

It's because they're using mods to change the spawn rate of items, or simply spawning them in. It would be really nice if the developer added a solo mode to the game where a solo play through has a greater chance of dropping automation items at the beginning of the day.

[Jakdaripper]

Originally posted by JaxTheReaper:

It's because they're using mods to change the spawn rate of items, or simply spawning them in. It would be really nice if the developer added a solo mode to the game where a solo play through has a greater chance of dropping automation items at the beginning of the day.

This was before I had mods installed it was on one of the feature maps

[Seftak]

Originally posted by JaxTheReaper:

It's because they're using mods to change the spawn rate of items, or simply spawning them in. It would be really nice if the developer added a solo mode to the game where a solo play through has a greater chance of dropping automation items at the beginning of the day.

What? I did MANY runs where i got the 3 desks without ever moding or cheating. Go read the wiki to learn about the item pools and how the blueprints work.