Food when you start new game

[Sladdgubben]

Just started playing it and keep reading I should pick berries, harvest algea etc. but I have been driving around for 5-6 hours without finding any berries. Algea I have to grow and to grow I need to build the thing it grows in but I am dead LONG before that due to starvation. Seems like a game where you last 2-3h and then you have restart it again ... and again .. and again.
Anyone have any ideas on how to get food directly when starting fresh?

[Blueberry Muffins!]

It's very doable, you just have to stay on task. You don't know what you're looking for yet plants-wise so build algae farms immediately, as your highest priority. You'll eventually learn to recognize the edible plants and forage for them but even as an experienced player right at the start my only reliable food source is algae for kelp crisps, meat deliveries aren't guaranteed and farms' payback period is far too long.

[Bobucles]

Just stay mobile. Planet starts obviously have more food than deep space starts.
Earth planets have various crops in the temperate zones. Wolves are a convenient way to turn bullets into meat. The food processor recipes are profitable, don't eat basic food chunks and try to craft them into more powerful meals.

Algae farms take a while to get rolling. They're a bit more useful in space starts because it's much easier to get 100% sun time for them. Farms also take a bit of infrastructure to get a sealed room going.

Various npc bases will randomly sell bits of food. Keep a few credits on hand, then turn those credits into food. They often have hundreds of drink cans that recover 3% each. Tedious to use, but it will work in a pinch.

The random spawned drop pods might have food in them, sometimes useful sometimes trash. Check them out.

[jafiwam]

Some biomes don't have plant food period. Earthlike pole start and you have no sun (or very little) due to hills blocking the low times of the day.

Learn to like wolf meat, and unfortunately, die frequently.

[Bobucles]

I started in a rover on earth tundra. There were no plants and plenty of wolves. Craft some pistol ammo and a food processor to cook it. There's more than enough wolf meat to stay fed on normal settings. The real danger is budgeting your battery.

[Pembroke]

Originally posted by Bobucles:

plenty of wolves. Craft some pistol ammo and a food processor to cook it.

This is the easiest starting food source on the EarthLike planet. They are basically "wolt", not "wolf". Meals delivered right to your door.

In other planets or in space just prioritize the algae farms. Do right after you have power, basic refinery, and basic assembler.

Six algae farms are enough to be self-sufficient. If you are playing in a server, then you can do with less than six because the algae farms and the food processor will keep on chugging meal packs while you are logged off.

Algae farms can be made more productive by placing them on a solar tracking tower.

[Dan2D3D]

Hi, I recommend to become Pro with easy world settings before enabling all Apex options to make the game more challenging / become Pro before making it harder.

The important Guides were added on the Official SE Website :
https://www.spaceengineersgame.com/new-players/

That said, I have started on Titan with Food on Slow mode
★ No plants on Titan but we get seeds from Unknown signals.
+
Weather/lightning damage OFF
Radiation OFF
Wolves/Spiders OFF
-> and enabled those options one at a time once I got the needed to survive.

[Dan2D3D]

I forgot to specify :

All ores can be found within 500m close to all ice lakes on Titan so we become Rich very early when starting over there.

EDIT
+ Uranium can be found very early at +/-30Km around Titan.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3571198403 + All other ores are on Titan and you will be able to build Algae farms very very early. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3575767687

[Dan2D3D]

I will add :

I have created a testing copy of my world using "Save as + Change save name" where I have enabled creative mode (from admin menu Alt+F10) to teleport my character and test the searching for plants on Earth planet by pasting in my Favorite Rover.

=
I found 3 plants in about 10 minutes exploring green and yellow grass around the Easiest Biome on Earth.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3566324351 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3566324070
the GPS coords if you want to test it :

GPS:Earth Easy Biome:48784.05:-5056.35:34844.1:

+
Probably the same here, too :

GPS:Earth Desert ice lake:-10568.09:-10242.01:58045.57:#FF75C9F1:

[Captain Canard]

Originally posted by Sladdgubben:

Anyone have any ideas on how to get food directly when starting fresh?

Just in case you didn't know, check your survival pod / rover's various inventories - usually you'll find and MRE or two that can help keep you going while you look around for food. You'll also get a datapad for a (hopefully) nearby station or outpost where you can buy MREs.

[Dan2D3D]

Another player told me plants respawn at the same spot, I did not tested but I recommend to create the GPS coords where you will find a plant to see if a new one will respawn right there.

[Captain Canard]

Originally posted by Dan2D3D:

Another player told me plants respawn at the same spot, I did not tested but I recommend to create the GPS coords where you will find a plant to see if a new one will respawn right there.

I guess that makes more sense than ores respawning.

[The Klang Is Good]

Originally posted by Dan2D3D:

Another player told me plants respawn at the same spot, I did not tested but I recommend to create the GPS coords where you will find a plant to see if a new one will respawn right there.

Yep, plants respawn at same spots and it seems to be the same plant type every time.

[Dan2D3D]

Originally posted by The Klang Is Good:

Yep, plants respawn at same spots and it seems to be the same plant type every time.

Good to know, thanks for telling.