Are there a finite number of ion cubes?

[SkEyE]

I made a bunch of ion batteries, power cells and alien keys and now it seems they are needed for some other things. I already mined the pile near the warp gate in the lava castle and I think I've picked them all up from the bases.

[₵ⱤɄ₵ł₣łł]

all i'll say is no but you gotta figure it out :p

[Shadowreaper]

theres a precursor base that create ion crystals in the active lava zone its also got a talking
sea monster who helps you cure the disease you have

[SkEyE]

Is that a new thing one of the latest updates so that an older save might not contain it?

[kwong20287]

Originally posted by SkEyE:

Is that a new thing one of the latest updates so that an older save might not contain it?

Well, that update came out six months ago so...

[Explore]

The answer you're looking for is below, if you wanted a spoiler.

That pile you mine with the PRAWN in the place you got cured starts to regen as soon as you've finished mining - but you maybe didn't hang around to see it :)

[derpderp]

sadly the game is almost complete around the same time you get to recipe to make ion power cells out of the ion crystals.

terrible game design.
this also happened in crysis 2.
they give you the powerful weapons (rail gun) for about the last 3 minutes of the game.
no im not missing a zero. three minutes. you barely got to use the coolest gun.
why even bother at that point.

[Explore]

Originally posted by derpderp:

sadly the game is almost complete around the same time you get to recipe to make ion power cells out of the ion crystals.

terrible game design.
this also happened in crysis 2.
they give you the powerful weapons (rail gun) for about the last 3 minutes of the game.
no im not missing a zero. three minutes. you barely got to use the coolest gun.
why even bother at that point.

I can understand that feeling - in some ways, this is a consequence of having a story. I put in hundreds of hours in this game when the extent of the "Story" was to fix the aurora drive room. That was it! I spent the rest of the time teching up, exploring, gathering resources, and building more bases. My only complaint is that it gets lonely.

So, to me, the addition of ion cells at this point seems about right, but it depends on if you think the game finishes with the story or not.

[SkEyE]

Kind of a bummer to get the cool batteries at the point when there's nothing really left to do to utilitize them.

Yes Subnautica is lonely but I always thought that was part of what created its atmosphere.

[derpderp]

its like that movie skyline. its at the point where it just gets really interesting then.. roll credits.
WTF? the sequel is coming out but doesnt look like it starts where the other left off.
massive cliff hanger. shame.

[Azirahael]

I have all ion batteries and cells.

Because there is an infinite supply of cubes, and they are easy to make.

Once you get the recipe.

[Pirate Sam]

I think it's cool to get end-game items at the end of the game. That's what they're for. The ion batteries are like a max damage sword, or the ability to fly. When the difficulty curve plateaus and it basically becomes creative with occasional resource gathering, things like replacing batteries are very minor.

Also, you may still need a cyclops or seamoth to gather the plants needed at the end, or to get all of the blueprints out of curiosity, or build some amazing base. It's a survival game, sure, but it's a sandbox too, with plenty of exploration. Even at the end of the game I'm sure I barely know about 70% of the terrain there is.

[derpderp]

Originally posted by Sham Yes ap Soorap:

I think it's cool to get end-game items at the end of the game. That's what they're for. The ion batteries are like a max damage sword

yeah but you dont have anything to use the sword against. cuz the game is done at that point

[Nemund]

There is a bunch of gameplay still to be added after you get the cure. Well I guess you could do it before you get the cure but there is more than just the cure.

[derpderp]

Originally posted by nevyn0ad:

There is a bunch of gameplay still to be added after you get the cure. Well I guess you could do it before you get the cure but there is more than just the cure.

oh cool. thats a relief.
i mean if the rocket platform takes 100 ion batteries, thats cool.

[Azirahael]

Originally posted by derpderp:

Originally posted by nevyn0ad:

There is a bunch of gameplay still to be added after you get the cure. Well I guess you could do it before you get the cure but there is more than just the cure.

oh cool. thats a relief.
i mean if the rocket platform takes 100 ion batteries, thats cool.

Grind. You'd have to sit there drilling for 20 mins.