Switching between multi-tools quickly

[gwelty]

Is the Quick Menu ('X') the only way to switch between multi-tools?

If you have one multi-tool focused on mining or scanning or whatever, and another focused on weapons, it seems somewhat clumsy that you have to go through the 'X' menu to switch to your weapon, especially in combat.

Am I thinking about this the wrong way?

[AmberAnvil]

While you're hovering over a multi-tool in the Quick Menu, towards the bottom of the screen you should see a hint to assign the multi-tool to a Quick Key [0-9]. I have four multi-tools assigned to 7, 8, 9 and 0.

[Calico-Jack]

Originally posted by AmberAnvil:

While you're hovering over a multi-tool in the Quick Menu, towards the bottom of the screen you should see a hint to assign the multi-tool to a Quick Key [0-9]. I have four multi-tools assigned to 7, 8, 9 and 0.

nice tip

[gwelty]

Originally posted by AmberAnvil:

While you're hovering over a multi-tool in the Quick Menu, towards the bottom of the screen you should see a hint to assign the multi-tool to a Quick Key [0-9]. I have four multi-tools assigned to 7, 8, 9 and 0.

Got it. Thanks! Have an award :-)

I remember reading that before, but it obviously slipped my mind.

BTW, I assume it *is* a good idea to have different multi-tools focused on different things, like weapon, scanning, and mining, correct?

[smurfy]

Originally posted by gwelty:

Originally posted by AmberAnvil:

While you're hovering over a multi-tool in the Quick Menu, towards the bottom of the screen you should see a hint to assign the multi-tool to a Quick Key [0-9]. I have four multi-tools assigned to 7, 8, 9 and 0.

Got it. Thanks! Have an award :-)

I remember reading that before, but it obviously slipped my mind.

BTW, I assume it *is* a good idea to have different multi-tools focused on different things, like weapon, scanning, and mining, correct?

https://nomanssky.fandom.com/wiki/Multi-Tool?so=search#Type
Yes. Although there is no harm is having one all-rounder tool either.
Different types of tools are better at some tasks than others.
A Royal tool is a good all-rounder.
Note that the default starter tool has NO bonuses (it is not a Pistol nor an Experimental).

[Calico-Jack]

Originally posted by AmberAnvil:

While you're hovering over a multi-tool in the Quick Menu, towards the bottom of the screen you should see a hint to assign the multi-tool to a Quick Key [0-9]. I have four multi-tools assigned to 7, 8, 9 and 0.

you do need to press CNTRL and the number to set it though

[gwelty]

Originally posted by smurfy:

https://nomanssky.fandom.com/wiki/Multi-Tool?so=search#Type
Yes. Although there is no harm is having one all-rounder tool either.
Different types of tools are better at some tasks than others.
A Royal tool is a good all-rounder.
Note that the default starter tool has NO bonuses (it is not a Pistol nor an Experimental).

I did have a look at that page prior to my post, but to be honest my eyes glazed over. Perhaps I just haven't progressed far enough in the game yet. Once in awhile I find a minor settlement or trading post that is offering a 'weapon' multi-tool in a case on the wall, but when I examine these, they never seem to fit in the categories listed on that wiki page. (For instance, none of the 'type' categories in column 1 show up in the description of the offered multi-tool in the game.) But I'm sure it will make more sense as I continue on...

Originally posted by Calico-Jack:

you do need to press CNTRL and the number to set it though

Thanks!

[maestro]

You CAN have multiple tools for different things, BUT....

1). It takes a lot of work to gather all that stuff.
2). Scanning only affects scanning range and that only affects quick-scan (hitting the C key to reveal nearby o2 etc) which I find useless because beyond a certain point, the icons disappear before you walk there which forces you to rescan which invalidates having a further scan range.
3). Atlantid Tools are easy to get (simply feed any Monument in a Korvax system some Atlantideum to pop a random Atlantid Tool out) and have High Damage and High Mining so really you only need 1 tool.

It might take some time to find an S-Class, but keep at it.

Also, one more thing, the difference in classes is not that huge unless you cranked the difficulty up. At standard difficulty, a C-Class rifle will easily take care of even sentinel walkers assuming you have 3 upgrades for your weapon on it.

[Shadow Strider]

Originally posted by maestro:

You CAN have multiple tools for different things, BUT....

1). It takes a lot of work to gather all that stuff.
2). Scanning only affects scanning range and that only affects quick-scan (hitting the C key to reveal nearby o2 etc) which I find useless because beyond a certain point, the icons disappear before you walk there which forces you to rescan which invalidates having a further scan range.
3). Atlantid Tools are easy to get (simply feed any Monument in a Korvax system some Atlantideum to pop a random Atlantid Tool out) and have High Damage and High Mining so really you only need 1 tool.

It might take some time to find an S-Class, but keep at it.

Also, one more thing, the difference in classes is not that huge unless you cranked the difficulty up. At standard difficulty, a C-Class rifle will easily take care of even sentinel walkers assuming you have 3 upgrades for your weapon on it.

Yeah, I just use the Atlas Scepter as you don't need to do a core jump to get it. But I imagine the Atlantid weapons are also pretty effective.

2 core mining modules makes for crazy slow heat build up (though this is arguably a bad thing given you gather more when heat levels are high)

I like the sentinel rifle too...
I mostly have different MTs just for different weapon combinations (I dont like having to scroll through lots of weapon types to get to the one I want during a fight)

[smurfy]

Originally posted by gwelty:

Originally posted by smurfy:

https://nomanssky.fandom.com/wiki/Multi-Tool?so=search#Type
Yes. Although there is no harm is having one all-rounder tool either.
Different types of tools are better at some tasks than others.
A Royal tool is a good all-rounder.
Note that the default starter tool has NO bonuses (it is not a Pistol nor an Experimental).

I did have a look at that page prior to my post, but to be honest my eyes glazed over. Perhaps I just haven't progressed far enough in the game yet. Once in awhile I find a minor settlement or trading post that is offering a 'weapon' multi-tool in a case on the wall, but when I examine these, they never seem to fit in the categories listed on that wiki page. (For instance, none of the 'type' categories in column 1 show up in the description of the offered multi-tool in the game.) But I'm sure it will make more sense as I continue on...

Originally posted by Calico-Jack:

you do need to press CNTRL and the number to set it though

Thanks!

Sorry I missed this reply.
The "Type" labels have been changed in-game a few updates ago.
Royal and Alien tools are now both mis-labeled as "Sentinel" when doing a tool comparison.
Comparing Pistol and Rifle (ignore the old UI):
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1926573664
Comparing a Rifle and Royal (labeled as Sentinel)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3042770448
Comparing an Experimental and Rifle
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3307598935

Pistols and Rifles are pretty ordinary/common. They'll be what you see the most.
From the very start of the game, it is possible to get Alien/Royal/Experimental tools, even on your starter planet.
Alien:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3304256563
Royal:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3304256362
Experimental (rifle style):
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3307587959
Experimental (pistol style):
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3307599248

To get actual Sentinel tools (can be a rifle-style or pistol-style but both have the Sentinel bonuses) you need to get to a Dissonant planet, but they are obtainable very early and can be well and truly overpowered compared to the original tool types.

To get Atlantid tools or a Staff, you need to progress to the end of the story and unlock the Autophage quests.
Atlantid:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3039739100

[catch22atplay]

I typically min max when i play games. However what seemed at first to be most important was getting an Multitool with decent damage. Then it became looking for 4 Overcharged slots next to each other regardless of weapon type. Was getting tedious trying to find the perfect weapon. I found it to be beyond ridiculous the damage i could do. I ended up just using this i guess it's a Rifle and i use 2 each Supercharged slots for Boltcaster and Scatterblaster. Here's the Multitool.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3307630418
Now i have a Staff with 4 slots not in perfect alignment but can link the 4 at least.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3307630992
But i don't like the looks of it. And i certainly don't need that damage output. So i never use it. If i compared 2 Supercharged slots and set up exact arrangement as my Rifle the Staff does about 13.8% more damage. I think base damage of an S class Rifle is 120 and an S class Staff is 135 which is 12.5% more. So 13.8% is close enough.

I only use one Multitool now. And yes i mine. No you don't need a different tool for mining, scanning, damage or whatever. Work on getting upgrades for scanning, mining, weapons etc. My advise just get a Multitool that appeals to you visually. Then upgrade it to S and pray you get 4 Supercharged slots close enough to link or like me 2 sets of 2. But do the Staff quests when you can as they are er well a quest. But that's later in the game. No rush to do it.

[Johnny in the Clouds]

Originally posted by AmberAnvil:

While you're hovering over a multi-tool in the Quick Menu, towards the bottom of the screen you should see a hint to assign the multi-tool to a Quick Key [0-9]. I have four multi-tools assigned to 7, 8, 9 and 0.

Also the quick keys can be further assigned to controller buttons using the Steam Configuration. Indirectly assign the numbered keys using the config Legacy Key menu to any of the controller buttons. I use 0, 2, 7 respectively for Photo Mode, Camera toggle and Multi-tool for three separate buttons. Double tapping left shoulder button will toggle my camera view.
Number 7 I use for a weapon or anything else like the music play list. As long as the quick key is assigned to the controller in game I can then use the quick menu to change their functions without altering the controller : D

[gwelty]

Thanks everyone for the screenshots and further discussion. I know that takes time to set up.

I find it strange that on the "multi-tool comparison" screenshots, there is usually a word that identifies the type (Sentinel, Rifle, Experimental), but on the "multi-tool in the wall" screenshots, there's really no clue as to what type I'm looking at, unless I start associating shapes with types. I guess I would have thought that identifying the types *in-game* would be standardized and easy (with keywords) to streamline comparisons. Then again, maybe identifying multi-tools is just another challenging mini-game! :-)

[smurfy]

Originally posted by gwelty:

Thanks everyone for the screenshots and further discussion. I know that takes time to set up.

I find it strange that on the "multi-tool comparison" screenshots, there is usually a word that identifies the type (Sentinel, Rifle, Experimental), but on the "multi-tool in the wall" screenshots, there's really no clue as to what type I'm looking at, unless I start associating shapes with types. I guess I would have thought that identifying the types *in-game* would be standardized and easy (with keywords) to streamline comparisons. Then again, maybe identifying multi-tools is just another challenging mini-game! :-)

Well, the tools are all pretty distinct in their design language so you'll get accustomed to knowing what you are looking at in a cabinet, but you are right that the comparison screen (the only place the "tool type" label appears) should be usable. I think the mis-labeling the other 2 types as "Sentinel" is a bug introduced when the Sentinel tools were added. They definitely used to say Royal and Alien (or was it Exotic?). I originally thought it was a limitation of the number of types available issue, until they added Atlantid and Voltaic Staff and they both appear correctly.