Auto Extractor is basically pointless by the time you can afford it

[LuckyDog]

Have played Astroneer for some time now, 100% Achieves, but still drop back in for Events and Major Updates, whilst accruing over 400hrs in Astroneer. Such a fun game.

IMHO, on the surface, the new Automation Update looks brilliant, but the fact that the Auto Extractor relies exclusively on end-game resources to construct makes it essentially useless fluff.

By the time one can acquire the complex compounds and rare resources required for construction, the game is basically over. Naturally, this is regarding Adventure Mode exclusively, as I have no experience in the no-challenge Creative Mode of the game.

** I sincerely wish that Small or Medium Extractors had also been considered & were accessible early game, so that they might raise the fun bar (by lowering the 'grind' bar) for resource gathering. And if they existed, the materials required for construction would be practical, accessible 'early game' resources more easily found / crafted.

To recap, the existing Humongous Auto Extractor is a fun toy to play with after having already completed most all phases of the game and just looking for a way to pass time, and IMHO contributes Zero to advancing game progress - not necessarily too little, but definitely too late.

At any rate, thanks for the consideration, and please do not construe this as 'Hating' on this super game. Cheers

[DC-GS]

True.
We build an extractor and used just once to see how it works, without any real need. So yeah, it was useless.

Even if it doubles the output of resources, the hassle with them is huge! Bring a rovertrain, split it, secure power supply, set up the extractor. Doesnt work. So we had to flatten the ground until it worked. By doing so we already mined some resources.
Not worth it. If we needed something, just take the rover for a ride. Dig a new tunnel, you gonna find lots of resources. The rover is more accessible than the extractor too.

[LuckyDog]

@ DC-GS, Thank you for sharing your experience with the Auto Extractor. I believe that I will just stay with using the Soil Centrifuge for the common goods, and rely on Good Luck to find the more rare Elements. If a gamer is willing to go spelunking for long enough, there is a wealth of salvage and minerals below the surface - Cheers

[Wolfgang]

Originally posted by DC-GS:

True.
We build an extractor and used just once to see how it works, without any real need. So yeah, it was useless.

Even if it doubles the output of resources, the hassle with them is huge! Bring a rovertrain, split it, secure power supply, set up the extractor. Doesnt work. So we had to flatten the ground until it worked. By doing so we already mined some resources.
Not worth it. If we needed something, just take the rover for a ride. Dig a new tunnel, you gonna find lots of resources. The rover is more accessible than the extractor too.

The auto-extractors don't just double the output, it is 15x the output of resources. Also I don't have any problem setting the auto-extractor up on a steep incline.

[DivineEvil]

The thing about the Extractor for me, is that it frees me up for other tasks, so I don't have to bother to chew up an entire mountain of soil to get less resources than a Medium Container can hold.

In natural order of planets, Extractors need you to get to Glacio for Iron, and if you do obtain them by that progression, they make sense. Especially when you're going for a good amount of composite materials - getting all of them manually would take a lot of spelunking, but you can set up one or two Extractors working on a supply of Carbon and a Generator on a single platform, so getting the Extractor itself into place is the only hurdle.

It will work for an extended period of time while you're free to collect other things or just digging up soil for the Centrifuge.

[LuckyDog]

Originally posted by DivineEvil:

The thing about the Extractor for me, is that it frees me up for other tasks, so I don't have to bother to chew up an entire mountain of soil to get less resources than a Medium Container can hold.

In natural order of planets, Extractors need you to get to Glacio for Iron, and if you do obtain them by that progression, they make sense. Especially when you're going for a good amount of composite materials - getting all of them manually would take a lot of spelunking, but you can set up one or two Extractors working on a supply of Carbon and a Generator on a single platform, so getting the Extractor itself into place is the only hurdle.

It will work for an extended period of time while you're free to collect other things or just digging up soil for the Centrifuge.

@ DE - Very well said.
I suppose my issue is with the advanced resources required for construction, and that they are only available to fabricate the Auto Extractor in the late game, and my real wish is that a Small and / or Medium Extractor were in the game, and made from early game resources.

I have played through start to finish many times, and fairly quickly get into my rhythm - The Large Shuttle loaded with everything to establish a fully functional base with all equipment and the largest vehicle train with paver to go any and everywhere. I only use the shuttle to reach new planets and rely on the Gateways to return to previously visited planets for materials when needed.
I could see the Extractor being of great value at that end-game point if Astroneer were a base building game, like so many others out there, where after goal completion, one needs a world of resources for constructing a palace. But, this is a simple game and wonderful, and the Extractor just doesn't really fit into my style - so, that makes this my problem, not the communities

Many thanks again for your great reply - Happy Gaming - Cheers
(BTW - Glacio is generally my LAST planet because it is my FAV Planet, for the sounds if nothing else... the howl of the wind, the creaking of the ice packs, the total solitude and isolation - brilliant planet IMHO. Also I never mine the surface on Glacio, so as to leave the pristine state undisturbed).

**Have marked your kind reply as 'Solution' to close out this thread, now**

[Designated Decoy]

I agree with the OP as it's introduced a bit late, but I think that's because it need to fit on a large rover to be moved, if they considered reducing the size of it (and the placement of the output on the device, for the love of bob), it would make more sense to be introduced at tier 2/3 with a large resource invest of semi common materials.

[LuckyDog]

@ Designated Decoy - have only one thing to say to you - Outstanding Username

(ok, 2nd thing - I wish Dev had listened to players like you before settling on the final extractor).
Cheers

[Syrasha]

This. Once I figured out what Auto Extractors cost, I immediately grimaced and thought, what the hell? Once I'm there, I don't need this ^&$( anymore, man

[Curious Fox]

Well like it says. It's an automation item. You don't need it to 'finish' the game. But if you're into large scale automation, it's pretty much a necessity because the x15 resource collected multiplier.

Also, at the point you can just print out nano carbon, the price of the extractor is pretty cute anyway.

[LuckyDog]

Originally posted by Curious Fox:

Well like it says. It's an automation item. You don't need it to 'finish' the game. But if you're into large scale automation, it's pretty much a necessity because the x15 resource collected multiplier.

Also, at the point you can just print out nano carbon, the price of the extractor is pretty cute anyway.

I think I get what you're saying, but that still seems to place the Auto Extractor into the category of a novelty toy to give a play at the end of the game, right before completing and uninstalling it.

Think of it another way, though. Prior to the update, don't we all remember the agony of babysitting the Research station, whilst feeding it one research item at a time. Well, the newly updated auto feeder makes gathering research Soooo much more convenient, and from the very start, in early game. That is an update that has real value IMHO. I only wish the Extractor could have been accessible sooner, when we actually needed it. The rest you know.

Thank you for another viewpoint - Cheers

[szalkerous]

The best correction to the auto-extractor is to either significantly drop the power requirements to enable the use of portable power sources, or abolish the power requirement entirely and toss some solar panels onto the model "as an explanation".

Also make it self-packaging.

[Curious Fox]

Originally posted by szalkeroustm:

The best correction to the auto-extractor is to either significantly drop the power requirements to enable the use of portable power sources, or abolish the power requirement entirely and toss some solar panels onto the model "as an explanation".

Also make it self-packaging.

That is the same as asking for the Medium Gen to produce 9U. That's so not needed.

[LuckyDog]

Originally posted by Curious Fox:

Originally posted by szalkeroustm:

The best correction to the auto-extractor is to either significantly drop the power requirements to enable the use of portable power sources, or abolish the power requirement entirely and toss some solar panels onto the model "as an explanation".

Also make it self-packaging.

That is the same as asking for the Medium Gen to produce 9U. That's so not needed.

Actually NO, it is not "the same as asking" to modify the Med Gen, or for that matter, any in-game component that is reasonably attainable, useful, and productive, and IMHO you'd have a tough time finding many that would agree with you on that point. Sorry.

I DO believe the point of "szalkerous[tm]" is along the lines that the auto-extractor is difficult to craft, as well as to power, due to required resources. I'll repeat myself, the auto-extractor is too little, too late. (Exaggerating here to make a point -> Finally being able to obtain the rare resources needed to craft the A-E 15 minutes before completing the game, and being uninstalled isn't much of a plus for me and many others here). YMMV - Cheers

[Curious Fox]

I'm not sure why people really just want this thing before the end-game. Don't people realize the AE was added pretty late? With the automation update? The thing AE adds is more things to do after the game. Automation, super large resource factories and these thumpers are the perfect thing for that.

Therefore, my point is. The thumper is for after the ending. It's that simple. There is absolutely zero reason for you to get it before you actually beat the game and has the ability to have stable production of all resources.

Honestly all things considered you can beat the game speed-run style without even getting the first RTG at all.

[LuckyDog]

OK, I think I understand. You mean like base-building, right? I can see that, and I've done that in some other games, too. Nice, and thanks for the reply - Cheers