Xeno Substrate...?

[DarkFire]

Via random deconstruction of harvested building blocks I have literally thousands of bits of xeno substrate. Can they be used to craft anything or are they a dead end / work in progress for now?

[therealcryoflame]

Xeno substrate can be used to create Xeno Steel blocks

[whitevalfore]

dont use them near any grow plots they are radioactive

[Sparrowhawk65]

Originally posted by therealcryoflame:

Xeno substrate can be used to create Xeno Steel blocks

I haven't used them but I think I read somewhere that they are lighter than combat steel. They just look weird.

[Subak]

Originally posted by Sparrowhawk65:

Originally posted by therealcryoflame:

Xeno substrate can be used to create Xeno Steel blocks

I haven't used them but I think I read somewhere that they are lighter than combat steel. They just look weird.

Yeah, the 'looking weird' can be addressed some with the texture/color tool.

However, when it comes to ships (where the weight/HP ratio matters) you want to mix them with carbon and other steels because it can become problematic to procure and have on hand enough to make repairs.

The mixing of blocks makes texture/color rougher because the xeno blocks use a completely different set of possible textures (although some of those textures are present with a different 'index' in carbon/steel). So you're painting along and then a few blocks get something different and unexpected because they are xeno vs some form of 'real' steel. OTOH, that exact mechanic can be very useful for visually identifying xeno blocks in your build.

[DarkFire]

Thanks for the info everyone. I'm not a fan of xeno steel as it's radioactive so I'll probably just bin the substrate.

[ravien_ff]

I don't think Xenosteel is radioactive. The type you find in POIs might be but those can actually be a different block type. The type you craft shouldn't be radioactive.

[VulcanTourist]

Xeno Steel IS NOT RADIOACTIVE.

[TwitchyJ]

Yeah, xeno steel is NOT radioactive at all.
The block that is used in POI's is alien block type and is radioactive. It gives the substrate when you harvest it and you can then use it to craft the xeno steel.
They look very similar but the player craftable version has different stats and isn't radioactive.

[VulcanTourist]

Originally posted by TwitchyJ:

Yeah, xeno steel is NOT radioactive at all.
The block that is used in POI's is alien block type and is radioactive. It gives the substrate when you harvest it and you can then use it to craft the xeno steel.
They look very similar but the player craftable version has different stats and isn't radioactive.

Also, if you have control of a structure with Alien blocks and RETRIEVE them, what you retrieve is actually Xeno Steel blocks, NOT the radioactive Alien blocks as you might expect. Presumably this is done to keep people from having blocks that they "ought not to have" because their use would result in a red-lined blueprint. It's a big convenience win for anyone who understands the value of Xeno Steel... which is apparently not everyone expressing opinion or misstating fact in this thread.

[TwitchyJ]

Originally posted by VulcanTourist:

Also, if you have control of a structure with Alien blocks and RETRIEVE them, what you retrieve is actually Xeno Steel blocks, NOT the radioactive Alien blocks as you might expect.

Correct on all accounts. This may be why some people seem confused here as well. They see a radioactive block in a POI, pick it up, and get a Xeno steel block and therefore assume xeno is radioactive.

Originally posted by VulcanTourist:

Presumably this is done to keep people from having blocks that they "ought not to have" because their use would result in a red-lined blueprint.

This is the exact reasoning on why they do that. It also happens when retrieving alien turrets and certain other blocks and devices as well. They are immediately converted into the closest player craftable alternative.

I also know you are aware of all this already and I'm only saying it for the benefit of others that may happen upon the discussion.

[Wisp Cat]

Also, do not let any xeno steel touch your core...

[Ynnead]

You can put a core on xeno steel or alien blocks and nothing will happen.

In the experimental version xeno steel is by far the best material. It is much lighter than combat steel, has more hp, and uses the same damage resistance as combat steel.

The only downside is the limited textures for it. In another forum I think VulcanTourist explains a way to change which textures it can use.

[Penitent Intent]

xeno blocks i through in the factory for steel and sathium i believe

[Wisp Cat]

Originally posted by Ynnead:

You can put a core on xeno steel or alien blocks and nothing will happen.

So explain to me how when I surrounded my core with xeno steel blocks, I got a zirax are attacking your base message, except that there were no zirax ships anywhere in the vicinity. And, after a short time, my base became zirax?

[rphillips1986]

Originally posted by wild card:

Originally posted by Ynnead:

You can put a core on xeno steel or alien blocks and nothing will happen.

So explain to me how when I surrounded my core with xeno steel blocks, I got a zirax are attacking your base message, except that there were no zirax ships anywhere in the vicinity. And, after a short time, my base became zirax?

That wasn't because of the material you used. Zirax will randomly attack your base no matter what you use. They attacked with troop transports, after a short time a zirax soldier couldn't find a way to your core, so they used the remote hack feature to take over your base.