Best practices when base building?

[Luke]

I'm brand new to the game. I'm hesitant to look at past youtube videos because I assume that much has changed with Alpha 8. What I'm wondering is, what are best practices when it comes to building a simple base? Thing such as where to place the base starter block, etc.

[Sparrowhawk65]

I'd suggest you start on the easiest level and play it a few days to get used to how things work, then start again and change the settings to whatever you want to try.

FIrst base, start with a wreckage. You can attach a core to it and get started without drone attacks (that is one of the settings btw).

Later on, you may want to dig underground and build a base there. A layer of dirt is fairly good protection. Drone attacks normally are activated when the generator is placed down, so you can build quite a lot of your base first. ;)

Otherwise, once you're more into it, build wherever you like. I've built on top of mountains, on mountain sides, on plains, under lakes. Sometimes I don't build a permanent base and just lay out the basics needed to run a constructor, then multi-tool it back into my inventory.

[coldwynn]

Build as much of your base as you can before you drop the core. Once the core is dropped, get your constructor to build a cannon, small ammo crate, and 30mm ammunition. Get yourself an assault rifle and 500 rounds. Then continue as normal.

Using a prefab base is easier.

I place the base starter block based upon where good sun is for the solar panels, so inline with either north or south. So if in southern latitudes, I place the block facing north (also works facing south) and expand the base by building facilities facing south and solar panels facing north.

With a patrol vessel, I prefer to go horizontal into a mountain with the drone, so I have a long shaft, pardon me, down which my turrets can fire and of course the facilites are perpendicular to my long shaft.

[Luke]

So, I placed the base starter block (core, right? what's the difference between the base starter block and a core, anyways?) and built a super simple base from wood and added a clone chamber. So a couple questions:

1. Will drones start attacking me even now? Or only after I've added a generator or something?

2. Can I respawn at the clone chamber if I were to die at this moment, or do I need to add power to the base in some way?

3. How do I use the generators, fuel tanks, solar panels, and etc.? There's a ton of stuff here...

[Proteus]

Originally posted by Luke:

So, I placed the base starter block (core, right? what's the difference between the base starter block and a core, anyways?) and built a super simple base from wood and added a clone chamber. So a couple questions:

1. Will drones start attacking me even now? Or only after I've added a generator or something?

2. Can I respawn at the clone chamber if I were to die at this moment, or do I need to add power to the base in some way?

3. How do I use the generators, fuel tanks, solar panels, and etc.? There's a ton of stuff here...

The difference between a base starter block and a core is, that you can place a base starter block anywhere in order to build a base.
A simple core, however, needs to be attached to an already existing construction that has no own core (like the wreckage ... or the 3 parts of the Titan, after you destroyed their already existing core)
Also of note is, that your base starter block also contains a core. it is one of the things the drones will aim for. If they destroy your core, the base becomes inactive and unowned (until you produce another core and put it into your base). Therefore it is always a good idea, to bury your core/base starter block deep within several layers of concrete

1. Dunno if this is still the case, but in easlier versions they could attack you as soon as you placed a base starter block. However, you should take note that the Drones usually (at least initially) attack you at the beginning of the night (i.e. shortly after the sun has set) ... which means that it is always a good idea to start with building your base early in the morning (to have the maximum of time till your first drone attack

2. They need power to function

3. You need either a solar capacitator or a generator in order to produce power. You can produce power either via fuel (either Biofuel or Promethium fuel packs) that has to be put into the fuel tank or via solar sails (that should be placed facing the sun over as much daytime as possible, as the angle to the sun directly affects their power output).
Also, important: If you have solar capacitator, this does double duty ... it serves as a generator (meaning you can use fuel to power your base) but also allows you to use solar sails. If you only have a generator, however (and no solar capacitator), you only can use fuel to power your base (and not solar sails). So it is definitely a good idea, to have a solar capacitator as your first power generator ;) )

[gigastephan]

Originally posted by Luke:

So, I placed the base starter block (core, right? what's the difference between the base starter block and a core, anyways?) and built a super simple base from wood and added a clone chamber. So a couple questions:

1. Will drones start attacking me even now? Or only after I've added a generator or something?

2. Can I respawn at the clone chamber if I were to die at this moment, or do I need to add power to the base in some way?

3. How do I use the generators, fuel tanks, solar panels, and etc.? There's a ton of stuff here...

The base starter block is for start a new base, when you use a wreckage you need only a
core (same when you destroy a poi core, to use the poi).

1. I read somewere when you use a wreckage that drones don´t attack (I tested it on medium
difficulty).

2. I think you can (I don´t tested it without power), but when you die you can chose were you
want to respawn.

3. Fuel tank are only to power the generator and for solar panel you need
the battery storage (capacitator I think).
When you have enough solar power the generator don´t use any fuel
(it´s good for backup power, when solar is down eg. bad wheater or to much power use).

[coldwynn]

Base starter block is when you start from scratch; nothing around.

A core can be attached to a structure (derelict spacecraft, POI, wreckage, etc ...) or is a way for you to relocate your base core if you think there is a better spot for the core.

1. Drone attacks are not a bad thing. Being unprepared for drone attacks is a bad thing.

Drone attacks are a wonderful way to get resources, and if you use an SV or HV or go out alone or take command of a turret, they are a good way to get XP. When the drones are shot down, go and get the resources.

From my experience, drone attacks will start when you apply the core, not when you power it.

2. Good question, what happens if the player's spawning points are unpowered? IDK. To the best of my knowledge everything has to be powered, but Empyrion is still in development.

3. Solar battery plus solar panels (small or reguler) can power your base by collecting and storing on average more energy than your base consumes.

The orientation of solar panels matters. The orientation is based upon your latitude.

Fuel tanks and generators operate like the real world: give it some fuel and out comes some energy to be used. Fuel for generators either comes from biofuel (cut down trees and convert wood to biofuel) or promethium. The nice thing is that there is no wasted energy. The generators don't consume fuel unless there is a load. At least that is what I see.

Solar energy takes precedence over biofuel/promethium energy, so if you have a base that consumes less than the average solar energy collected, thus the power of renewables.

Best way to learn is to experiment. It doesn't have to be perfect the first time around.

[Luke]

Thanks guys, that helps.

So just fyi, the clone station does indeed work without any kind of generator or power source (other than the base starter block itself I guess).

Also, I have had zero drone attacks, and its been nighttime for awhile... I wonder what triggers the drone attacks?

I didn't bury more core when I placed it (it's in the middle of the floor lol), so, how do I move it? I want to pick it up, and then dig a hole directly underneath it where I'll fly down with my drone, place it, and then build wood blocks back up to connect it to the rest of the base.

When I press "P" while looking at my base, there seem to be a ton of options/switches. Could I get a quick explanation as to what these do, and/or which ones I will be using the most?

Unrelated: Is there any way to fill terrain back in that has been excavated by the drill?

[coldwynn]

Don't think defensivley. You want to use your core as bait. to shred drone attacks and collect their resources.

[Sparrowhawk65]

If your base has either a solar or fuel generator, then attacks can come any time. Maybe even a day later. You'll hear a claxon alarm when they are on their way. Though the attacks are still being ironed out I believe. It's a big planet so they may have a long travel time. ;)

To move a core, first make a new one. If you can, drill down to where you want the new core and make sure there are some blocks along one side that you can place the new core against.

Then you need to remove the current core. You either need use a multi-tool on the current core which will give you some components back, or you'll need to shoot the current one until it explodes.

Now place the new core down where you want it.

I don't use switches, but they let you do things like have trapdoors or sense when enter a room and turn on the lights. That's just scratching the surface. Someone else may have more thoughts on this one.

When you upgrade to a T2 drill, it has a filler option.

[Luke]

Thanks!

Crap, I just placed a solar generator and I have no defenses whatsoever. Not even any personal armaments. What should be my first order of business if I hope to survive an impending attack?

Also, do drone attacks ever stop, or do they just continue at random intervals? Will they only attack if your base is powered on, or does that matter?

I remember when I played Empyrion a year or so ago I encountered drones right after spawning. But now, I haven’t seen a single drone flying around. I wonder if they only spawn in once you meet whatever given criteria, or are they still roaming in some areas otherwise? Are drones on all planets? I’m doing the default random scenario, btw.

[Sparrowhawk65]

A pistol and ammo will do for a start. An assault rifle is better but you'll need a large constructor to make it and the ammo for it. A pistol is a bit light, but you can shoot down the first drone with enough hits. If you don't have a pistol, try harsh language. :)

Try to get underneath the drone when it arrives. If it arrives. ;)

[Sparrowhawk65]

Drones fly over some resource deposits. A few will patrol around. Sometimes around friendly POI. I think always over hostile bases.

It's a big planet so it's no wonder you haven't seen one. Once they have locked onto your base position, whether it's powered or not won't matter. Yes, Kinda random attacks. But usually there's half a day between attacks I think. Drones are on all planets.

[Luke]

Interesting. It would be nice if you could somehow “cloak” your base before doing whatever it is that triggers the drones. Do we even know for sure what prompts them to attack at this point?

Also, I was talking to another guy about generators and in the portable constructor it looks like the only way you can make fuel tanks is with the promethian stuff. Can you not also make fuel tanks with bio fuel? It doesn’t seem to let me, yet, I thought you could power generators with bio fuel

[Sparrowhawk65]

My understanding is that placing the generator triggers the drones. It used to be that way with 7.6 so maybe that has changed with 8.

You don't need promethium to make the tanks. The fuel tanks can use either biofuel or promethium cells. You'll need to unlock fuel tanks and generators once you're level 3 or higher. Press F3. ;)

[Luke]

But is it possible I need promethium to initially make the cells, which can then be filled with bio fuel? Because in the constructor, I can’t seem to fabricate the fuel cells using bio fuel. It only seems to allow the promethian stuff