Hull Part Shortage

[sleepy]

I just started a new game and I'm working on setting up my first factory around 18 billion. Everything is going great except.. there are no hull parts. No hull parts anywhere. No traders will sell it to me, no hull part factories will sell to me, what am I supposed to do

[Pandorian]

Backtrack the issue. No hull parts. Why are there no hull parts?
Are there hull part factories? Most likely
Are they running? Probably not
Why aren't they running?
Are they missing something? Probably refined metals.
Why aren't there refined metals?
Are there refined metal factories. Most likely
Are they running? Maybe half and half
What's the issue? Most likely lack of supply, and wares aren't being transported.
Solution: Mine ore and transport refined metals.

EDIT: Another solution is back tracking hull parts in RIP/VIG space but that involves scrapping and scrap chains. Not the most intuitive for newer players. Also if you're in Teladi space they have their own version of refined metals called Teladianium used to make hull parts.

[sleepy]

How can I tell what a station is low on? There is like.. 1 hull factory within like 5 sectors, and it won't let me buy anything from it. It says it buys graphene and refined metals. What are refined metals cause I can't make graphene cause I need hull parts to build my factory, so what, am I supposed to go and supply graphene factories and pray that eventually it will trickle down?

[sleepy]

btw when looking at trade overview on the map, there's hexagons next to trade items, there can be up to 3 next to an item, anyone know what that means?

[Pandorian]

Originally posted by uwu!:

How can I tell what a station is low on? There is like.. 1 hull factory within like 5 sectors, and it won't let me buy anything from it. It says it buys graphene and refined metals. What are refined metals cause I can't make graphene cause I need hull parts to build my factory, so what, am I supposed to go and supply graphene factories and pray that eventually it will trickle down?

You can tell what a station is low on by scanning it to 30%. This will allow you to see what is in it's storage. Refined metals are refined ore. If you see an ore refinery then that is most likely what it is making. Graphene is made from methane but most gas products don't have issues being filled by AI traders.

Once you identify the issue in the chain then you fill it with your ships. You don't wait for the item to trickle to you because you're the one transporting. Just have your ships only mine for refined metals, only deliver those to hull parts, then only deliver the hull parts to your station.

[Pandorian]

Originally posted by uwu!:

btw when looking at trade overview on the map, there's hexagons next to trade items, there can be up to 3 next to an item, anyone know what that means?

It's the general "size" of the supply/demand of items. It can give you a general overview of what is missing but fails when it comes to stations such as shipyards/wharfs. Those can show huge buy orders for multiple items but they are only waiting on one item to produce ships.

[sleepy]

Originally posted by Pandorian:

Originally posted by uwu!:

How can I tell what a station is low on? There is like.. 1 hull factory within like 5 sectors, and it won't let me buy anything from it. It says it buys graphene and refined metals. What are refined metals cause I can't make graphene cause I need hull parts to build my factory, so what, am I supposed to go and supply graphene factories and pray that eventually it will trickle down?

You can tell what a station is low on by scanning it to 30%. This will allow you to see what is in it's storage. Refined metals are refined ore. If you see an ore refinery then that is most likely what it is making. Graphene is made from methane but most gas products don't have issues being filled by AI traders.

Once you identify the issue in the chain then you fill it with your ships. You don't wait for the item to trickle to you because you're the one transporting. Just have your ships only mine for refined metals, only deliver those to hull parts, then only deliver the hull parts to your station.

You seem really knowledgeable about the game, thanks for your help.

You said gas stuff doesn't usually have a problem filling with AI stuff, do you find other things do have a problem like that?

[Pandorian]

Originally posted by uwu!:

You seem really knowledgeable about the game, thanks for your help.

You said gas stuff doesn't usually have a problem filling with AI stuff, do you find other things do have a problem like that?

The biggest issue you're going to run into is hull parts due to it being used in station construction and ship construction. After that you're going to run into issues with other wares that are commonly used to build ships such as Advanced Electronics, Weapon Components, Shield Components, Turret Components, Missile Components. Most of these later items you'll only run into if you can solve the other items as typically the later ones won't be the bottleneck in ship production.

Common items that usually don't need made to supply NPCs with:
Food
Energy Cells
Any gas product

As each game can vary it's up to you to scout out your economy and see where issues lie. Try to focus on one faction at a time and put satellites so you can see all their stations. Scan shipyards/wharfs to 30% so you can see their storage and what they are lacking. If you have to backtrack a supply issue then you can also scan that station to 30% to get an idea why it isn't running properly. Most supply issues for NPCs can be fixed with miners and traders.

[mocitybeau]

I been waiting 2 week for a gunship, this game is too complicated and frustrating as hell! I spent way to much time watching these annoying youtubers who do a terrible job at explaining things, they make me want to vomit and steam wont refund my money for this pos game.

[Daddy Shark]

What exactly are you having issues with? You only need make a new thread and ask.

I'm going to make a new "let's play" series for 6.0. There seems to be a need for updated youtube videos.

[Daddy Shark]

It would be nice if there was a notice when you click on a station's info panel like "Production stalled due to lack of:" and just flat out listed what the station needs to get running. Would make things far more playable.

[Pandorian]

Originally posted by Daddy Shark:

It would be nice if there was a notice when you click on a station's info panel like "Production stalled due to lack of:" and just flat out listed what the station needs to get running. Would make things far more playable.

It'd also be nice if there was a station that was designed specifically to equip ships with more than basic stuff :P

All jokes aside yeah, don't order other than minimal preset at a shipyard/wharf and expect to get it anytime soon unless you are actively supplying that station. Get a minimal preset and go refit it at the Equipment dock that is most likely stocked.

[Dreamer]

I sense a business opportunity.

[sleepy]

i have to think

[sleepy]

I'm trying to supply a metals refinery with ore, but my M class mining ship are taking ages upon ages to extract any ore at all. Anyone know why this might be?

[Pandorian]

Originally posted by uwu!:

I'm trying to supply a metals refinery with ore, but my M class mining ship are taking ages upon ages to extract any ore at all. Anyone know why this might be?

Do you have a resource probe down in an area with ore, and if so what is the density/supply? The resource bar on the probe should have a lighter blue bar that shows "supply" while the darker blue bar that shows up will show a maximum "supply". I use supply as a lack of a better word right now.