Raw materials in expert mode

[ARS3NICO]

Hi.
I'm playing the campaign in expert mode with all DLCs. Actually I ended the main quest and most of the side quests, so I'm continuing the same game in a sandbox-like mode.

I have conquered about 70% of the world, now I have 2 residential islands in the Old World (Ditchwater and Bright Sands) and I'm planning to build the third one in Crown Falls. I'm using the other islands to gather resources and for the industries.

I think I'm doing pretty well...BUT.

I would like to ask you how you manage the production of raw materials, in particular iron, copper and zinc. As I move forward, the demand for steel and brass is higher and higher, and I'm afraid that at some point my tiny islands of expert mode won't have enough mines to satisfy the entire population in the world, even if I give them electricity.

I figured out a semi-solution for gold, using Mr Garrick, but I don't know if there is any useful item to correct this lack.

Did you faced this problem? How do you manage?

Please, let me know!

PS. Sorry for my pour english

[Chaosium]

Brass is typically something I import with docklands because copper and zinc are not exactly the most common thing in the world, that being said you can get a boatload of them with the gritty gas extractor and the Arctic
Crown Falls alone has like 9 iron mines on average so that should be enough to supply quite a lot of industry

[Tankfriend]

ARS3NICO a écrit :

Did you faced this problem? How do you manage?

I produce the resources wherever I can around the world, and ship them to the production islands that need them.
I also try to focus on just Crown Falls. My original Old World island will only be advanced enough to unlock Crown Falls and the Commuter Pier. Once the island is stabilized at that level, I mostly stop developing it. Any other islands with residentials I try to limit to Peasants + Workers (maybe a few Artisans if absolutely necessary), and what the island can produce locally without imports.

Exploiting the Docklands to exchange excess materials for those you need and can't produce in sufficient quantities is a very powerful tool.

I'd also highly recommend getting into the boost item business. Since you have all DLC, you also have a vast number of ways to get your hands on items - the Research Institute, expeditions, Visitor / Tourist Piers, NPC trader islands, Old Nate's treasure maps and item crafting...
Getting the right items unto your islands can significantly change your entire economy, since they can not just boost your production output, but can also provide electricity for almost-free (usually a higher fire/explosion risk), provide new island fertilities, change the raw materials needed for production, or even make entire supply lines almost obsolete if you get enough instances of the same item.
For example, the Actor (a rare specialist for the Town Hall) supplies Rum and Canned Food to all houses in its Town Hall influence radius that also have access to a Variety Theater.

[asterix52]

I use the Docklands for this. Make something that you can sell plenty of. Favourites are to use Bruno to get free Advanced Weapons and Steam Motors, or make lots of bikes. These all have a very good ratio when buying Raw Materials (e.g. Iron & Coal) or intermediate (like Brass). Jorg Malching gives you free Gold Ore and boosts your mine and oil output.

[Wuik]

Hello,
That was the first problem knew since 2019 , also the solution ,at this time ,was to wait to get , by explorations or exhibitions , the legendary ''Gerhard F uchs ''which replaced input Brass versus wood for the spectacle factory...
But ,actually all was very more simple with Docklands and the research center ^^

[ARS3NICO]

Thank you all for he replies.

In fact, I'm not using docklands to full capacity yet (I've just tried importing some iron).

I hesitated a bit because, when trying to use the standard trade for brass, I noticed that I had no actual control over the money coming in and going out. The result was that, although my balance was a few thousand dollars, my turnover continued to decrease (I lost around 5 million in just a few hours of playing!).
Maybe I needed an even bigger balance sheet, or maybe docklands works better than standard trading. I'll try!

In this regard, since I am really ignorant on the subject of docklands, I would like to ask you if there is a way to monitor the entry into the warehouse of a specific product, a bit like you do with production (through the request/offer bars).
I would like to be sure that by exporting a certain number of stone (for example) every minute (or 20 min? I don't know), I am guaranteed a sufficient quantity of brass to satisfy the needs.
Maybe it also depends on the size of my warehouse?

Anyway...

Tankfriend a écrit :

ARS3NICO a écrit :

Did you faced this problem? How do you manage?

I also try to focus on just Crown Falls.

Great advice, I'll try to focus my energy on Crown Falls and develop the Research Institute to get more items.

Wuik a écrit :

the legendary ''Gerhard F uchs ''which replaced input Brass versus wood for the spectacle factory...

This looks like a great character, I definitely need to get it!

Thanks again!

[Chaosium]

For docklands, to be safe we usually consider it takes 30 minutes for every delivery; 20 minutes means Tobias appears on the map, but then he needs to head to your harbor, which can take a moment depending on where your island is, he stays at your harbor for 1 minute minimum (emphasis on minimum), and then he needs to leave the map, and the 20 min timer is only refreshed when he has left the map, so that's why rellying on 20 minutes is usually misleading and can lead to shortages

So if you need e.g. 6 tons of brass per minute, you can import 6x30 = 180 tons of brass just to be extra safe.

As for the export, it's about determining what goods you are overproducing just enough to use them as export. Personally I always start with something reliable like planks because there's no consumption so I always know that I'll have a stock ready to be exported, and fortunately brass isn't needed in very large quantities so it works

[Tankfriend]

ARS3NICO a écrit :

Maybe it also depends on the size of my warehouse?

Your warehouse capacity is extremely important for the Docklands. Since all the trade going through the Docklands is based on goods exhange with no money involved, your warehouse capacity is also the hard limit for how many tons of a good you can trade away or receive.

So, once you've calculated how much you need (see Chaosiums post above), you also need to make sure that your warehouse capacity is at least as large as the largest amount you set in your trade orders.

[ARS3NICO]

Chaosium a écrit :

So if you need e.g. 6 tons of brass per minute, you can import 6x30 = 180 tons of brass just to be extra safe.

This is an extremely useful calculation, I'll keep it in mind! Thanks Chaosium.
Also, I think the same reasoning can be applied to the distribution of goods in my islands.

By estimating the travel time in the routes through the warehouse panel and knowing the need for a commodity... that's it! Although I'm afraid I'll need an excel, eheheh...

Tankfriend a écrit :

Since all the trade going through the Docklands is based on goods exhange with no money involved, your warehouse capacity is also the hard limit for how many tons of a good you can trade away or receive.

Yesterday I finally tried to use the Docklands correctly, and I must say that your advice was also invaluable. Previously I had only used it to complete Captain Tobias' tutorial and to add docks to my port. Now it has become really useful!

---

I've decided to focus solely on Crown Falls, as you suggested a few posts ago.
For the moment I am trying to produce the resources almost exclusively in the Cape Trelawney region, at least until worldwide distribution is necessary.

In fact, the mines seem sufficient, and I'm paying attention to the items I receive/purchase.
As soon as I have the Research Center, everything will probably be easier.

I'll keep you updated if I encounter any other problems, thanks everyone!

[Chaosium]

The research center sure is a gamechanger, but on the other hand, I find scholars consumption rates so absurdly high, I'm so burnt out of supplying these people...

Dunno what they do with their boots and tailored suits but it feels like they wipe the floor with them considering how much they need xD