Occupy Mars Guide

A guide for as much of Occupy Mars's content as possible. Notes & corrections are appreciated.

Tutorials

1. Basics & Vitals



2.



3.



4.



5. Plants



6.

Extreme Weather Events/Disasters

Extreme weather events can happen at any time & in any order. Disasters could result from extreme weather events or from the player making mistakes.

1. Low Temperature

Low Temperatures are forecasted at 21:00 hours & lasts from 22:00 - 08:00. Very rarely, it will be forecasted at 20:00 & last starting at 21:00 or end at 09:00. Solar panels generate no power & it takes 3.5 in-game hours for the player to freeze to death.

2. Sandstorm

Sandstorms are forecasted 1 in-game hour before it occurs & lasts 2.5 in-game hours. After the sandstorm, sand collections are left on any & all builds exposed to the sand. This leaves solar panels generating less power until all sand is either naturally or forcefully removed. Sand can collect on the inside of the Rover's doors. Sandstorms can damage structures & make it hard to see, requiring lights in order to see semi-good.

3. Tornado

Tornadoes are forecasted 1 in-game hour before it occurs & lasts 7.5 - 26 in-game hours. Tornadoes follow the player around, blowing around sand onto buildings & if the player is outside, the tornado will throw the player around, harming the player, damaging the helmet, or both.

4. Dust Devils

Dust Devils are forecasted 1 in-game hour before it occurs & last 8 in-game hours (NEEDS VERIFICATION). Dust Devils are smaller versions of the Tornado, but have a lot less strength & are plentiful. Dust Devils blow small amounts of sand on structures (NEEDS VERIFICATION).

5. Solar Storm

Solar Storms are forecasted 1 in-game hour before it occurs & last 3.5 in-game hours. If you look at the sky during a Solar Storm warning, you can see the Northern Lights as seen on Earth in real-life. Likely because of a bug, but the player cannot drive the Rover or use the crane during a Solar Storm or else the player receives damage from radiation. It takes 3 in-game hours for the player to die from Solar Storms.

6. Thunderstorm

Thunderstorms are forecasted 1 in-game hour before it occurs & last 2 in-game hours (NEEDS VERIFICATION). Lightning strikes around the player & strikes the player directly if outside. If lightning strikes power sources, they will quickly generate power (NEEDS VERIFICATION). As of 9 January, 2023, lightning rods have not been added.

7. Meteor Shower

Meteor Showers are forecasted 1 in-game hour before it occurs & lasts 1.5 in-game hours. Some meteors light up the sky a little brighter than daylight, some crash onto the surface, some leave remnants that can be mined for minerals, & some break apart large rocks that were already on the surface.

8. Fire

Fires can be caused by CO2 Scrubbers producing too much oxygen without enough coolant. As of 9 January, there are no other causes for fires.

9. Decompression

Decompression happens when the player uses an airlock without another airlock on the other side. Decompression can also happen if enough damage is done to corridors or airlocks to where the pressure is no longer sealed. The player can be launched from the sudden decompression which can damage the helmet. If the helmet is damaged, the player will quickly lose air until the helmet is repaired. It takes 3.5 in-game hours to lose 100% air (NEEDS VERIFICATION). If a sealed corridor is connected to a single airlock, the corridor will take more time to equalize pressure.

Bases

Player Bases



Abandoned Bases

When you come across any abandoned base, you can find a lot of stuff in there. Sometimes they will be in crates, other times just in the open. You can find Seed Cartridges with its own variety of different seeds, Oxygen Extensions for the Rover, Battery Extensions for the Rover, parts for Spotty, helmets, 999 worth of Water/Gas or Electricity Cables, Processed Food (Lowest nutritional yield), 1-4 of any of the 5 main ores, any 1 of any circuit board (A, B, C, or D), or any 1 of each building material (Small Pipe, Aluminum Plate, Steel Plate, Glass Plate, Small Engine, Solar Cell, Grout, Electronics, Screws). Depending on the layout of the base that you stumble into, you can find 3-10 items inside. There is a bug where if you reload your game & then reload your save, everything in the abandoned bases will respawn. This is very exploitable since I've had to do that a few times & got the game to stack the loot 5 times.

Tools

1. Jackhammer

The Jackhammer is mainly used to mine rocks break rocks into either small ores to pick up with the Rover Claw, or into the raw materials themselves. There is also a small feature where you can use the Jackhammer to break down structures & builds such as the Rover. At the current moment, the Rover cannot be rebuilt if destroyed so be careful (NEEDS VERIFICATION). Meteor showers can end up crashing & breaking apart rocks on the surface. There is a chance that crashed meteors from meteor showers can leave new rocks filled with building materials (NEEDS VERIFICATION).

2. Grinder

The Grinder is mainly used to break apart old & player-built buildings. The Grinder can even destroy the Rover. At the current moment, the Rover cannot be rebuilt if destroyed so be careful.

3. Blowtorch

The Blowtorch is mainly used to build buildings that the player sets the foundations for. It can also repair damaged structures like damaged corridors from extreme weather events, including the Tipper & Rover. The following extreme weather events can damage structures: Sandstorms, Tornadoes, Dust Devils, Meteor Showers, Solar Storms (NEEDS VERIFICATION), & Thunderstorms (NEEDS VERIFICATION).

4. Spectral Detector

The Spectral Detector is mainly used to search for water deposits in the ground. You can also aim the Spectral Detector at nearby rocks & it will tell the composition & how many of each mineral can be mined from the rocks. This is blocked when you are lose to any water spots, usually within 100m.

5. Seed Planter

The Seed Planter is mainly used to plant seeds from seed magazines that either the player spawns in with or collects from abandoned structures. Seed magazines hold a maximum of 100 seeds. The following plants are confirmed to exist & be planted in-game as of 21 January, 2023: Potatoes, Peppers, Apples, Corn, Tomatoes, Cabbage, Poplar, & Pumpkins (THERE ARE MORE).

6. Air Compressor

The Air Compressor is mainly used to blow away sand/dust off of solar panels after extreme weather events. The following extreme weather events can pile sand/dust on solar panels: Sandstorms, Tornadoes, & Dust Devils (NEEDS VERIFICATION). The Air Compressor uses bottles of CO2 in order to blow away sand/dust. As of 28 January, 2023, no new CO2 bottles can be obtained (NEEDS VERIFICATION), however you can refill existing ones by using a CO2 Scrubber.

7. Remote Controller

The Remote Controller is mainly used to remotely drive the Rover & use the crane. They can also control the mini-helicopter, but I haven't reached that point yet.

8. Fire Extinguisher

The Fire Extinguisher is mainly used to extinguish fires caused by CO2 Scrubbers not receiving enough coolant.

9. Helmet Repair Kit

The Helmet Repair Kit is mainly used to repair the player's helmet when damaged. Each kit can be used 1 time before it is used up & nothing can be salvaged from it. If you are lucky, 2 times.

10. Small Plants Crate

The Small Plants Crate is mainly used to temporarily store & transport small plants from a Plant Incubator to a Hydroponic Shelf. As of 9 January, the Plants Crate is not obtainable (NEEDS VERIFICATION).

Tech Tree

To advance in the Tech Tree, the player must earn experience points. To gain experience points, you need to do certain tasks depending on each branch of technology. I'll go from the basics to down the line at the top, then across.

1. Botany

To gain Botany experience, the player must build a Plant Incubator & a Hydroponic Shelf. You must grow plants & then harvest them & either consume the food, turn them into fertilizer with the Composter, or genetically modify them by combining grown food in the Seed Modification Machine. When you gain Botany experience, a (tomato?) plant will briefly flash at the top of your screen colored green. When you can unlock a new Botany technology, the green plant will pulse on the top of your HUD.

A. Base Botany

You start with the blueprints to build a Seed Modification Machine, Single Hydroponic Shelf, Well, Single Plant Incubator, & CO2 Scrubber.

B. Greenhouse Cultivation

Once unlocked, you get the blueprints to the Double Hydroponic Shelf, Triple Plant Incubator, Greenhouse, Field, & Composter.

C. Horticulture (PREREQUISITES)

In order to unlock Horticulture, you must grow 20 plants simultaneously & print a tool. I recommend printing a Remote Controller.

Once unlocked, you can 3D print the Small Plants Crate.

D. Advanced Crops (PREREQUISITES)

In order to unlock Advanced Crops, you must plant 1 of each of 2 different species of plants & unlock Industrial Energy Storage.

Once unlocked, plants will take more time to wither away.

E. Improved Composting

Once unlocked, the Composter will yield more fertilizer & soil.

F. Food Processing

Once unlocked, you get the blueprints to build the Food Processing Unit.

G. Genetic Engineering (PREREQUISITES)

In order to unlock Genetic Engineering, you must grow plants & then place them into the Seed Modification Machine until the new Seed Magazine(s) contain plants with at least 10% of either speed or grow bonus.

Once unlocked, it takes less energy & time to grow plants (NEEDS VERIFICATION).

2. Electricity

To gain Electricity experience, you must build small or medium solar panels & let them generate their first bits of power. When you gain Electricity experience, an Electricity Cable will briefly flash at the top of your screen colored yellow. When you can unlock a new Electricity technology, the yellow cable will pulse at the top of your HUD.

A. Base Electricity

You start with the blueprints for the Small Solar Panel, Transformer (ECU), & Battery Pack.

B. Lithium-Ion Batteries

Once unlocked, you get the blueprints for the Battery Pack Upgrade.

C. Industrial Energy Storage (PREREQUISITES)

In order to unlock Industrial Energy Storage, you must find & place a Rover Power Extension into the Rover. It's in the opposite side of the Rover door, just below where the Claw, Welder, & Drill are hooked to.

Once unlocked, all batteries' power cap raise.

D. Industrial Energy Converters

Once unlocked, you get the blueprints for the Transformer Upgrade.

E. Efficient Photovoltaics (PREREQUISITES)

In order to unlock Efficient Photovoltaics, you must build at least 1 Small Solar Panel. You must build it, not place it pre-built.

Once unlocked, you get the blueprints for the Medium Solar Panel.

F. DIY

Once unlocked, the player gets the blueprints for the Workbench.

G. Gentle Tinkering (PREREQUISITES)

In order to unlock Gentle Tinkering, you must find any circuit board in any abandoned base, or damage one yourself (NEEDS VERIFICATION), take it to the Workbench, & repair it.

Once unlocked, when you hold shift when repairing circuit boards, your hand moves slower.

3. Materials

To gain Materials experience, the player must use the Grinder on abandoned or player-made bases or use the Blowtorch to build for yourself. There is an invisible requirement where the player must build a bed in a Workshop. When you gain Materials experience, a (cabinet?) will briefly flash at the top of your screen colored violet. When you can unlock a new Materials technology, the purple (cabinet?) will pulse at the top of your HUD.

A. Base Materials

You start with the blueprints for the Airlock Iris, Small Corridor, Small Corridor with Window, Corridor Joint, Pump Station, & Workshop.

B. Corridor Links 1 (PREREQUISITES)

In order to unlock Corridor Links 1, you must build 2 Airlock Irises & 1 Short Corridor. Placing pre-built airlocks or corridors don't count towards this requirement.

Once unlocked, the player gets the blueprints for the Ramp, Curved Corridor, Connector, Normal Corridor, & Normal Corridor with Window.

C. Corridor Links 2

Once unlocked, the player gets the blueprints for the Multi-Connector, Big Corridor Joint, Long Corridor, & Long Corridor with Window.

D. Living Quarters 1 (PREREQUISITES)

In order to unlock Living Quarters 1, you must scrap a Living Room, Bath Room, Single Capsule Adapter, & a Triple Capsule Adapter from abandoned bases.

Once unlocked, you get the blueprints for the Living Room, Bath Room, Bed, & Single Capsule Adapter.

E. Living Quarters 2 (PREREQUISITES)

In order to unlock Living Quarters 2, you must unlock Greenhouse Cultivation.

Once unlocked, you get the blueprints for the Triple Capsule Adapter & Canteen.

F. Workshop 1

Once unlocked, you get the blueprints to the Vertical tank, Tipper, Container, & Quad Crate.

G. Workshop 2

Once unlocked, you get the blueprints to the 3-in-1 Tank (currently cannot be built), Horizontal Tank, Sabatier Reactor (Well Upgrade), & Oxygen Tank.

H. Mars Garage

Once unlocked, you get the blueprints for the Hanger.

4. Tools

To gain Tools Experience, the player must empty the Tipper into the Shredder or charge the rover. When you gain Tools experience, a Wrench & Screwdriver will briefly flash at the top of your screen colored orange. When you can unlock a new Tools technology, the orange tools will pulse at the top of your HUD.

A. Base Tools

Currently, nothing is shown to be unlocked when starting a new game.

B. Tool Printing (PREREQUISITES)

In order to unlock Tool Printing, you must grab any 5 tools. It is best to grab the Jackhammer, Grinder, Blowtorch, Spectral Detector, Seed Planter, & Air Compressor because you will most likely use those 5 the most.

Once unlocked, you would be able to 3D print the Jackhammer, Grinder, Blowtorch, Spectral Detector, Seed Planter, & Fire Extinguisher, but currently for an unknown reason, that ability has been disabled.

C. Advanced Welding

Once unlocked, you can upgrade the Blowtorch using the Workbench & the Welder is automatically attached to the Rover. In the future, there may be a certain set of tasks that must be complete in order to get the Welder for the Rover.

D. Drill Upgrade 1

Once unlocked, you can upgrade the Jackhammer using the Workbench & the Drill is automatically attached to the Rover. In the future, there may be a certain set of tasks that must be complete in order to get the Drill for the Rover.

E. Grinder Upgrade 1

Once unlocked, you can upgrade the Grinder using the Workbench.

F. Wireless Controller

Once unlocked, you can 3D print the Remote Controller.

G. AI Companion (PREREQUISITES)

Once unlocked, you can do something with Spotty (I can't get Spotty to stand up after building it).

H. Spectral Detector Upgrade 1

Once unlocked, you can upgrade the Spectral Detector using the Workbench.

5. Chemistry

There is almost no information available involving the Chemistry tech tree. The only confirmed part is that if the player fills enough empty water bottles, you gain research points for Chemistry.

Secrets & Possible Lore

Across the world, there are abandoned human-made structures. There are so many different layouts, that one day, & with some help, a section dedicated to all possible layouts will be made. The abandoned bases are either of an older & mechanical looking kind, or a newer & electronic looking kind. This means that at one point, there were a lot more humans on the planet before the player arrived. It also seems that you are the first human to return to Mars, & thus the only human on Mars after the vanishing. The abandoned bases are old as evidenced by the damage to the structures & sand on them. There are very few bases that have no visual damage & yet are still all labelled as "Scrap". This is a sign that whatever made the humans leave wasn't gradual, as also evident by the collectible materials at ever abandoned base. The weirdest part is that there are no abandoned rovers. The player's Rover is the only rover in the game. Another clue as to what happened to the humans.

As of 4 March, I haven't been able activate Spotty nor have I found the NASA rovers & Ingenuity. I believe however that there might be more secrets on them that can be found. I have built Spotty, but it isn't waking up. I haven't seen any instructions on how to wake it up. Please comment if you know more than me.

Across the world, & even on Olympus Mons, there are tunnels dug up by a previous human population. The only question is why? Why dig underground & in the solar system's largest mountain when there's so many other things that can be literally picked off the ground? What is underground that is so important that the humans have to dig to find? It isn't uranium because those can actually be found from superrocks. Ultra-large rocks that you likely remember because they were so tall & large.

Across the world, there are these weird mound-like formations with a tunnel on one side. The tunnel, soon after the entrance, branches off into 2 directions. On the right, an unbreakable rock blocks the visibly continuing path forward, leaving a cliffhanger for us players. On the left, the tunnel spirals down for a while before a batch of large uranium ores are found. In the center of the uranium ores are a water bottle separate from bottles that the player spawns with, & 2 objects that can be picked up labelled "A Strange Looking Rock" & they look like opened eggs that filled with something. This next part is most likely a glitch, but whenever the player loads a save after collecting the eggs, they are always gone without a trace, but any uranium collected doesn't disappear. This means that, again, either a bug is happening, or it's intended & that there's more to this game than survival just like our good ole pal, Minecraft.

In the newest video for promoting the full game, we are directly told that we are going to build homes for future humans. That will take a lot of work so multiplayer will be introduced to help with the gameplay & the lore. My only question is what will the player(s) be doing exactly? Will we have to dig into the ground, because we can't & yet, previous settlers have. Will we have to study the eggs? Will we have to terraform the planet? Mayby, we'll just have to wait & find out.

If you start up & save a world on hard difficulty, you can earn invisible achievements.

Bugs & Glitches

Post about glitches & bugs that you find in the comments. I'll put them here & put you in the credits.

Credits & Notes

LilDreadnaught - Creating & modifying the guide.

SpellSage - Posting on a discussion forum how to gain experience & listing most of what loot can be found.
How to get XP: https://steamcommunity.com/app/1802390/discussions/0/5828254465007768270/
A quick guide to get loot: https://steamcommunity.com/app/1802390/discussions/0/5828254465007768270/

Iceman_DK - Commenting a suggestion that inspired me to make the "Tutorials" section which I will get to eventually.
Iceman_DK Feb 22 @ 1:36pm
I haven't figured out how to fill the fields in the greenhouse with dirt to grow the corn

Notes:

By the time I was writing about the Spectral Detector Upgrade, I hit the character limit so I had to shorten the indentations with each technology level.

I have a world on easy, labelled as "Fourth Attempt (Test)" as a test world that helped me start this guide. The new one labelled "Hard Attempt" was made to further explore the game's options. I also found out that there is too little food for the player to survive on the hardest settings & spawning as a "Madman". The most that I've been able to survive was 2 Sols before dying of hunger, however I never went out to explore abandoned bases for food, so it is still possible, but that seems to be the only route.

Here's the link to the troll video for the April Fools Prank.
https://youtu.be/o4JhdBm1KCc

[General_UXO-VS-]

@ Bubbles The Large Shredder will be available when EA releases

[LilDreadnaught]

No clue.

[Bubbles]

how do you unlock the large shredder

[Iceman_DK]

The tutorials in main menu, is very helpfull, even if it seems they are greyed off

[General_UXO-VS-]

@Iceman_DK What you would need to do is mine Silicon. Take the Silicon Rocks and place them into the Composter, then hit the Recycle button. TAKE NOTE: each field will take a maximum of 18, so when you load your silicon, don't exceed 54. You don't need anymore that that for each greenhouse with fields. And No, you won't lose any dirt

[LilDreadnaught]

I'm still trying to figure out how to load my test world since I have a base between 2 water spots both within 100m of each other, I've nearly finished the tech tree, I've built 4 greenhouses, a solar farm, a few workshops filled with stuff, a garage, & nearly built Spotty & I don't want to lose that progress.

[Iceman_DK]

I haven't figured out how to fill the fields in the greenhouse with dirt to grow the corn

[Iceman_DK]

I don't want to state the obvious, but
Plants need a steady supply of water and light, so make sure there is power and water. If the batteries runs out at night or the well runs dry, that's an issue and they will start to wither.
Use the incubator, they will grow faster to start of and move the seedlings at 50% growth to the shelfs with the plant moving tool.
This is just the short version

[General_UXO-VS-]

You stated:

9. Helmet Repair Kit

The Helmet Repair Kit is mainly used to repair the player's helmet when damaged. Each kit can be used 2 times before it is used up & nothing can be salvaged from it.

That is not correct. As a regular "Leap from the Mountain" type, I can attest that the kits are 1 time use only.

[arko7]

Make a guide about how to use greenhouse.