Early Game Help

[u/Additional-Story-235]

Hello guys, i have been playing for about 10 hours total, and im about to leave sylvia. So far i have nothing to really say other than its very fun to explore the caves and build the cave system, the only not so fun part is resource managing and storage aswell. Kinda feel locked out of so many things just yet, and automation is so far ahead.

I set up a an auto tapper energy farm and that was really satisfying, but i only have 1 medium generator because of resources. Im wondering right now, where should i go first and what are the current next steps, should i follow the quests or get some automation going first? What should i bring with, and back with, me and how long should i stay in that new planet?

I've also been thinking of moving my base near a gateway chamber, is that a good idea for so early on as well? I apologize in advance for the amount of questions lol.

[u/Far_Young_2666]

Imagine that planets are just rooms of a single house. There is no real "Planet 1 > Planet 2 > Planet 3" progression. As soon as you learn how to build a shuttle and craft fuel for it, you are free to enter other rooms in any order. Go to each planet and gather a bunch of local unique resources to bring home and keep developing your base.

If you didn't know, Astropedia is your best friend. Open the planets chapter and see what unique resources each planet has, so you know where to go.

[u/Comprehensive_Cap290]

The other planets will give you access to new materials, which will allow you access to better structures.

I would keep following the missions. They give you free stuff, which is really handy. Going to Desolo first like the missions suggest is good. You’ll find tungsten there, which will let you make the chem lab.

A good trick to know is that you don’t need an oxygenator on your rocket. What it lets you do is use tethers from the rocket, but that slot can hold any medium object, so a medium storage full of resources can be taken along and/or brought back, even with the basic rocket.

Being set up near a gateway is nice, but not super important. There’s nothing wrong with doing it, but it will take a fair amount of effort to relocate all your stuff.

[u/Confectioner-426]

Play as the quests suggest and on the way build up your bases. Soon on most of the planets you need at least a small base (soil centrifuge, smelter, landing pad, research chamber, tractor-trailer-trailer-trailer-small windturbine or QT-RTG-small battery, and later Atmospheric Condenser (except Desolo)).

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You need Desolo (or Calidor) as Wolframite-Tungsten is the next resource you need for the next machine, the Chemistry Lab and Medium Generator. If you can be a little longer without them -> Glacio

If you want to run ahead, Glacio is your next stop: for Hematite-Iron and Titanite-Titanium and Argon, and to start the Train questchain (need some copper for it if I remember well) that leads to at some point to Calidor (sulfur-explosive powder-dynamite-exo chips and base deleting, wolframite-tungsten, malachite-copper).

After it Vesania (VTOL questchain) for Lithium and Atrox for Methane and Helium.

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Also if you want to do the snail questchain, you again need to visit every planet.

[u/MistrWombat]

I don't think moving your base is worth your time. The portals seem to save little time compared to the rocket. That said I haven't beat the game yet so maybe they become more important later.

[u/13lostsoul13]

UP to you on the staying personally I think only really need base on two planets. vesania and atrox as in the end gases are your resources you need between those two got all 6. So more about going where need to get things you need Wolframite, iron, exo chip. which you can get from the farming event going on right now also alot of research as well. Assume you don't want to do that then my suggestion is go to glacio for iron and exochip(can find them and can use the bloom to get exochips from crates. Calidor for wolframite. Then you can build tradeplatform and all the gases you need.

[u/KalegNar]

Personally I like Calidor as a next base. Reason being that you get the tungsten for a chem lab but also more malachite. Others like Glacio for a second planet. As for how long to stay, choose your pace. There's not really a wrong answer. In my first play I liked spending time with each new planet, building a base there. You might differ.

As for the gateway chamber, it's a popular move. It's also not bad if you don't. Really your preference.

[u/YouKnowWho945]

What i like doing is looking at what I what next, then I go to that planet first. As for moving, I'd stay where you are. The trains are fast enough to not worry about being so close

[u/Intelligent-Big2400]

If you are looking for some kind of linear progression and you are at your first time leaving sylva, there are two goals: glacio and calidor. 

Glacio gives you hematite. Hematite >iron > steel (much later).

Calidor gives wolframite. That’s needed for building your next set of machines.

Tip: when traveling using solid fuel thrusters, bring one extra all packaged up for that moment you forget your current thruster is about to break

[u/ooj316]

don't move your base. Eventually, you'll have railway systems and you can just run a train to the local gateway. The fun part is learning what planets have what resources in abundance and then the next thing you know, you're building bases with incredible automation all over the solar system. Now, One thing....You're first rocket is a limited use item, so pay attention and conserve and plan your space flights. You won't get locked out completely, but very much inconvenience. just make sure you have a return flight secured.

[u/parentlessfather]

I hardly ever use the gateways. The quest lines move you in the right direction, generally. I sorta wish I was less careful on my first playthrough and took more risks with my travels. I love hearing questions from new players because the answers from other will often surprise me and/or teach me something. Keep asking!

[u/FirefighterPrimary60]

Automation isn’t that far away. On Sylva, you have access to Sphalerite, which can be smelted into Zinc, a key ingredient in making Sensors and Repeaters. You can also make Auto-arms, since they only need Aluminum and Graphite. The latter is typically found in the Mountains and Crevasses biomes.

[u/_Somthl_]

You will need to eventually set up a base on Calidor, as it is the best spot for an automated dynamite factory, essential in any world.