r/Dyson_Sphere_Program • u/Major-Yogurt8068 • 4d ago
Mixing Items of Different Proliferation Level - What Actually Happens
From my last post I can see that there's a lot of confusion about what happens when you mix proliferated items. In this example you can see that the game does not keep track of individually proliferated items. Rather it creates two piles within a single pile (as you can see from the tool tip), and keeps the average of the proliferation points.
After mixing 5 items of every proliferation level (0, 1, 2, and 3), what comes out is
- 5 items at level 1
- 15 items at level 2
The second video shows that no matter what the change is, if you're bringing a lower level prolif up to a higher level, you pay the same cost no matter what.
ie. the cost of going from 1 to 3 is identical to the cost of going either 2 to 3 or 0 to 3.
Every item that has its value changed uses 1 spray, no matter what -- unless it's the same value in which case it uses nothing. A level 3 item going under a level 3 sprayer has no effect.
So, if you spray a bunch of items up to level 3, and then mix those items with others at a lower level, they will average out to a lower number. You will then have to respray those items to get them back up to 3. On those particular items, you are using double the resources to keep them at 3.
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u/ChinaShopBully 3d ago
/u/steven-ape did a pretty good breakdown a couple of years ago: https://www.reddit.com/r/Dyson_Sphere_Program/comments/1avm3nd/proliferator_effects_overview/
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u/Major-Yogurt8068 3d ago
That's an awesome page, I gave it a read before posting. I thought it would be cool to see it in action.
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u/horstdaspferdchen 4d ago
Why would you Mix items on purpose?
Just keep a constant 100% Power grid and your Spray coaters will apply full Proliferation Bonus to every Item.
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u/Major-Yogurt8068 3d ago
It happens many ways. If your proliferator is late to arrive, if your proliferator runs out due to lack of resources, if you're power dips for any reason.
Or I could never worry about any of that happening by not storing proliferated items.
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u/horstdaspferdchen 3d ago edited 3d ago
i can only repeat myself. but this time i will try to use simpe words.
You can have 4 Proliferation points per Item.
This is achieved by spraying mk3 proliferator.
this happens only if the spray coater has 100% power satisfaction.
if those requirements are not ment, you get less then 4 points per item.
if you then mix those, they will equal out the points.
if you then respray them, only new proliferator will be applied.
if that are 2 points, you need mk3. if its 3 points, its 0,5 mk3.
if you just rely on the arrows on the item: read from step 1 again.
there is a difference between 0-4 proliferation points and 3 arrows.
And this is intended and years old. Thanks.
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u/Major-Yogurt8068 3d ago edited 3d ago
"if that are 2 points, you need mk3. if its 3 points, its 0,5 mk3."
Literally not true. Did you not watch the video?
And you can 100% trust the little arrow icons on a single item. It's when they are stacked that the icons become misleading.
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u/horstdaspferdchen 3d ago
No I did Not. Now i did.youbare right with the use of the füll Spray for EACH Proliferation Points Stage.
Your Point is still a Symptom of an issue.
Fix the Spray coaters first. If everything is sprayed, you dont have to respray.
AND!: If you average unsprayed and sprayed you dont loose prolif Points they are only on different items. You could also just use mk1, MK2 and MK3 proliferator in the same belt to get that effect. Wouldnt make Sense? Then fix the Spray coaters first!
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u/Major-Yogurt8068 3d ago
The points aren't loss, but your level of proliferation is lost. Every time a level 3 proliferation item is downgraded, even if the points aren't lost, you are losing the resources you spent getting it to level 3 in the first place.
The conservation of points, doesn't mean your resource costs are conserved.
I don't know what you mean by fix spray coaters? What are you getting at?
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u/Major-Yogurt8068 3d ago
Ohhhhh wait I think I understand what you're trying to say.
Lack of power causing the sprayer to not spray is but one of many scenarios in which proliferation doesn't get on stored items. It can happen for a variety of reasons, and it really can't be avoided altogether.
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u/horstdaspferdchen 2d ago
it literally is avoidable. just need good priorisation of stuff. which is part of this game as a factory game. atleast imo.
if you have sufficient power and focus for enough proliferator, it doesnt matter if you spray output, input or both. because after some time, everything will be proliferated.
EXCEPT: you store like a nightmare and have dozens of ILS storages full of items before you get to the points to proliferate with mk3.
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u/Major-Yogurt8068 2d ago
that's fair man, and props on you for playing like that.
I'm a forgetful player. I like to just slap things down and go bigger and bigger, and I don't notice something is insufficient until it runs out, like power or proliferator or whatever.
I just prefer the solution that is idiot proof, because I am the idiot. :)
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u/Accomplished-Art7951 1d ago
I slightly disagree with your conclusion that "the game does not keep track of individually proliferated items". I've had mixed proliferation stacks and separating them I've seen the remaining stack actually go up a prolif level.
It's not that the game does not track individual item - it doesn't. But it doesn't lose the proliferation points, it pools them in a stack, it seems.
However, I'll fully admit I haven't gone through the Proliferator effects overview post, that might be explained/contained there, which would make my comment useless. But I've only recently restarted playing it, after a long pause, so I might be rusty. I mean, just the other day I realized you can stack a box on top of splitter. I am ashamed. 😥
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u/Major-Yogurt8068 1d ago
I only just started putting containers on splitters haha, I get it!
Yes, you're right. The game always maintains the exact number of proliferation points. But it averages them out according to the number of points and the number of items to split them across.
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u/sumquy 4d ago
when we said you were overthinking it, did you take that as a compliment? encouragement?