Starting Out

[SolSystem]

Questions and Discussions regarding our Expedition to the rogue planet. 

Starting on the rogue planet 
Are we getting dumped off on a shuttle in hard-suits?  
Are we landing in a bare-bones pre-fabricated outpost
Are we developing a vague plan of the outpost expansion before the Expedition or during? 
Are we going to be getting orbital data on the layout of the landing site? (To get an understanding on how we might proceed to build the outpost)
Do we get to pick what equipment / resources we are provided with before we launch? (Powercells, Oxygen Tanks, Portable Generators... etc) 

I feel that the initial planning phase is absolutely crucial to the long-term success of this project. We could, quite simply, build ourselves out of money. In terms of lore, it wouldn't be wise for a young start-up company to go in blind without some semblance of a plan. 

Null, are we going to be doing absolutely everything in-game or will we be utilizing the forums for some initial phases? 

[Nullbear]

This is a great thread.

The rogue planet, As you'll eventually discover, Is in SEVERAL pieces following a collision of some sort. You'll be starting out on a prefabricated, slightly less than bare-bones, outpost, with a medium-large shuttle packed with most of the gear you will need for the first "6 months"

You'll probably screw yourselves over, and it'll only last 2 months. But 15 10 minutes away, is an automated station where you can get new supplies, and pretty cheap, too. The downfall of this is that it means about 20 minutes between cargo/passenger trips, So whoever's manning logistics has got to think ahead, and try to stuff as much as they can on the shuttle for each trip. That means bringing goods to sell on the shuttle TO the station, And the goods you want back.

The cloning/life insurance place is on that station, So you'll also need to be going there to grab crewmembers once they die. Thankfully, crewmembers themselves are responsible for shit they lose, so they need to pay for it themselves.

I'll start a thread when i'm further along, such as when i have an idea for the machinery and turfs you'll be able to work with, for people to brainstorm the plans of the beginning outpost. As for expansions, they can be handled on the forums unofficially, or when the server starts.

You will get 'orbital data' on the landing site. But only to the extent of the nearest "chunks" within 2 minutes ftl (There will be many.), their estimated size and composition, etc. When you arrive, the 'energy signature' will be too massive and broad for you to tell which chunk its actually coming from. I dont expect it to be found in the first several months.

Eventually i'll post a map, er... the 'orbital data' of the region, and the chunks, on the wiki.

You can discuss what equipment you want to bring, but a lot of it I'll probably decide on. You can also decide what each of your characters is bringing in his personal locker to an extent. There will be vending machines for tools and whatnot, but they'll need to be restocked every now and then.

The initial phases, or "The expedition" Will be for the most part, on the forums.

Now, because with the speed mining currently goes at, I can easily see the server running out of natural mineral sources in the first dozen rounds, So i'll be increasing the mineral output, and slowing down the actual mining process a bit. As well as making the chunks about four times larger than the asteroid you're all used to. As the rounds go on, I'll eventually be getting rid of nearly/depleted chunks during events, and adding new ones. There will probably be around 10 z-levels worth of chunks, one for the station, one for 'transit' and unreachable areas.

Planning on equipment to bring and outpost layout this early wouldn't be suggested because well, equipment hasnt been designed yet.

[kart]

Do we get basic science equipment, to get all the new departments started?
Or do we have to buy/build those first?

[Nullbear]

You'll likely have the basic equipment, and possibly some advanced things. Not sure what that will include yet, though