Resource deficits and you

[WiZz]

Hello everyone.

Let’s talk about resource deficits. While I’m not against such gameplay mechanics it could be extremely annoying sometimes. It’s annoying because game doesn’t provide any really useful tool to prevent and fix it.
Small example. I haven’t… let’s say polymer. Most people (me too) starts noticing the issue only when all ship production literally stops. This is a bad thing. Especially, when you’re at war. How to fix it manually? It’s a tedious work.
1. Check what types of planets could have polymer (thanks for the tooltip in the resource description!).
2. Look at your closest space for this type of planet. This is the most boring part – click all 10-20 systems, check planet types (planet list from DW1 where are you???).
3. Pick explorer ship(s) and send them manually to explore desired planets ASAP.
4. Hope that needed resource will be founded (if no, you’re greatly f….d up).
5. Hope that miner ships will start mining immediately (no issue here mostly) or build mine base.
Leave everything to automation DOESN’T work at all. Theoretically it could be fixed in a few decades of ingame time. But imagine what will happen with your empire if you won’t be able to build ships a few decades.
Hoping for some trade with neutrals or other empires DOESN’T work at all too.
How could it be fixed? Well, as I said deficit itself is a fine thing it provides some additional challenge (for me at least). So I want it to be present. But some adjustments needed I think.
1. Easiest way. Make sure that galaxy generation put all needed resources near your first colony. Boring.
2. Harder way. Add warnings for resource shortages (only normal, not luxury). In resource menu add function to check all POSSIBLE locations for a resource (now only known). Ideally add command for explorer ship to check for a needed resource on a specific type of planet.

[baldamundo]

There is the third tab in the Resources screen which gives you a list of possible locations for mining stations and is automatically filtered to highlight ones where you have a shortage. Doesn't solve the problem though, you're right, and more warnings would be helpful (other parts of the game would benefit from this too - e.g. afaik you get no warning when a planet's unhappiness tips over into revolt. either you need to set the AI to manage tax rates, or you need to babysit it to make sure it never tips too low since there's no warning before an uprising).

Better options for encouraging trade would be good too. What if you could have import orders for specific resources? Or if you could offer to raise prices/lower tariffs to encourage imports of a specific good. Albeit that might not be simple to implement.

Although I have to say, my games so far I'm yet to have any real resource shortages. But what's really confused me: every game, I've had my Resources screen display a MASSIVE caslon deficit FOR THE ENTIRE GAME. And yet I've never once run out, or even noticed a spaceport or mining station was running low when I needed to refuel. Does anyone know what that's about? I'm guessing it's massively overestimating the consumption rate of my ships?

[PvtNumnutz]

Another useful overlay to help with Rss shortages, if you zoom out all the way to the galactic view, go to the mining tab and find the resource that you need, any planets with this resource will be highlighted with an orange circle to make it easier to send construction ships. Doesn't solve all the problems you listed here but it's a great and handy tool for getting ahead of a shortage before it's a crippling problem.

Part of this just comes down to experience, as you play you'll learn what rss are critical for shipbuilding.

[WiZz]

But what's really confused me: every game, I've had my Resources screen display a MASSIVE caslon deficit FOR THE ENTIRE GAME. And yet I've never once run out, or even noticed a spaceport or mining station was running low when I needed to refuel. Does anyone know what that's about? I'm guessing it's massively overestimating the consumption rate of my ships?

That's because freighters are too slow to transport caslon to your bases.

Another useful overlay to help with Rss shortages, if you zoom out all the way to the galactic view, go to the mining tab and find the resource that you need, any planets with this resource will be highlighted with an orange circle to make it easier to send construction ships. Doesn't solve all the problems you listed here but it's a great and handy tool for getting ahead of a shortage before it's a crippling problem.

Part of this just comes down to experience, as you play you'll learn what rss are critical for shipbuilding.

Resource overlay works weird. I see resource has 1 known location but when I click it shows nothing. Okay, from my experience I know that it's independent colony counts as 'known location'.
Also I'm talking from POV of new player, it can be very disastrous for noobs. I'm experienced player of DW1 so these shortages aren't very big surprise but DW1 also lacks tools to address them.

[Emperor0Akim]

I think, when you build a mining station at the ressource it moves from ressource location menu to mining location menu
this switch might be the same that makes it no longer a "known source"

[baldamundo]

But what's really confused me: every game, I've had my Resources screen display a MASSIVE caslon deficit FOR THE ENTIRE GAME. And yet I've never once run out, or even noticed a spaceport or mining station was running low when I needed to refuel. Does anyone know what that's about? I'm guessing it's massively overestimating the consumption rate of my ships?

That's because freighters are too slow to transport caslon to your bases.

But why does that mean it shows a deficit but I never run out?

[WiZz]

I think it doesn't count resource income from mining stations but counts income on spaceports.