The power banks have revolutionized the way i build bases, not the bionics

[speckle21]

After playing it for thousands of cycles now i find to my surprise the POWER BANKS are what has radically changed my strategies rather than the bionics. The bionics are just dupes with different requirements. But the power banks have actually changed the game mechanics.

First the early game i rarely build manual generators. I might get one for early start, but then i beeline for uranium ore and build uranium power banks to sustain the base. I supplement the power with a SPOM or even a hydra. Then i have the breathing room for mid game power like saturn hydrogen farm or geyser/volcano taming. I can get super sustainable achievement relatively easily.

Before i had to snake wires all across my base to power remote machinery. But now i rig up a power bank discharger at the other end. Once my task is done i can dismantle the whole setup or take my time snaking in proper wiring in the midgame.

SPACE MISSIONS have been completely changed. I used to build battery modules, solar panels, and even manual generators inside the space vessel. I also had to carry glass so i could build solar panels at the destination planet for extended stays. Now i don't bother with any of that. I just rig up a power bank discharger and carry a ton of fully charged eco power banks, Its made rocket design a bit easier because i don't need solar/battery modules on them. I can use that rocket height for other things. Seriously the power banks might be too good in that they render obsolete some parts of the rocket design. But I love them!

The bionic dupes are fun, and i love their animations and behavior. They're so adorable, especially when they play with the soda fountain, they don't drink it, they just play with it, its so cute! They're nice flavoring for the game. But it's the power banks that have actually changed the game. The power banks have actually made me change my strategies and approaches.

On that note the QoL update that had the bottle drainer and bottle fillers also notably changed the game for me. Before i had to insert liquid into pipes using pumps, but the bottle drainer made it so much easier and different. Like for the oxygen electrolyzer. My early game setup has it connected to a bottle drainer and i can now source water from all over the map with a pitcher pump. Moving gases has also been revolutionized. I can now set up atmosuit docks and rooms in akward places without needing to snake gas piping that far by just delivering bottled gas instead.

My favorite thing is a natural gas bottle for my dupe kitchen. It brings back memories of me and my family cooking with a propane tank in our kitchen. I miss them.

 

Anyway, i write this post because i want to emphasize to Klei these little mechanic upgrades or device improvements are truly game changing. The bionic dupes are wonderful and flavorful, and definitely keep doing them. But also consider upgrades like the power banks and the bottle fillers/drainers. They really change the game and add new layers of play.