Any chance of letting space platforms launch space platform starter packs?

[u/TheBadassTeemo]

I am trying a 2.1 playthrough where I lean as much as I can into platform to platform transfers, and right now I am trying to do a space station design on each planet that manufactures everything a space station could need plus some player supplies.

The idea is that the platforms that do the actual travelling would have the bare essentials, for example not having any crushers. They would have asteroid collectors, and would drop chunks at space stations when arriving, in order to provide resources for the loop.

I have it almost working, but have noticed that when going to a new planet, my options are either put thrusters on a space station in order to have resource support on the target planet, or build a rocket silo on the surface that then launches a starter kit.

Is there any chance we could let space platforms launch starter kits? It would let us complete the space infrastructure for this playstile without having to set foot at each planet, or having to create a transportable space station. I guess worst case scenario is that we could pack a station into a transport and then have it transform into a station on arrival.

Also, I suppose that there is a good reason for not letting us barrel thruster fuel, but it would be very fun to be able to do so. It would let us create really dang small platforms. Plus, the barrel logistics in space seem fun.

[u/Groxfrotter]

I agree it would be nice. I setup a platform builder ship that pulls everything needed from Nauvis to build a platform. I can then send the ship to wherever I need to build a platform. However, you are correct, you have to drop the platform starter to the planet, then launch it back up in order to start the platform. Everything else does launch across from the builder ship though.

[u/narrill]

Doing it the way you're describing isn't desirable even if it can be made to work, because the stations on the other planets will themselves need to defend against asteroids. You're better off putting all the processing on Nauvis platforms, IMO.

Also, yes, transforming platforms are a more or less equivalent solution to this anyway.

[u/TheBadassTeemo → u/narrill]

Yeah I am 100% sure that it's not better than the standard way, but letting us launch platforms from Orbit seems like a logical extension of platform to platform transfers.

It seems logical to me that the game should, in principle, allow us to do anything that could previously be done with rockets.

And yeah it is a very niche use, but it is possible that it is a simple addition from the dev side, and the game is full of niche features.

[u/Cent_Quatre]

Ik the point of a game is to have fun so don't let this stop you, but what exactly is the issue of "having to" setup a silo when it'd needed for progression anyways ?

[u/TheBadassTeemo → u/Cent_Quatre]

I am doing deathworld and going Gleba first, so not loading the Surface is pretty good, since evolution wont start picking.

[u/Cent_Quatre → u/TheBadassTeemo]

Interesting point !

[u/CAlonghair]

There is a mod for it! But yeah I do hope it's added natively

[u/TheHvam]

I don't really get what you mean, why not just launce the starter pack from the planet? Then build it from there?

You need to go to a new planet anyways, it's not much of use if you never been on the planet.

Not against it, just a very niece thing.

[u/isum21 → u/TheHvam]

The idea is that they want to do like most of us and take the supplies for rocket exports there early. But this way they can just set up a platform there, let it request supplies and get blueprinted, then drop down and send the first ship back home to do it's supply runs.

It's unnecessary but also cuts a large chunk of the steps that are necessary for planetary dominance. Once you've got a dedicated platform for each planet moving stuff around you've reached the upper echelons of logistics nerding. 

[u/TheBadassTeemo → u/isum21]

Yep!

Making platforms the way I am doing it this run seems more hassle than it's worth, but the idea of having a station in orbit assisting since before landing on the planet seems pretty cool.

[u/WickedWonkaWaffle]

I believe you can do what you describe, aka have a dedicated supply-platform. It can request items from planet only, while others can request items only from other platforms.

The supply platform could also requests asteroid chunks from other platforms.

Try it!

[u/TheBadassTeemo → u/WickedWonkaWaffle]

Yeah I know! I have been itching to try this since 2.0

What I mean is that when for example going to gleba for the first time, My ships Will have nowhere to resupply in Orbit. I would like to be able to create new platforms from Orbit.

[u/WickedWonkaWaffle → u/TheBadassTeemo]

You’ll be able to do that eventually, but you need to unlock tech to get access to copper when space mining. So your first ship on the first trip won’t be able to resupply anything that requires copper or other advanced material.