Topic

Staff Topic

Changes to Machines

We've made some changes to the way machines work:

Good news! You can now craft or use other machines while a machine is going. And the tradeoff? Most machine actions take much longer  (e.g., making a board takes 5 seconds, a girder 30 seconds). But, there's more good news: each Machine "remembers" what each player has to collect from it and will remind you to collect every time you come close AND others can use the machine while its still waiting for you to collect from it.

Note: Machines never "forget" what its owner has collect (owner = player whose street the machine is on) but they do "forget" the things made by non-owners if they haven't picked it up in 6 game days, or if the owner disassembles the machine (the owner gets a warning if there's other players' stuff in it).

Oh, and there is also more good news: machine Fuel capacity is now 200 (up from 100) and making Urth Blocks and Fuel Cells no longer takes energy (it used to take 5 and 2, respectively).

Posted 5 months ago by Mart Lume Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

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  • I want to Thank and Congratulate Mart for a terrific job with this!  Yesterday I had the Fuel maker, Woodworker ans Metal machine all going at the same time and was able to fill all of them with maximum fuel.  It was wonderful!  For me, this may be the best update ever!
    www.glitch.com/snaps/PCRE2V...
    Posted 5 months ago by Brib Annie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I like this update.  I can have all the machines running and still run around and do 'all the things'!
    Posted 5 months ago by Stormy Weather Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Stoot, you made my day with that response. I laughed out loud at work and my officemate gave me the stinkeye, but it was so worth it.

    Personally, I love the change. I don't care that it takes longer, now that I can DO something else. (And man, my woodworker is getting a LOT of use these last few days...)
    Posted 5 months ago by Aliera Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This is brilliant!
    Posted 5 months ago by The Sunset Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This is one of my favoreite changes...ever. I don't know how many times I've tried to grind or something while making boards and forgot that I can't and ended up dropping the tool. lol
    Posted 5 months ago by Evelynddra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Wait - I can use multiple machines at once?    This is awesome.   nay-sayers begone!
    Posted 5 months ago by WalruZ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The message you get when your stuff is ready just says you should go pick it up before it disappears. I think it should also tell you where it is, with the same kinda link as the message you get when you change streets.
    Posted 5 months ago by Palindrome Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I've got a Fuel Maker and Metal Machine all humming along at the same time AND I'm gassifying gas into other gas.  Alph is very, very pleased with this update, I am certain of it. :)
    Posted 5 months ago by Grem Sketch Subscriber! | Permalink
  • making urth blocks takes ages now...still waiting with nothing else to do on this street : (
    Posted 5 months ago by ~Arabesque~ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • You can leave the street.
    Posted 5 months ago by Palindrome Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Although it is not for everyone, I keep my machines in my house and start them whenever I am leaving the house to go somewhere else.  
    Posted 5 months ago by WalruZ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm following a route Pal, don't want to be jumping back and forth.  I did start the block making first thing as I entered and it just went on for what seemed like forever : (

    @WalruZ I do too for the most part but always used machines on the routes if I'd gathered enough supplies at that point to make a full batch.  From now on I'll just follow your lead and leave them running at home.  Not efficient for me to make them on the go.
    Posted 5 months ago by ~Arabesque~ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Idea suggestion for devs for this upgrade: Some off us have purchased the upgrade cards allowing us to make greater quantities of craftable items in one go.  A nice touch would be that making 20 blocks or beams would take the same time as making 10.  We've been rewarded with a neat quantity upgrade so don't penalize us with the time it takes : )
    Posted 5 months ago by ~Arabesque~ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I think it's (more than) fine as it is. 

    A massive productivity boost.
    Posted 5 months ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Have an army of machines!
    Posted 5 months ago by shhexy corin Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Or even better if we could have an insta-block option.  Get your blocks immediately at a price of double the energy! I'd pay up straight away - the higher your tower the more you need of everything and I thought feeding sloths was the most monotonous thing in game, until I realised I had to make another 160 urth blocks :? (I'm also learning to loathe digging for earth :)

    Edit: forgot to say that it is wonderful now that we can do other things whilst the machines are working : )  
    Posted 5 months ago by ~Arabesque~ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Great changes!  Thanks!
    Posted 5 months ago by ArtOfHands RoboGirl Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Oh with this great upgrade, could CRAFTYBOT be far behind (hint hint). Think it would be an awesome time for him to make his appearance :)
    Posted 5 months ago by 2020smoke Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Hmm, good point 2020smoke...forgot about that craftybot...yea...that would be about pUUURRRRRRRfect right now (said in the style of the "Ur"tha Kitt catwoman)
    Posted 5 months ago by Uniquely Prime Subscriber! | Permalink
  • This multitasking stuff is too tricksy for me! I keep forgetting what I am supposed to be doing and wind up falling asleep.
    Posted 5 months ago by Miss Bobbit Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Zira, I have to disagree with this.. " Asking for fast machines is like asking for one click mining or chicken squeezing!" I am only asking TS to consider an upgrade for faster operation of a machine - for which I am willing to pay dearly.   There are upgrades too numerous to mention that have already been added which speed up one kind of activity or another.  Some I buy some I don't.  I would just like to have the option.
    Posted 5 months ago by Joni Mitchell Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Yes, even VERY expensive upgrade cards to improve the length of time it takes to machine items would be greatly appreciated. This update has been terrific otherwise.
    Posted 5 months ago by foolbunny Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Awesome update, now I can consider setting up multiple of the same machines (I'm looking at you Woodworker) so that I can make more things at once.  I'd love to see TS remove the free fuel from constructing machines, as is I think it has a very negative impact on fuel cell values and makes them entirely optional.

    As for people angry about the extended craft time.  I would recommend obviously doing manual crafting while the machines run or personally I've always taken the time to use up my Quoin zone upgrade cards.  I think there's plenty of small things you could do while running the machines and if it really bothers you enough, just invest in more machines and work in bigger batches.
    Posted 5 months ago by Chee42 Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Fuel cells pop up from herb gardens too, which will also depress the price. I think it's good that the Fuelmaker, at least, comes with some fuel to start with. I also don't see the harm in some free fuel (50/200 doesn't seem excessive).
    Posted 5 months ago by Janitch Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I like being able to run more than one machine at once, but thumbs down to the fact that it takes longer. This gives me less incentive to use other people's machines on their streets, because in most cases I run out of things to do on that street before the machine is done. 

    I don't want to have to keep track of whose streets I have items "waiting in machines" on. This is backtracking, and I likely won't get back in time. With this new method I'll likely just be using my own machines in my house, which sadly goes against the cooperative spirit of shared machines on home streets. 

    Please consider making the machines faster again, or giving upgrade cards that will speed them up. Or maybe only make production speedier if we're using a machine outside our home street, thus a perk for doing so?
    Posted 5 months ago by Lynnt Subscriber! | Permalink
  • my machines wont make curly fries any more, what do?
    Posted 5 months ago by ☣ elf ☣ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • There is already a way too purchase essentially instant machine completion -- buy multiple machines, and machine materials to stock. When your supply of boards / beams / rods etc is getting low, harvest the prior run, and kick the machine off on a fresh batch.

    This way you are never waiting for a batch to finish, but rather your finished batch is always waiting for you to harvesy.

    Yes, this will require a capital investment of 50,000c each for wood and metal machines and the seed material for each.
    Posted 5 months ago by Sturminator i` Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I love the fact we can do other things while our machines are working, but find that they take way to long to get done
    ~it was too long before this change, however now it takes a small eternity to complete the job. =(
    I would like to see the times reduced, plus upgrade cards to make them even faster,
    ...but, I really very much like the fact we can run several machines at the same time! =)
    Posted 5 months ago by ~Scilly~ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Let me put this a different way - don't wait on the machine. Make the machine wait on *you*.
    Posted 5 months ago by Sturminator i` Subscriber! | Permalink
  • regarding Saucelah's suggestion - why does it have to ask what I want to use to refuel the machine with?  it isn't like it will also run on hooch.  you can't click on "refuel" unless you have fuel cells in your inventory & a "how many?" would make much more sense than "(refuel)what? Fuel cell (you have 19)"
    Posted 5 months ago by armi Subscriber! | Permalink
  • wow this is cool! i can make fuel and woodwork at the same time
    Posted 5 months ago by ❧ℜook❧ Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I really like this change.  I'm happy to trade a little extra time so I can run several machines at once and walk away to do other things, which I think gives more production for the time spent.   It might even save me time compared to standing there running the machines one at a time.  
    Posted 5 months ago by Ooola Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I agree with Ooola, I like running multiple machines while cooking and crafting drinks.  Since I can run down to the back yard gardens while the machines in the attic run, I don't feel like I'm wasting time at all.
    Posted 5 months ago by KhaKhonsu Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Shameless plug

    Don't want to fill up your place with machines for multitasking?

    Stop by my tower! 42 machines for public use. I often refuel them too!

    These changes are perfect for my tower business, please don't change anything!
    Posted 5 months ago by UrgleBurger Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Urgle, do you promise not to disassemble the machines?

    If so, fellow Glitchen can follow my strategy of starting the batch and just leaving it in the machine until needed, making for *zero* wait.
    Posted 5 months ago by Sturminator i` Subscriber! | Permalink
  • And now, I can make tons of stuff at the same time.
    Four woodworkers at once, here I come!
    Posted 5 months ago by Xial Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Thank you!  No more time twiddling my thumbs waiting for machines to finish so I can start making foods for my beloved pet chickens and piggy! They deserve only the best, you know.  And besides, grain gives Herman (my piggy) the most terrible gas.  Or is it the face smelters?

    However...  This could end up really bad.  I am not the best at multitasking.  I can see it now: my chickens end up caught in my fuelmaker and my piggy goes into the microwave.  Aah well.
    Posted 5 months ago by whimpypotato Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Machines are never moved or disassembled! Drop off your stuff and come back later to pick it up!
    Posted 5 months ago by UrgleBurger Subscriber! | Permalink
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