Mixed loose cargo solution proposal
I've seen the Mixed loose (ore) cargo in the roadmap and I think I have a solution that doesnt require new heavy-to-implement mechanics and that is legacy-safe.
In the Update 4 version of the game:
1. Some inventories support mixed cargo (excavators, trucks, ore sorters)
2. Belts have no problem transporting manually mixed (via balancers and connectors) cargo and there is no problem to unsort loose cargo with belt sorters
My proposal
1. Allow all loose storage inventories (storage buildings, train cars, etc) to have mixed cargo
1.b. Loose storages, logistic zones, trains, etc., would need a blacklist/whitlist settings on what could be delivered there
2. If Belt/Inventory A wants to take cargo from mixed Inventory B it takes random cargo N times, where N is wanted quantity
3. Increase size, running and build costs of loose belt sorters (rename to modulare separators? (MS further)). Add multiple tiers. All while keeping Ore sorting plants T1 and T2 in the game
Ideas on how to balance this
1. Existing Ore sorters: leave them as they are. They will function as cheap, easy to setup facilities but with no belt inputs
2. Different tiers of MS may have different sizes and processing speed. Also they can have probabilistic approach to sorting: i.e. 80% is filtered, 20% stays in the mix
I personaly would go for modular "T" design that outputs one ore to the side and mix go futher straight with following tiers:
T0 ("free" lab research) -- "Mixed loose cargo", allows every storage to handle mixed cargo
T1 (white lab research, white construction) -- "Modular separators", ulocks first slow separators (half of T1 belt speed? One T1 belt speed?)
T2 (yellow lab research, yellow c.) -- "Fast separators", upgradable from T1 MS, same size better speed (lets say for T2 belts)
T3 (yellow lab, red c.) -- "Large scale separators", bigger separators but have 3-4 mixed inputs and 3-4 outputs with 2-3 filtered outputs on the filtered size
T4 -- "small scale", current sorter in the game
Comments: 2
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31 Mar
Rolling StenHighlighted comment
It is not that easy, as simply allowing mixed cargo on storage would result in said storage to release it "sorted" on belts (like it will send first all coal, then all stone, then all dirt) and you can use normal sorters to sort it out, not requiring sorting station at all.
But wanted sollution would force mixed materials onto output belt (so it would look more like sushi belt), but somehow marked as unsorted and thus not sortable by sorters and not usable in buildings - only in ore sorters. Likewise trucks would be forced to pick it up unsorted too.
It could be done by having like 2 different items for each ore, like coal and coal (unsorted) and only means to convert unsorted to sorted would be through sorting station. Then it would need mechanism to force mixed ores onto belts (proportionally to mix in storage) and also trucks (and trains) would be forced to see all unsorted as whole and transport them as such. -
09 Apr
VincasStill need a demand balancing mechanism that would allow central sorting hub to prefer the input that contains required unsorted input.
Similar to how trucks cant not unload all just coal to the brim if sand is also the input, leaves some room for the sand trucks.
Otherwise the sorter would just sort everything evenly and unsorted raw material will not get sorted in demanded ratio and jazz music stops.