One of the mechanics in Three Days on Callisto is the "procurement" of various materials useful to your moon-based operations. Many of these items have been "seeded" across the surface of Callisto, either by AIs sent out in advance of humans, or by drone capsules sent from the more established bases on nearby Ganymede. These things are referred to in the game as Procurements. Whenever you send your workers to new craters on the moon they will retrieve a Procurement along the way. The more your workers explore the more they will procure, and the more you'll be able to boost your capabilities as a result.
There are seven types of Procurements your workers may come across on their wanderings.
Lattices are structures that allow large areas within a crater to be "tented", that is sealed off from the extreme low temperatures and pressures on Callisto's surface. Within tented settlements workers are free to move about without the need for cumbersome protective suits. By procuring lattices players will make their operations more efficient and comfortable.
Aerogel is a lightweight and semitransparent material whose properties make it valuable in space-based architecture. For one thing it is a great insulator, which is important for protecting habitat interiors from the cold ambient temperatures on the moon. Aerogel is also very impermeable to gases, allowing habitats to maintain a livable atmosphere.
Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator, or "RTG", is the fancy name for the small and portable nuclear power source used in some space-based applications. Naturally solar energy will be an important aspect of any moon based operation. But Callisto is just far enough from the Sun that solar power alone may be inadequate. Since combustion-based fuels are not practical without an oxygen-rich atmosphere, RTGs are the best way to provide supplementary energy, particularly during the 200-hour-long "nights" when your side of the moon happens to face away from the Sun.
Shipping crates are designed to transport the goods you make to your clients in Valhalla City. The goods you produce have a long way to go through the extremely thin, cold atmosphere. And when transported by rocket it is bound to be a rough landing. The last thing you want is for your goods to arrive damaged or spoiled, making shipping crates an essential commodity.
Shipping rockets get your products to Valhalla City much faster than by rover. You clients will pay a premium if you can expedite their orders this way.
Trade orders are a type of procurement your workers make by communicating with partners on the nearby moon of Ganymede. Why build your own factory to fulfill a small client demand when there is excess supply that can be imported?
Trade drones are how the orders you request from Ganymede are delivered. But the options are limited as to where these drones arrive. Which means your workers will sometimes need to head to the more remote craters of Callisto to retrieve them.
Acquire specific sets of Procurements in the game and you can parlay them into boosts in your economy. By being strategic with which craters to send your workers you can accelerate these boosts and get an edge over other players. The main way to develop your "engine" in the game, however, comes from what your workers do after they've arrived in a crater. More on that in another post.
Comments