My suggestion does not add fuel, but as a result of this idea fuel could perhaps be included to be a tradeable/transportable/storable/perishable item like food maybe.
I propose we intruduce a mixer machine of sorts. Or a sort of space carburetor, that can be configured to either output energy, thrust or both.
This device/machine would be able to combine raw or refined resources like a factory to produce the desired output. As with a factory, this would require a recipe based system to acheive the desired output.
The output would be what we then use as power or thrust.
This ideas is not limited to a fuel/energy scenario.
You could use it to produce rare items that require special kinds of refinement that then degrade like a decaying derelict station. Perhaps without a special kind of containment. Kind of like the difference between storing gasoline/petrol in a can as apposed to a bucket. In a can it lasts longer than in a bucket where it slowly evaporates.
All these mechanics already exist in the game in different forms.
I'm just suggesting using them in a different way.
Naturally, I would want to have logic/storage connectivity and controls similar to the factories.
If need be, why don't we just use the existing refinery and add fuel, power or thrust as an output.
This would then expend the resource with no return apart from the energy derived.
The mechanics in the game could be the output is determined by some sort of containment+reactor module slaved to the refinery. Or the refinery slaved to the modules. Maybe in this slaving example replace reactor with auxiliary reactor for the power on/off control and instability.
How say you all? ;-)
I propose we intruduce a mixer machine of sorts. Or a sort of space carburetor, that can be configured to either output energy, thrust or both.
This device/machine would be able to combine raw or refined resources like a factory to produce the desired output. As with a factory, this would require a recipe based system to acheive the desired output.
The output would be what we then use as power or thrust.
This ideas is not limited to a fuel/energy scenario.
You could use it to produce rare items that require special kinds of refinement that then degrade like a decaying derelict station. Perhaps without a special kind of containment. Kind of like the difference between storing gasoline/petrol in a can as apposed to a bucket. In a can it lasts longer than in a bucket where it slowly evaporates.
All these mechanics already exist in the game in different forms.
I'm just suggesting using them in a different way.
Naturally, I would want to have logic/storage connectivity and controls similar to the factories.
If need be, why don't we just use the existing refinery and add fuel, power or thrust as an output.
This would then expend the resource with no return apart from the energy derived.
The mechanics in the game could be the output is determined by some sort of containment+reactor module slaved to the refinery. Or the refinery slaved to the modules. Maybe in this slaving example replace reactor with auxiliary reactor for the power on/off control and instability.
How say you all? ;-)