IT'S A SCRAP! The "New" Economy in X4 Tides of Avarice - Captain Collins

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[@CaptainCollins]

For more video about Tides of Avarice, check this playlist: bit.ly/TidesOfAvarice Btw, check out Space Operations Delta merch: bit.ly/CaptainCollinsMerch

[@Silveressa]

Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to make these videos, you do a fantastic job of explaining some of the less clear features and cool things in X4 and showing off the cool stuff for the DLC.

[@rightsideup6304]

I like how this will give you a reason to declare war or raid the xenon in a pinch. That, or you can start simulating the military industrial complex by having two factions declare war, making a shipyard/wharf in each faction’s territory, and literally towing the wrecks of ships YOU MADE back to a scrap processor so that they can be made into ships which you will sell again!

[@crimson5664]

Interesting approach from Egosoft. They are trying something new I hope they will manage.

[@CaptainCollins]

Same here.

[@TinkyTheCat]

The Terran recycler is pretty beneficial for shoring up their economy, given the constant shortages of Computronic Substrate, plus the abundance of solar energy in Mercury and Venus. The commonwealth version seems much less useful outside Avarice itself. I think they should add a pirate / scrap shipyard blueprint, that builds ships using only recycled materials, like the station in Avarice, but can only be used for certain blueprints (i.e. only pirate / scrap economy ships).

[@TinkyTheCat]

So, for anyone interested, it looks like there is a new build preference in global orders called "Closed Loop" which basically does what I described - most Argon blueprints can now be constructed with only energy cells, hull parts and claytronics for your scrap shipyards.

[@davidkaye8712]

Wow that build plan would kill all lesser PC's, so building a processing plant in normal space is off the table for most people.

[@TENGILL]

And even if it was not, would the cost of building it be worth what you get out of it?

[@SphinxOfBlackQuartz]

Thanks as ever for your excellent and informative videos. I'm planning on getting back into X4 when Tides of Avarice drops, and I can hardly wait!

[@AEsir2023]

So depending on how hard it is to get blueprints for the recycler I m having images of building a “junk yard” fleet attach the recycler to a wharf or shipyard and print ships

[@dusk1947]

Thanks for the daily highlights of features. It's been a good way to become familiar with specific features, prior to playing it.

[@kelw5787]

this probably will make battles a lot more worthwhile, being able to convert the spoils of war into credits

[@CaptainCollins]

I am only concerned, that the wreckages and loot are despawning way too fast to get nice profits.

[@edgoogle9297]

X4 need some late game war element, once you got a functional shipyard working money and resources is no longer an issue. Would be good to have some where to use them.

[@Wayne-fe1ed]

Hi there, learn alot from you vids. at 3:10 into the video you meantion dismantling stations or larger ships with your toita, what's a toita?

[@andreas1337able]

I already know where I will setup such a station. At the gate in Hatikvah's Choice I to Cascade XV. In all my games the Xenon keep going through there. So there will be a lot of scraps for sure :) Just going to build me a defense platform and the needed ships. Gonna be rich in no time :P

[@TENGILL]

But will the cost of the station be to high? If that station he showed at the end of the video is what you need in a "normal" system, i think it just wont be worth the cost.

[@Aotearas]

@@TENGILL Set up energy production in the Super Sun sector and have a couple traders on Repeat Orders to ship Energy Cells to the station and violá.

[@Cheeseitnow]

I really hope now that the universe is fleshed out they start to focus more on smaller content packs rather then large DLCs. Ship packs, random events. DIPLOMACY! for the love of god! even if the diplomacy is a simply pay x amount of money to stop a war.

[@TENGILL]

Or more important, late game optimization and the removal of the stupid star system for the captains.

[@Cheeseitnow]

@@TENGILL why not both

[@AwesomeJedi182]

And maybe also more randomly generated planets , like only 4-5 maybe but they are all unique , maybe one is filled with asteroids, one has nebula as a hazard/other event, or a star system where we are INSIDE the planets rings

[@xzaratulx]

Holy c***, that's a lot of energy

[@Valisea]

Where the circle of life begins and ends for the forever wars I instigate with a mod lol

[@Osmone_Everony]

One more important information: The scrap oven is locked until all raw scrap is converted. Conversion time is 9000 units of scrap per hour. So it's utterly useless to have multiple Mantikors for a station with just one scrap oven. BTW I use the term "scrap oven" because I find the terms "scrap processor" and "recycling module" confusing. After all a recycling module also processes scrap.

[@Osmone_Everony]

@Dethyl In German it's "Rohschrott" for "scrap" and "Schrott" for "scrap metal". Is this any less confusing now? I don't think so. 😅 Why not simply go with "scrap oven" instead of "scrap processor"? With "scrap oven" everyone has the right picture immediately without misunderstandings.

[@Osmone_Everony]

@Dethyl My point is not these two words per se but the scrap processor. As I said the recycler processes scrap too. That's why I prefer the term "scrap oven" for the scrap processor but I have explained this already. I do also know that "scrap oven" is not the official term! Do you think I'm that stupid? Please stop it. Other people know what I'm talking about when I say "scrap oven". So wtf is your problem?! Just leave me alone. 🙄

[@Aotearas]

My Butlerian Jihad to liberate ZYA space will get financed by this new economy. I just hope the upcoming 200% sunlight buff in Heart of Acrimony II will be enough to provide enough Energy Cells or if the 1390% sunlight sector is going to be the only reliable energy provider aside from going mental with energy production modules.

[@daweiisgood2392]

Well in the future I can see a scrap emperium take form on my computer - at some point. Let junk become a treasure trunk.

[@conradolacerda]

So... converting energy into resources... I guess crypto mining stations did come to the X universe! lol

[@B.D.E.]

If only crypto was a resource and not a token.

[@Shinarock]

how much workforce the new scrap economy buildings require?

[@Maethendias]

if the energy requirements werent so absurd the scrap mechanic could have been a great pegleg for zya economy

[@CaptainCollins]

True. Outside of Avarice it's hard to maintain the need.

[@TheAngriestGamer.]

can we get a copy of the build plan for this station?

[@AceShinkenGames]

Well i did crazy and filled the whole max sized box just for a gigantic solar farm station.... Now its gotta redesign into a scrap facility..... Lets just hope that scrap keeps coming.... Maybe start some war somewhere😇

[@TENGILL]

Given how large you need to build a station as one of the old faction, is the cost of the station worth it? Will the output make up for the investment or is this new mechanic only useful for the new faction?

[@rex_grey0813]

Sounds like having separated scrap processors and recyclers won't make a lot if sense, unless you have L miners to spare for logistics.

[@ubernagash]

I build one with 21 solor panals and it just meets the needs :)

[@stephenbeeson1521]

Salvage is not worth it. You are constantly replacing Manticores as they will fly to Khaak stations and active battle zones. They have almost no hull/shields so they die instantly.

[@mikelibby990]

it's slow to get started but once you get a facility set up in windfall and your own energy plant you will be making enough recourses to build any station you want for 0 cost

[@MarcusCoker1]

what exactly do you do with scrape cubes the station don't seem to take em

[@CaptainCollins]

Does it have solid storage?

[@MarcusCoker1]

@@CaptainCollins ill check

[@biorgoanylchem]

I wish they can UI more friendly, it looks too cluttery. Everything else is great for low, hopefully we’ll get more content.

[@floundericiouswa5694]

Sweet. Thanks capn 🫡

[@silverlightsun]

Wow, so much for my plans. This is going to be difficult. I didnt expect them to run on different resources. Integrating them into my Split Empire will be challenging. Well, release the game! xD

[@K162KingPin]

You don't mention anything about where to get all of these new parts. Neither the ships nor the production module blueprints are available at the local argon or ANT headquarters or warfs. You say the name of at least one system with natural scrap but don't say or show where it is. I can't seem to find it either. Is this all only available in a certain game mode?

[@jeppehansen16]

How much of the DLC is playable in the beta? Cant decide if i should start playing now or wait untill release day

[@anth0am]

The open beta does not include the DLC, you can only have access to the scrap modules and the Manticore

[@Osmone_Everony]

The Mantikor and all the new station modules for the recycling economy are part of the beta. Everything else is NOT. So you can already build your recycling station and have it up and running with a Mantikor collecting S- and M-class ship wrecks.

[@jeppehansen16]

@@Osmone_Everony Okay thanks :)

[@xezqeznunya6671]

How long for a return on investment for that massive energy cell factory you had built?

[@Scheldon]

That was interesting. When we will receive something more about how to protect our ships and stations from the "burn wave"? Btw. Terrans are able to scrap ships etc. too? If yes are they receiving something useful for them or it is still hull and clay? Thank you for your work.

[@CaptainCollins]

Whenever I know how 😉

[@Scheldon]

@@CaptainCollins Thx for info Captain. I edited my comment and added question about recycling for terrans. If you can check that and give answer I will be gratefull. 😅

[@Osmone_Everony]

The PIO sell a different type of recycling module which produces Computronic Substrate and Silicon Carbide.

[@Mondfischli]

@@Osmone_Everony ...the real fun is that you can have both mounted on one station. This way Terran tech production can be expanded into any sector much easier than before. 😅

[@Scheldon]

Thx for info. It is very interesting and useful information to be honest.

[@amanitamuscaria5863]

Why is he wearing a bulletproof vest?

[@EricLidiak]

Wait, how many solar arrays are on that station?

[@CaptainCollins]

I stopped counting after doubling for a few times 😅 so maybe 2^5? 😂 could be more

[@cmdrgogen3203]

Scrap economy enters the universe... How ironic in these times.

[@ExtraPorkin]

Are Tugs automatable? Or all manual?

[@Mondfischli]

...any station with a scrap processor mounted will ask for tug ships as it would for miners. And then they start auto- searching for scrap. Unfortunately this ends in front of a Khaak station too often 🤧

[@ExtraPorkin]

@@Mondfischli Ah, Thanks. Wasn't sure if they would function properly cause from what we have seen it seems like the process is pretty specific on how it is deposited.

[@derpingdead]

solar panels should not work like that smh my head lol

[@AwesomeJedi182]

Well this was certainly a .... Scrappy video

[@reggie368]

Captain Recycler ! Yay ! :D

[@cheerkin]

Isn't the final product cheaper than EC spent to produce it? Why doesn't one just sell energy cells and buy that claytronics... Classic Egosoft

[@CaptainCollins]

Market saturation... and some sectors are prefered to use the scrap economy. You can send all 3 products into the galaxy.

[@cheerkin]

​@@CaptainCollinsYeah, while we can easily mass produce EC at no cost (unlike in previous games), selling becomes a problem. May I ask, is it worth doing scrap thing without buying yet another pay2win DLC (Avarice), like adding some scrapping facilities to xenon gate plug defense stations? How long does it take to tug one small wreck OOS and digest it using minimal set-up (2 fabs and enough *sigh* backing solars)?

[@CaptainCollins]

It is actually a viable option. Like the gate in Hatikvahs Choice is an amazing place for a scrap yard paired woth a defense station. It takes some time to build, but the Xenons are literally providing you with the parts for new ships 😂

[@cheerkin]

@@CaptainCollins Yeah, even if they despawn, their endless steaming always makes gate area super-cluttered with wrecks. Thanks, I'll try it! Mostly for idea of assimilating xenons into a new true form rather than profits.

[@Osmone_Everony]

FYI: There's a reason why the scrap oven is at the end of a long arm. A Mantikor needs space to maneuver the scrap into the oven. So having a big structure mounted right next to it, as can be seen at 0:54, is a bad idea. However, Egosoft implemented mounting points right at the oven filling piece. Idk what they were thinking. The next thing they know is how people complain about the "crappy AI" but in this case it's the user's own fault.

[@bulletstop100]

Dude, I will be making creditssssssss very soon, well I just bought it..

[@Flotsam7jetsam]

Wow! Not sure I want to buy Tides to botch the current game I'm really enjoying.

[@michaeldodd6181]

This is very underwhelming. I had hoped scrap would of been actual salvage. Finding ships, taking them apart, maybe find components, special items or caches, have them be another actual career path. No, this is just another step in the Hull Parts production path.

[@chrisolsen5280]

Yea, this is what I was after. I wanted Engines, Guns, Sheild Gens and all the other goodies that make up a ship with some variation of quality...Le sigh.

[@chrisolsen5280]

LOL Ok, scrap does NOT work how I thought it did.

[@trlavalley9909]

Is there a setting I'm missing just to turn off scrapping; I just find it clutters the game space with garbage and ruins that beautiful game art which one of my favorite parts of this game. I'ld rather avoid reinstalling without Tides of Avarice if possible there is some other good content in the DLC, but I might have too. Thanks guys.

[@CaptainCollins]

Removing the DLC will not be enough, since it got added to the base game. You will only remove some part of it.

[@trlavalley9909]

@@CaptainCollins Thanks Cap. Been having a good bit of fun last few days, and really appreciate your work, It's made it alot easier to slide back into the commanders chair. Your video on stations was particularly helpful.

[@TwstedTV]

But you're placing solar panels in front of solar panels. How does that solar panel collect solar energy when the panels in front of it is blocking the panel ? Doesn't seem realistic :/

[@CaptainCollins]

But how do you even teleport between ships and what kind of known alien species are the factions referring to? Chill, it's a game ;)

[@danieldpa8484]

Egosoft is so idiotic when it comes to simply manage basic functions of the game - attack, trade, mine, scrap, scout, collect…. I’m struggling to understand who approved the product once it’s released?!?

[@SWATOPR8R1]

Oh you need super large complex station to actually do that.... while the game barely can handle super large complex station without frame rates going down massively. Cool DLC... I skip.

[@Mondfischli]

...scrap your old PC instead 😁

[@SWATOPR8R1]

@@Mondfischli This is not an old PC. The game is older than the PC components initial release date.

[@SWATOPR8R1]

@@Mondfischli This is not an old PC. The game is older than the PCs components. I am not going to scrap a 2 years old PC for a 5 years old game when everything else runs fine. X4 is terribly optimized and every of these kind of DLCs makes the situation even worse by putting much more load on the very few threads of the CPU that the game actually makes use of. 35% GPU utilization at best, 15-20 CPU utilization only but the game runs terrible once you progress far enough to build your own bigger station. Its not a matter of hardware... its a matter of bad coding.

[@magitsu]

Not really if you build it in Avarice 1360% or close enough to Mercury 680% solar boosts. Bright Promise (and Heart of Acrimony II, but it's too remote) is 200% but that's only "half off". It ends up being far smaller than a normal shipyard. The Terran version is useful for getting those resources farther away from their space. But it probably is a more of a gimmick outside of the Avarice system. Though I guess it needs to be, if it could replace the normal production chains easily then it would do disservice to the game.

[@SWATOPR8R1]

@@magitsu sure but if conflicts and therefore wrecks are "generated" elsewhere this whole design is useless unless you build big