[DEVBLOG#331] Vanilla Factions Expanded - Ultratech: Ultracomputer (Patreon)

Hello there!

I bring forth a brand new development blog - this time related to the Ultracomputer!

Before we begin, you can see the previous devblogs here!

1. Introduction

2. Research

3. Netcasting

4. UltraWatt network

5. Smart weapons

In your colony, there usually comes a point where your best researcher spends every day at the same bench, working through increasingly expensive research projects - especially in heavily modded runs. I wanted the jump to ultratech to change what you build as well as what you can research. What if you could give that work to a computer, then spend your time figuring out how to power and maintain it?

That’s the idea behind the ultracomputer. What starts with a single ultracomputer mainframe quickly becomes a massive ultracomputer data center.

The ultracomputer mainframe

Replication unlocks the 5 × 5 mainframe. It takes an AI persona core to build and runs on your UltraWatt network. Select a project in the research tab and the mainframe adds research points to it every in-game hour, freeing your colonists to do other work. A fresh mainframe generates a base 500 research points per day and draws 5 UltraWatts per day.

It can help finish projects you already have on the go. Some of the more advanced projects at the ultra-tech research bench also require the bench to be linked to a working mainframe - a little bit like the multi-analyzer. The mainframe itself can work on infinite research, which is where an automated setup really comes into its own.

Building out the server room

Artificial Intelligence research project unlocks five modules that link to a nearby mainframe. Any extra UltraWatt demand is added to the mainframe’s power draw. Each type has a limit per mainframe. Connect the mainframe to netcasting and those limits are lifted, giving you room to scale as far as your floor space, power supply, and maintenance can support.

Ultraprocessor

Each ultraprocessor adds 25 research points to the mainframe’s base daily output and 1 UltraWatt per day to its base power draw. It’s the simplest way to increase throughput. A mainframe can link to ten ultraprocessors before netcasting.

Data nexus

Each data nexus multiplies research output by 1.05 and power draw by 1.10. Those bonuses stack, so a nexus gets more out of a mainframe you’ve already fitted with ultraprocessors. It also adds heat. A mainframe can link to five data nexuses before netcasting.

Liquid cooler

A liquid cooler reduces the heat the mainframe puts into the room. Each cooler can offset the extra heat from one data nexus, and additional coolers can help with the mainframe’s own heat output. A mainframe can link to ten liquid coolers before netcasting.

Memory bank

Each memory bank reduces the amount of new system bloat by 5%, with reductions that stack multiplicatively. That gives the mainframe more time to work between reformats. A mainframe can link to five memory banks before netcasting.

Debloater

A debloater comes into play when you run a reformat. Each one increases the rate at which the mainframe clears bloat by 5%, and the bonuses multiply as you add more. A mainframe can link to four debloaters before netcasting.

System bloat and reformatting

As the ultracomputer processes data, it builds up system bloat. That's right, Vanilla Expanded has officially added bloat. The more research it produces, the faster bloat accumulates. The slowdown is gradual at first. At 50% bloat you’re still getting about 98% of your normal output. At 75% you’re down to about 82%, and at 90% you’re getting less than half. Select the mainframe to see its daily research output, efficiency, and current bloat.

You can clear bloat with Reformat now gizmo, or let the mainframe start a cycle automatically. The default threshold is 75%, and you can change it with Set reformatting threshold gizmo. Reformatting pauses the mainframe’s research output while it clears bloat back to zero. The machine still draws UltraWatts and produces heat during the cycle. A power interruption cancels the cycle, so you’ll need to start another one to clear whatever bloat remains.

A more powerful setup takes longer to clear the same amount of bloat. That’s where your choice of modules matters. Memory banks let you go longer between reformats. Debloaters shorten the downtime once a cycle starts. A room full of ultraprocessors will look impressive on the research readout, but you’ll feel the difference when it’s time to take the whole thing offline.

There is also component wear...

The mainframe and its linked modules accumulate wear under load. A broken module stops contributing to the setup, and a broken mainframe stops producing research points. A colonist assigned to Repair can bring either back online with one ultratech component.

Hardware in a room recognized as an Ultracomputer room accumulates 75% less wear. There’s a good reason to make space for a proper server room, especially once you start pushing the mainframe harder. You’ll also want to account for the heat it puts out as you add data nexuses.

Research after the research tree

After Artificial Intelligence, the repeatable projects give your ultracomputer something to do even after the rest of the research tree is complete. Infinite Processing increases daily mainframe output by 5% per completion. Infinite Netcasting improves the frequency yield of your tuners and transmitters. Infinite Genetics lets gene processors handle more complexity, and Infinite Power increases UltraWatt battery capacity. Each completion grants a permanent bonus, and the next level costs twice as much.

We plan to add a few more infinite research projects so there will always be something to put research points into.

I like that there’s a reason to come back to the server room even after it’s built. Maybe you want to get one expensive project done quickly, so you add processing power and accept the extra demand on the grid. Maybe you’re in it for the long haul and would rather fit more memory banks and debloaters. Either way, your researcher can finally get up from that bench.

Thank you everyone for continuous support and I really hope the mod won't disappoint you. We're putting everything we have into it - and there is still a lot more I want to tell you about.

We will be releasing a first beta soon, which covers about 66% (or 1/3rd) of the content.

Now, I'd like you to vote on what you'd like to see covered next. I have a theory what will win this vote but you never know.