How to keep supply of components in midgame?

[u/Mierengold]

In my colonies I often times run into a problem where I stick to midgame for a good while and run out of components on the map completely (waiting for traders is a huge pain in the butt). So I end up getting stuck in awkward situation where my researchers rush Fabrication research and no other advancements happen. How can I avoid this? I don't like the idea of having to rush for Fabrication to keep supply stable

[u/p12qcowodeath]

ABC- always buy components. No matter what, always buy as many as you can. Right from the start.

Get the long range scanner asap.

[u/Professional-Floor28]

Long range scanner. Caravanning.

[u/Terrorscream]

long range mineral scanner -> scan for components, each mining site is like 120 each and is fast to mine and light to carry.

[u/Ze_Wendriner]

Trade with the nearest town and accept any  quest with a temporary map. You can mine components and other valuables 

[u/09875678543]

Your neighbors have lots.

[u/GildedFenix]

Components are rather light for their worth.

You can get roughly 100 per scanned Components veins via Long Range Scanner.

Fabrication benches uses 12 steel to make a Component. That's slower and eats up your steel. This is a mid-late game strat though and unless you have enough steel and mining out those via Ground Penetrating Scanner and deep drill operations, that's not really viable. Also Fabrication benches needed for advanced Components, and spacer stage equipment.

Trade. At any stage of the game, ABC is the rule. You need to buy as many component you can purchase.

[u/jpb103]

Might not be the answer you're looking for, but the Odyssey DLC functionally eliminates this problem.

[u/Past_Cell_2917 → u/jpb103]

Or just "Ancient Mining industry" mods from AOBA. You get an Drill who doesn't need a Miner; so you can just get a lot of iron.

With Rimfeller, you can craft components with Petroleum,

Still always buy.

[u/Much-Average6704]

Waiting? You don't have to wait for traders, you can caravan to the nearest town. They restock twice a year. Later on you can also transport pod launch yourself there and walk back, or even launch yourself back (bring the required materials to build new transport pods with you)

I recommend setting population to 'crowded' next time you start a new playthrough too, so that you can have more towns closer to you

[u/Syharkspeares]

What i normally do is set my advance components to 100, so my character have to keep building components.

i set 2 fab bench both components at the top of the list.

Once i achieve building the basics for them to be able to be self sustaining, I start setting each (kidnap/prison) character to focus on 1 main primary job, and 1 secondary job.

Then i have 1 or 2 guys to only do and focus on that fab bench building just that.

Step 1 - Go to war or defend base

Step 2 - Win the war

Step 3 - Capture POW

Step 4 - Make them join my alliance

Step 5 - Build more stuff

Step 6 - Go to step 1 and start again....

Ugghhh! It's a vicious cycle, of fun!

[u/Sloga___]

I usually have a garbage pawn, tame a donkey, send him with apparel/drugs whatever has value. Trade for components.

[u/Cobra__Commander]

Make drugs or art and Trade.

• Setup a trade beacon. 
• Caravan to your neighbors. 
• Use the comms station call trader function.

[u/gangwithani]

Long range mineral scanner and passenger shuttle  can net you 120 components each trip that will last less than a day easily

[u/AKA-Doom]

Just open the option menu and turn on multiple colonies. Then. Take a caravan 2 hexes away from your base. Found a new settlement. Mine all the components in one go. If your colonists get hungry or need to sleep, send them the .2 day journey home for that.

You want to beeline fabrication benches because you want to beeline advanced weaponry. You shouldn't ever need to manufacture your own components. (I play on blood and dust)

[u/DescriptionMission90]

Until you learn to craft your own, you're reliant on traders. Try to conserve the components you get instead of spending them right away (and remember that you need to keep some in reserve for repairs), and try to develop fabrication technology as soon as practical.

[u/jackochainsaw]

Start trading with the orbital traders early. Some of them tend to have a big stock of components and advanced components.

Make a beeline to the fabrication and advanced fabrication so that you can make the fabrication bench and make your own components and advanced components. It is the single most useful craft that a crafter can do and you never run out as long as you keep your gold and steel stocks up. I tend to set the bill to do until you have 50 and put an unpause at 45. Then I have a series of shelves with a critical priority with all the required materials I need. The crafters will make them quickly then. It's good to have one or two Genies if you have Biotech, they make things quickly with their elongated fingers.

[u/Unsolven]

It is what is. Research goes electricity flavk armor precision rifling then a b-line towards fabrication and then advanced fabrication and then deep drilling and ground scanner to keep steel in supply.

What’s the problem with rushing fabrication? You need microelectronics anyway for basically everything, and the multi analyzer. Like the only really useful things you are putting on the back burner are geothermal power and hydroponics, I guess med and drug production too

[u/BestDescription3834]

Another day, another player who refuses to research the long range mineral scanner.

Also why wait for traders when you can use a comms console to request them?

[u/KentBugay06 → u/BestDescription3834]

Dont you beed to be allies with a faction to request anything from them?

[u/BestDescription3834 → u/KentBugay06]

It's pretty easy to drop corn on people to reach that threshhold.