User talk:Astraltor
Guide[edit]
Overdrive[edit]
Poor Maps[edit]
Reasons that combine to make overdrive good even on maps like Red Comet:
1) Due to the overdrive formula approaching vertical at 0, a small amount of overdrive is more metal efficient than building more un-overdriven metal extractors. If you don't think getting 10% of your economy from overdrive is "any meaningful amount" you can stop here.
2) Adding metal extractors costs a lot of con movement time on Red Comet; one can plan adding overdrive in a way that costs only a negligible amount of con movement time. This becomes important starting with your third expanding con because all the nearby metal spots are taken and overdrive income kicks in before the long walk to the front.
3) Overdrive generators typically require little to no additional defensive consideration beyond the metal extractor they're overdriving. This is particularly important if your defense setup involves multiple Lotuses.
4) Wind actually is efficient for generating overdrive energy on Red Comet, on average. Getting too much can cause planning problems but 200 metal worth won't unless you get really unlucky.
5) Prebuilding extra generation at existing expansions during periods when further expansion is unsafe sets you up for faster mex-only expansion when you regain the initiative.
6) As noted, having some energy in your bar for repair/reclaim purposes is useful anyway so you might as well collect the overdrive income.
~Buckymancer
