Efficient Base Layouts & Infrastructure

Learn how to optimize your base layout and infrastructure in Surviving Mars. This guide covers power distribution, resource management, and efficient building placement for a thriving Martian colony.

This section of the Surviving Mars guide focuses on building an efficient base and managing its infrastructure. It covers essential aspects like power distribution, resource gathering, and the maintenance of your colony's buildings.

Controls

• Tilt or rotate: Hold MMB or Alt and move the mouse
• Zoom: Mousewheel or PgUp/PgDown
• Overview mode: Maximum zoom out or M
• Pause/Unpause: Spacebar
• Increase game speed: + key
• Decrease game speed: - key

Basics

Rover and Drone Control

Rovers are manually controlled via their Infopanels, allowing direct orders to move or interact with map objects like Anomalies or Surface Deposits. Drones are semi-autonomous, queuing tasks within their Service Area, but can be controlled directly by the player. Controls can be customized in the Options menu.

Dust and Maintenance

All buildings require maintenance. When a building's maintenance bar fills, a drone is dispatched to service it. If resources aren't supplied within a Sol, the building stops operating. Martian dust and disasters increase deterioration for buildings outside Domes. Dust spread by extractors, geysers, and rocket activity increases maintenance needs. Drones can break down due to dust and need to recharge at Recharge Stations.

Map and Exploration

The map is divided into Sectors that must be scanned to reveal resources and Anomalies. Sensor towers speed up scanning and provide bonuses. Orbital Probes offer a fast, albeit expensive, way to instantly scan sectors. Building in unexplored sectors risks construction over undiscovered deposits. Probes can be deployed using LMB or the X key.

Resources and Construction

Constructing buildings is the primary use of resources. Drones stockpile resources for construction if the site is within their Drone Hub's Service Range, and the resources are accessible. Resources are gathered from deposits or produced by Extractors, Factories, or Farms. Deposits can be surface (Metal, Polymers), underground (Metal, Rare Metals, Water), or terrain (Concrete). Deposit grades (very low to very high) affect extractor production rates. Surface deposits are mined directly by Drones, while underground and terrain deposits require Extractors. Extractors produce Waste Rock, which must be moved by Drones to a Waste Rock Dump to prevent the Extractor from stopping. Late-game deep scanning reveals underground deposits requiring specific technologies for extraction.

Anomalies

Anomalies are special points of interest on the map that can be discovered through scanning. Interacting with Anomalies can provide unique benefits, challenges, or resources. They are often crucial for colony progression and can be explored by Rovers or Drones.