Make metal platforms cheaper

6 votes

At the moment, the metal platform costs 200 metal blocks - that's nearly as much as the Tribute to Ingenuity! There's basically no reason to build them unless you're in a huge pinch, whereas if they were cheaper they could be used for some interesting layered-city concepts.

Under consideration Gameplay Suggestion Suggested by: Andy W (23 Nov, '21) • Upvoted: 23 Jan • Comments: 2

Comments: 2

11 Aug, '22
L
IMO, Metal Platform is too expensive for what it provides. Their only use is to provide some degree of verticality that was advertised but seldom given.

200 Metal for a 9 tiles of solid non ground. It's too much and can't even be built on top of each other. If this was a thing I would make an exception due to added verticality and upper ones not sacrificing 1 fertile ground tile. As is, getting 9 solid tiles while sacrificing 1 ground tile and 200 Metal is too steep, the fixed 4 height makes planning for it hard too specially cause if you dynamite 1 time too much there is no way to fix it.
At least the Large Metal Platform is more cost efficient by tile and also sacrifices less fertile ground tiles.

Forcing these into ultra late while being Ground-only will make sure there's no proper placing for them unless you reserved space and never forgot along many cycles. Which goes against it's role... to create a buildable layer above non vertical buildings or crops. (Cont)
11 Aug, '22
L
(Cont)
If we had Tier 4 Platforms they would cost 12 each, 9 to make it 3x3. 12x9 = 108.
108 is what it would cost to build 4 height 3x3 of metal... So we're effectively doubling the cost while also using a stronger material... Why?
The sound idea that looks to be about using metal to provide a sturdier structure that can sustain itself on a wide column in the middle tile instead of spreading the load on the 3x3 and thus saving surrounding space to build/crops.
Changing the cost for 120 or so would make a lot more sense and it's within reason to other structures and resources. The advantage of using a stronger material is to allow to build a more efficient structure with the same resources or a similar structure will less resources... as is it achieves neither.

Another comparison, a 4x1 Ruin provides 60 Scrap, which can be transformed into 30 Metal. To get 200 Metal it would require almost 7 4x1 Ruin tiles... to build a one 4x1 column and a 3x3 platform above it.
No, it's not balanced