[IDEA] Dynamic Environmental Effects on Production

Core Concept

• Power demands – Low pressure makes venting harder, increasing energy costs (e.g., low pressure increases refinery energy costs)
• Processing speed – Extreme temperatures alter chemical reaction rates (e.g., extreme heat slows chemical reactions)
• Recipe availability – Some processes won't even start without meeting thresholds
• (e.g., ice production requires room temperatures or less )

This would push players to design controlled environments or exploit planetary conditions for specialized industry.

1. Pressure-Dependent Systems

• Refineries consume more power in low-pressure environments because gas venting becomes inefficient.Example: At 0.2 atm (Mars-like), refineries draw 20–50% more power (scaling linearly).
• Assemblers struggle with fine-tuned processes in high pressure, slowing production.Example: At 5 atm (Venus-like), assembly speed drops 10–30% due to mechanical stress.

2. Temperature-Driven Reactions

• Ice production only works when ambient temperature is below certain temperate .Example: On a cold surface, water freezes instantly, but on a hot world, recibe wont work when the ambient temperature more than 80°C
• Chemical plants (e.g., hydrogen fuel) accelerate in high heat.Example: At 300°C, fuel synthesis is 20% faster but consumes 15% more power to coolant , and the more heat those values scale up.

3. Atmospheric Composition

• Oxygen farms fail in CO₂-heavy atmospheres.Example: In a 90% CO₂ environment, O₂ production slows by 50% unless scrubbers are added.
• Arc furnaces perform poorly in thin atmospheres (no plasma stabilization).Example: In near-vacuum, smelting takes twice as long.

4. Gravity’s Role

• Centrifuges (e.g., for uranium enrichment) fail below a threshold gravity.Example: Below 0.3G, enrichment is impossible without artificial gravity.
• Fluid-based production (e.g., lubricants) behaves unpredictably in zero-G.Example: In space, lubricant synthesis requires artificial Gravity, or increase power costs.

• Build "Ideal" Factory Ships: Climate-controlled, pressurized bays for Earth-like efficiency.
• Exploit Planetary Conditions: Smelt metals on high-pressure worlds for energy savings.
• Trade Mobility for Specialization: A low-gravity station might excel at gas processing but fail at metallurgy.