Overview
Crafting in Solarpunk is the process of turning raw resources into tools, machines, building materials, and other items. The crafting system has multiple tiers, from quick crafting in the inventory to advanced recipes at specialized workstations.
Quick craft
The simplest form of crafting happens directly in the player's inventory. Press "F" or click the craft icon while the inventory is open to access quick craft. This allows players to make basic tools without needing any workstation:
Item | Materials | Use |
|---|---|---|
Pickaxe | Sticks + Stones | Mining rocks for stone, sand, and iron |
Axe | Sticks + Stones | Chopping wood and demolishing structures |
Hoe | Sticks + Stones | Tilling soil for farming |
Quick craft recipes are available from the start of the game and require only the most basic materials found on any island.
Crafting Table
The Crafting Table is the first workstation players build. It costs 6 Wood and must be placed on the ground. The Crafting Table unlocks a wider range of recipes beyond what quick craft offers, including refined materials, intermediate components, and basic machines.
Research Table
The Research Table is built from Wood and Cloth (Cloth is made from Cotton, which requires farming). It must be placed next to a Crafting Table to function. The Research Table is where players unlock new recipes by spending materials on research projects. In multiplayer, the Research Table has the potential for shared unlocks, meaning one player's research can benefit the entire group. This feature is still being developed.
Merchant Platform
The Merchant Platform is a structure found on islands that needs to be repaired before it becomes functional. Unlike traditional merchant systems, there is no NPC vendor. Instead, players repair the platform and interact with it directly for trading. The Merchant Platform provides access to items and materials that may be difficult to find through resource gathering alone.
Vending Machine
The Vending Machine is another repairable structure. Once fixed, it provides access to character skins and cosmetic items. Cosmetics can be purchased using Recycling Points earned from the Recycler (see below).
Fabricator
The Fabricator is located near the Merchant Platform and must also be repaired. Once operational, it handles airship upgrades and enhancements. The Fabricator is the only way to improve the airship's performance, making it an important structure to repair early in a playthrough.
Recycler and Recycling Points
The Recycler was unlocked as a Kickstarter stretch goal. It turns almost any item or material into Recycling Points. These points function as a secondary currency used to unlock skins and cosmetic extras from the Vending Machine. The Recycler provides a use for surplus or unwanted items, ensuring that nothing in the inventory is truly wasted.
Crafting progression
The general crafting progression follows this path:
Quick craft basic tools (Pickaxe, Axe, Hoe) from Sticks and Stones
Build a Crafting Table (6 Wood) for intermediate recipes
Farm Cotton and make Cloth to build a Research Table
Place the Research Table next to the Crafting Table to unlock advanced recipes
Repair the Merchant Platform, Vending Machine, and Fabricator as you explore new islands
Build a Recycler to convert unwanted items into Recycling Points for cosmetics