Revision 1

Automation allows players to offload repetitive tasks to machines and drones. Every automation device connects to the island's energy system and draws power to operate. As players progress, they can transform their islands from manually-operated homesteads into self-sustaining networks where resources gather themselves, crops water themselves, and materials arrive at storage without human intervention.

Automation devices

Transport drones

Transport drones are flying robots that pick up items and deliver them to designated storage. They begin with a single inventory slot, meaning they carry one item type at a time. Players can upgrade drone capacity as they progress. Drones operate on a conditional logic: they only fly when there are items to pick up and their inventory has free space. When idle, they remain stationary and draw no extra power.

During development, drones were reworked to become available earlier in the progression timeline. The original design locked them behind later tiers, but playtesters found that earlier access to basic automation improved the overall game flow.

Automatic drills

Automatic drills replace manual mining by extracting Stone, Iron Ore, Sand, and Clay from rock formations without player input. Once placed and powered, a drill runs continuously. This frees the player to focus on other tasks while the drill stockpiles materials.

Magnet fishers

The automatic magnet fisher collects algae from water. Algae is a specific resource with multiple crafting applications. Like the drill, the magnet fisher operates passively once placed and connected to power.

Farm automation

Sprinkler systems and farming bots handle crop watering. Sprinklers are stationary devices that cover an area; farming bots are mobile units that move between plants. Both draw power from the energy grid. When paired with rain sensors, sprinklers shut off during rainstorms to conserve energy, since the rain handles watering naturally.

Energy requirements

All automation devices require power. A heavily automated island consumes significantly more energy than a manual one. Players must scale their solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries alongside their automation footprint. Adding a fleet of transport drones and multiple drills without expanding power generation will crash the grid.