Different power sources and or energies.

I was thinking that in terraria that you had switches and whatnot that you could use to turn lights off and on and whatnot. So my question is that if there will be such thing as power sources for the switches and pressure plates and if there are will we have different methods of energy as in heat energy by using solar panels, stars and etc or even something as simple as water wills and windmills to power a station or base?

 

This would be a cool way to generate the power for your base and things like that.

 

I seriously hope they have something like this, and not the system of levers and such magically making power out of nowhere when they're turned on

 

in minecraft redstone torches also make infinite power. I think that due to the more scientific than magical approach that starbound takes they will require power and fuel for everyhting except you (no food). also maybe nuclear power will also exist

 

I'm open for any new power-mechanics as long as it doesn't get toooooo complicated. But I can understand that it's kinda odd if a torch provides enough power for a giant lazer of fiery doom :/

 

I'm sure that there would be some type of power source in the game as they have batteries to power equipment. I'm thinking that they would have some type of generation. I like the idea of controlling whole planets and stars more than anything else, but if it were to start on a small scale, Solar panels, windmills, and all the like would be the way to go. I like this mechanic.

 

A different engine, you say? (Five points to whomever gets the reference)

I really want alternate power sources as well! I've thought of geo-thermal power generators as a possible alternative, possibly putting it over lava would produce a good bit of energy. Maybe a modified Stirling engine over some lava would be a nice geo-thermal addition.

Hopefully, nuclear energy would be available as well! That stuff works pretty good.

 

yes the way in terraria kind of made me angry along with minecraft but I know that they can only add so much to a game but maybe they will find a simplified way to fit it in

 

Also in minecraft there's a mod called industrial craft. That would be a good starting reference for obtaining power.

I know of 6 ways to get power with that mod.
Solar. Geothermal. Wind (unreliable). Nuke reactor (the "fun" one). Combustion. And one other thing that i forgot.

 

That is one of my more favorite mods since it adds alot of things or atleast some things i believe should be in the game but shouldn't be a major part of the game to the point that you are handicapped if you don't use it.

 

STARBOUND should consider adding generators for your home base. each size up would be harder to obtain, but would allot you a greater wattage and therefore allow you to add on to your station. they could have each empty block/furniture in your station consume 1/10th of a watt, and each "appliance/npc/items that logically would use power cost 1 or 2 watts. then you would (at least initially) have to decide between a large house and a nice house.

 

that does sound like a good idea since my original intention was mostly that I don't want the energy thing to be an annoying thing where you have to get energy like every five seconds or although having a star contained in a basement would be a pretty cool idea.

 

Simple, grab a mob that emits electricity and stuff it in your generator.

Just don't let anyone know.

 

Especially not the intergalactic version of PETA.

 

Oh god, they just won't stop.

 

So catch a pikachu and profit?? I say this overused line but "Got to catch em all"

 

I agree with this message.

So, something like this electric eel?

 

Back on topic, there should be a very "simple" power source in the game like a simple generator or solar panel so that people who are minimalistic don't have to put a bunch of effort into creating energy stations that produce way too much energy. Pressure plates and levers shouldn't need power themselves, only open and close the flow of energy from a source to a machine.

 

Industrial Craft had an excellent handle on creating power and using it in various machines and applications. The use of batteries and power cells for portable devices greatly expanded the complexity of the tools to be used. Starbound already plans to have battery powered devices and having ways to recharge those batteries or design more efficient batteries could become a very important mechanic.

With all the attention on finding/researching/gathering/training and raising monsters this could very much be a hilarious and yet very true to the setting method of powering your base/devices.

However in the end I have to agree with Blacksmithgu. As fun as it would be to have so many different power sources we shouldn't get so carried away that a person needs to look at an excel spreadsheet to make sure they don't overload their toaster and blow a hole in the station's hull sending them and their toast to the cold vacuum of space (which ironically could happen in industrial craft if you plugged into to strong a source)

While that's a bit over dramatic, I don't see any reason why we can't have many many different power sources. It would add so much to the game and really keep together this idea of strange and themed worlds. You wouldn't want to see the same themed torches or light bulbs on every planet. Maybe the Penguins of the Gem City have large crystals that generate electricity (Piezoelectricity anyone? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectricity ), Perhaps the cruel Pigmen of Oinkansas have enslaved a smaller race of electric mice and use them for power. And what of the great hamster wheel of Guinea Piggia that has turned since time itself began and takes the tribute of ten brave souls every year to run the wheel and keep the traditions (and toasters) alive. This is Starbound! (kick random npc off cliff) why constrict ourselves to human technology. Get creative and use all the meta-science! Remember sometimes something can be so awesome or outrageous it just might work.

Truly something as important as a power source can draw a lot of attention and while we don't need to stat out ever little watt volt or ohm that results from each source, it provides a great opportunity to really flesh out the worlds and how they have progressed technology in their own culture based on their surroundings.

 

I approve for realism, but Infinity () infinite energy is also good. At least you don't need to travel much.
Maybe some planets could have infinite energy, and some planets don't? Idk how would it work, though.