So as much as I think it's totally cool that we can find blueprints (context specific ones in mini-biomes, which is awesome) -- there certainly is a whole lot of items in the game that are probably not currently available via crafting. I love the 3D printer and there's a lot of things that should definitely only be mass-production ready via this method, however... In a sci-fi game with all kinds of technology laying around that the PC requires little to no trial and error to figure out. .shouldn't we be able to figure out how to make cool things with the massive ammount of raw materials lying around? Propsal: A Crafting station that functions as blueprint generator for non-findable items. Works like this. The UI for the fuel station on the ship is already perfect for this - just ad a product slot like the one on campfire/forge. Add random (or specific, if you think you're clever) ingrediants into the slots. If an item is craftable from those materials, you lose the amount the hidden recipe requires, and gain a blueprint for an item that you otherwise would never find from exploring. No copy of the item should be made this way because A) it'd be a prototype, and not as good as the final product. prevents you from being able to make things you shouldn't too early. Not that any real mechanical items should be available from this, but you do have to have the right kind of crafting station to use some materials and it still fits if you can make the blueprint, but can't craft it yet. (Right?) I just think this would be a fun addition, a good way to 'sink' random stuff collected in the game. Shouldn't require too much extra work in terms of graphics, save for new blueprint icons? This would be a great way for the mod community to add 'new' things to the game without requiring modded planets with modded seeds on top of everything else. (Allows for balance in some ways that are unavailable with mods that add items outright) Lastly, it would go well with another suggestion I have - the ability to craft various kinds unique blocks/amalgamated metals/hybrid plasti-crete nano wobbler blocks. Simliar to the above, only set it for 2 slots to 1 slot created. (put in one of each block, receive 2 of the new one in output). Annd I'm sure someone could mod this kind of thing in later if it's not added officially. Official is more fun though! Comments? Questions? Is there already something like this in the game I just haven't gotten far enough along to see? Thank you.
