Welcome to our Surviving Mars: Dome Guide! Whether you’re a novice explorer or a seasoned colonist, mastering the use of domes is crucial for thriving on the Red Planet. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll demystify the fundamentals of dome mechanics, offer key strategies for optimal dome placement, and explore how to tailor domes for various purposes. You’ll also discover expert tips on managing dome resources and needs, ensuring your Martian habitats are efficient and sustainable. Dive in and transform your colony into a flourishing Martian utopia with our essential dome strategies!

Understanding Dome Mechanics#

So, you’ve landed on Mars, and you’re trying to make the Red Planet your new home. Well, to make that happen, you’ll need to get comfy with one of the most crucial parts of the game: Domes. Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know to become a dome-master in no time.

What Are Domes?#

In Surviving Mars, domes are giant, pressurized bubbles that keep your colonists nice and safe from Mars’ harsh environment. Think of them as your Martian neighborhoods. Inside these domes, you can build homes, workplaces, and even your favorite hangout spots.

Types of Domes#

There are several types of domes, each with different shapes and sizes. Here are the basics:

• Basic Dome: The vanilla dome. It’s a good starting point with enough room for housing and a couple of basic buildings.
• Medium Dome: A little more spacious. Great if your colony is starting to grow but you’re not quite ready for a megastructure.
• Mega Dome: Now we’re talking luxury. These bad boys can house a significant number of colonists and all sorts of facilities.
• Micro Dome: Small but efficient. Perfect for specialized tasks or remote areas.

Dome Placement#

Placing your domes is an art form. Here’s how to make the most of your Martian real estate:

• Proximity to Resources: Make sure your domes are close to critical resources like water, metals, and rare metals. It cuts down on transport time and keeps your colony humming.
• Connected by Tunnels: Tunnels are your friends. They allow colonists to move between domes without having to brave the Martian atmosphere. Plan your dome layout with connectivity in mind.
• Rocky Terrain: Avoid placing domes on uneven or rocky terrain. It can increase construction time and resource costs.

Dome Interiors#

Inside your domes, you have to balance a few important factors:

• Housing: You need enough living space to keep your colonists happy and productive. Apartments, living quarters, and smart homes are your go-to choices.
• Services: Colonists need access to services like dining, entertainment, and healthcare. Buildings like diners, grocers, and infirmaries will keep their morale up.
• Workplaces: Make sure you have enough workplaces to keep your economy running. Mines, factories, and research labs are essential.
• Balance: A well-balanced dome has a mix of living, working, and recreational spaces. Overloading one area can lead to unhappy colonists and inefficiency.

Managing Comfort and Morale#

Your colonists have needs, and it’s your job to meet them:

• Comfort: Buildings like parks, gardens, and casinos boost comfort levels. Happy colonists are productive colonists.
• Morale: Keep an eye on individual needs. Some colonists have traits that make them harder to keep happy, like nerds requiring research buildings or party animals needing a bar.

Sustainability#

Running a successful dome also means thinking about the future:

• Oxygen and Water: Keep an eye on your oxygen and water supplies. Building Moxies and Moisture Vaporators can help you manage these precious resources.
• Power Supply: Domes need a reliable source of power. Solar panels and wind turbines are your basic options, but consider upgrading to more efficient systems like fusion reactors as your colony grows.
• Maintenance: Everything needs upkeep. Keep your drones well-supplied with materials to fix buildings as they wear down over time.

The Dome Economy#

Lastly, managing an efficient dome is all about managing resources:

• Resource Allocation: Make sure you’re not over-stretching your resources. Balance the needs of current domes before expanding.
• Production Chains: Set up production chains inside your dome to make sure you’re self-sufficient. For example, you can produce electronics by setting up a rare metal extractor near a dome.

And that’s the lowdown on dome mechanics in Surviving Mars. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be running a thriving Martian metropolis in no time. Now, get out there and start making Mars your new home!

Key Strategies for Dome Placement#

Alright, fellow Martian settlers, time to talk Dome placement. Choosing where to drop these massive life-support bubbles isn’t just a one-and-done deal. Your choices can make or break your colony’s future. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

1. Resource Proximity#

When deciding where to place your Domes, look for nearby resource deposits. Metals, Water, and Concrete are essential for growth. An ideal spot has at least two out of three:

• Metals: Scouts for these shiny nodes. You’ll need them for almost everything.
• Water: Essential for life support and various production chains. Scan the area for underground or surface water sources.
• Concrete: Vital for initial construction. Prioritize areas with dense Concrete deposits early on.

2. Thinking Ahead with Expansions#

Don’t just plop down Domes randomly. Think about how they’ll connect.

• Leave space for passages between Domes. It’s super important for keeping your colonists moving efficiently.
• Plan for specialized Domes. You might want a farming Dome, a residential Dome, or an industrial Dome later. Make sure the layout supports easy expansion and specialization.

3. Flatten Your Terrain#

Uneven terrain can mess up construction plans. Use drones to flatten out potential Dome sites before building. This minimizes complications and ensures you won’t have to deal with annoying obstructions later.

4. Consider Comfort and Safety#

Your colonists’ happiness is just as important as resources:

• Dust storms: Shield Domes from high-risk areas when possible. Place them where natural land features can offer some (limited) protection.
• Distance from potential hazards: Meteors and cold waves can be a constant threat. Placing Domes strategically to minimize risks from these events is smart planning.

5. Inter-Dome Connectivity#

Your colony functions better when Domes can share resources and services:

• Build Domes close enough that they can share services like electricity, water, and oxygen. Too far apart, and you’ll spend more on infrastructure.
• Utilize tunnels and passages effectively. Tunnels can bypass terrain obstructions, and passages keep colonists connected for work and leisure.

6. Balance Accessibility and Spacing#

While keeping Domes connected is crucial, avoid cramping them too close together:

• Colonists hate long commutes but also need some elbow room. Balance the distance: close enough for services, far enough to prevent overcrowding.
• Space for future expansions is crucial. Reserve nearby flat land for additional Domes and essential buildings.

7. Plan for Power and Maintenance#

Every Dome draws power and maintenance like nobody’s business:

• Power: Place them near power-producing structures (Solar Panels, Wind Turbines). Avoid long cables since they lose efficiency and are prone to damage.
• Drone Hubs and Depots: Drones keep everything running smoothly. Position Drone Hubs within range to monitor and repair Domes effectively.

In a nutshell, placing Domes effectively requires balancing resource access, future expansion, and colonist needs. Think strategically, plan ahead, and adapt as you go. Your burgeoning Martian metropolis depends on it!

The Dome Guide: Best Uses for Different Purposes in Surviving Mars#

In Surviving Mars, domes aren’t just giant glass bubbles keeping your colonists alive—they’re specialized hubs that can be tailored to meet different needs. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned Martian commander, knowing how to use domes effectively can make a huge difference in your colony’s survival and growth. Let’s dive into different types of domes and how to best utilize them.

Residential Domes#

Primary Purpose: Housing and Basic Needs

Your first dome will likely be a residential dome. This is where your colonists live, eat, sleep, and socialize. Focus on including essential buildings like:

• Living Quarters: Apartments, living complexes, or smart homes to house your colonists.
• Grocer/Small Grocer: For basic food distribution.
• Diner: A place for colonists to eat and relax.
• Infirmary: Health services to keep everyone alive and kicking.
• Small Park/Garden: Spaces for citizens to unwind and recharge.
• Security Station: To ensure order and safety within the dome.

Always check your population stats and provide sufficient housing. Overcrowding leads to unhappy colonists, and unhappy colonists lead to problems.

Research Domes#

Primary Purpose: Scientific Research and Development

To keep up with technological advancements, dedicate a dome entirely to research. Research domes should prioritize:

• Research Labs: Stable research output for continuous tech progress.
• Hawking Institutes: Advanced research facilities that significantly boost your research points.
• Schools and Universities: To train your youth in becoming scientists and engineers.
• Apartments: Housing for scientists and researchers, keeping them close to work.

Remember, the more research points you generate, the faster your colony will thrive. Position your research domes near buildings that increase comfort and morale for scientists to keep productivity high.

Agricultural Domes#

Primary Purpose: Food Production

While your colony can survive on imported food early on, self-sufficiency is the goal. Set up dedicated agricultural domes focusing on:

• Hydroponic Farms: They use less space and grow food quickly.
• Fungal Farms: Excellent for bulk food production.
• Ranches: For meat production and variety in diet.
• Open Farms (if terraforming is at an advanced stage): Great for bulk crops and oxygen production.

Make sure tech improvements like “Martian-born adaptability” and “High-yield crops” are researched to maximize output from these farms.

Industrial Domes#

Primary Purpose: Manufacturing and Resource Processing

Industrial domes are your colony’s workhorse. They should include:

• Factories (Electronics, Machine Parts, and Polymers): To ensure you have all the necessary materials for other buildings and vehicles.
• Workshops: For mining and processing metals or rare metals.
• Storage Depots: For raw materials and products.
• Maintenance Stations: To keep everything running smoothly.

No one likes working near noisy factories, so keep residential domes at a distance or utilize noise-insulating tech when possible.

Leisure Domes#

Primary Purpose: Recreation and Entertainment

Happy colonists are productive colonists. Dedicate leisure domes to recreational activities to boost morale and service comforts:

• Parks and Gardens: Offer relaxation and socializing areas.
• Art Workshops and Museums: Elevate culture and satisfaction.
• Shopping Centers: Make sure colonists can purchase what they need, boosting comfort.
• Amusement Parks/Nightclubs: For fun and entertainment, keeping morale high.

High morale positively impacts birth rates and scientific productivity, so having a leisure dome is essential as your colony grows.

Planning and Connecting Your Domes#

Layout is Key: Keep in mind that domes need to be connected through passages for colonists to commute easily. Be strategic about the placement to minimize travel time. Balancing proximity to resources, comfort levels, and colony expansion plans is crucial for success.

Resource Management: Make sure each dome has access to necessary resources like water, oxygen, and power. Build adequate facilities to support these needs.

Adapt and Expand: Your colony will evolve, which may require you to specialize or change the focus of certain domes. Keeping an eye on colonist stats and resource levels will guide you on when and where to create new domes.

By using these strategies and tailoring each dome to its primary purpose, your Mars colony will be a thriving environment where colonists can work, rest, and play, paving the way for a successful Martian society.

Managing Dome Resources and Needs#

So, you’ve built your first dome in Surviving Mars. Congrats! Now comes the tricky part: making sure your colonists don’t hate you and leave for Earth. Managing a dome effectively is all about balancing resources and keeping everyone happy. Here’s how to do it.

Oxygen and Water#

First off, let’s tackle the basics: oxygen and water. Colonists need a steady supply of both to survive. Ensure your dome is always connected to a water extractor and MOXIE (oxygen generator). Remember, pipes can break, so always have some drones ready to fix them.

• Pro tip: Build water towers and oxygen tanks near your dome. They act as buffers in case something goes wrong with your main supply lines.

Electricity#

Next, power up! Domes need electricity to function, and so do the buildings inside them. Wind turbines and solar panels are your friends here. Placing a battery nearby can help store extra power for the night or during dust storms when solar panels won’t work.

• Pro tip: Research “Battery Optimization” to get more juice from your batteries and reduce your power worries.

Food#

Don’t forget those tummies! Build hydroponic farms or a fungal farm inside your dome to produce food. You’ll need a farm with multiple workers for a stable food supply.

• Pro tip: Different crops have different growth times and water needs. Whichever you plant, make sure you don’t let your soil quality drop too low, or your yields will suffer.

Comfort and Morale#

Colonists aren’t robots; they need to feel good to be productive. Build living quarters, diners, and the occasional recreational building like a park or casino. Overcrowding, poor health services, and lack of variety can plummet their morale.

• Pro tip: Hover over the Dome to see what buildings your colonists want the most. Satisfying these needs can significantly boost morale.

Jobs and Education#

Every dome needs workers. Your factory won’t run itself. Make sure you have a mix of workplaces like factories, research labs, and service buildings so colonists can stay busy. For long-term success, you’ll also want a school to train kids and move them into higher-end jobs later.

• Pro tip: Place a university in your long-term domes to train specialists. This becomes crucial as your colony expands and needs more specialized workers like medics and scientists.

Health and Wellness#

Sick colonists are unhappy colonists. Keep them in tip-top shape by building medical centers. For added wellness, throw in some gyms and relaxation spaces like gardens.

• Pro tip: Use the medical checks feature in the medical centers to catch health issues before they become serious. This way, you can intervene early and keep your colony’s productivity up.

Security and Sanity#

Mars can be a stressful place. Security stations and relaxation spots can help keep everyone sane. Pay attention to colonists’ sanity levels; if they drop too low, serious issues, including suicides, can occur.

• Pro tip: Build security stations to handle any crime or sanity-related incidents. This helps prevent issues before they spiral out of control.

Expansion and Sustainability#

Finally, think ahead. As your population grows, your dome’s demands will skyrocket. Plan your expansions by setting up additional domes nearby and linking them through tunnels or shuttles. This way, you can share resources and keep your colony growing smoothly.

• Pro tip: Always keep an eye on your resource balance. Over-expanding without proper planning can lead to shortages, which can quickly turn your thriving dome into a ghost town.

Managing a dome in Surviving Mars is all about maintaining a delicate balance. Keep your resources in check, fulfill your colonists’ needs, and always plan for future growth. Before you know it, you’ll be running a bustling, happy Martian colony. Enjoy the red planet, commander!

Strategies for Dome Efficiency#

So, you’ve landed on Mars, and things are getting real with those shiny domes popping up everywhere. To make sure your Martian colonists don’t go running out of air or losing their marbles, you’ll need to keep your domes running smoothly. Here are some golden strategies to ensure dome efficiency, so your colony stays shipshape.

Plan Dome Placement Wisely#

First things first—where you put your domes matters. Start by placing your domes near vital resources like water, metal, and concrete to cut down on transportation time. You don’t want your drones traveling halfway across Mars just to bring in those precious rocks or a few drops of water.

Build a Balanced Ecosystem#

Think of each dome as a mini-ecosystem. You’ll need a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Here are the essentials:

• Homes: Apartments and living quarters for your colonists.
• Workspaces: Factories, labs, and workshops to keep everyone employed.
• Services: Grocers, diners, and infirmaries to keep colonists happy and healthy.

Make sure you balance these out so your dome isn’t all work and no play. Too many factories but not enough homes or services will make colonists cranky and less productive.

Manage Air, Water, and Power#

Your domes need air, water, and power to function. Make sure you’ve got an efficient way to produce and store these resources.

• Power: Solar panels and wind turbines are great, but remember to have batteries for nighttime or dust storms.
• Water: Moisture vaporators and water extractors are your best friends. Set up water towers for storage.
• Air: Moxies produce oxygen, but don’t forget to build oxygen tanks to stockpile it.

Having backup generators and extra storage will ensure your dome doesn’t go dark or dry during critical moments.

Optimize Space Usage#

Space within a dome is limited, so use it wisely. Small homes like living quarters take up less space than larger buildings like apartments but house fewer colonists. Similarly, small service buildings like grocers take up less room than larger service complexes. Consider the immediate needs of your colonists and plan your spaces accordingly.

Maintain Comfort and Sanity#

A happy colonist is a productive colonist. Comfort directly influences productivity and sanity. Here are some tips to keep everyone in good spirits:

• Decorations: Parks and small gardens can greatly increase the comfort of your dome.
• Health services: Make sure to have medical posts or infirmaries in each dome.
• Entertainment: Building casinos, diners, or bars can keep colonists entertained and less stressed.

Automation and Upgrades#

Upgrade your buildings whenever possible. Automated systems can reduce the number of workers needed, freeing them up for other tasks. For example:

• Automated Factories: Upgrade factories to run without human supervision.
• Smart Homes: Invest in smart homes for better living conditions and space efficiency.

Dome Specializations#

As your colony grows, consider specializing your domes:

• Residential Domes: Focus on homes and services.
• Industrial Domes: Factories and workshops.
• Research Domes: Labs and universities.

Specialized domes can be more efficient, as you can focus resources and services in one area.

Keep an Eye on Maintenance#

Buildings wear out over time. Make sure you’ve got enough spare parts and drones to keep everything in good shape. Build Maintenance Depots to automatically assign drones to repair tasks and ensure nothing breaks down.

Multifunctional Domes#

In the early game, multifunctional domes can save you precious resources. Mix housing, workspaces, and services to make the most of your space and budget. As you progress and resources become abundant, you can afford to specialize more.

With these strategies, you’re well on your way to running an efficient Martian colony. Keep those domes shiny, and your colonists will thank you for it. Now, go turn Mars into a bustling utopia!