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estiroseSo, I've sunk a way bit too much time into My Time at Portia this last week. As my flist knows, I spent a heck of a lot of time playing My Time at Sandrock going into early access. (I also played My Time at Portia in early access.)
I'm currently going between building the bridge to the Eufala Desert/South Block and building the crane for the Portia Museum. So, I've got access to the first two Abandoned Ruins as well as the first Hazardous Ruin and am 3/4 of the way through that Hazardous Ruin.
First of all, the thing that threw me the most was that in Sandrock, you have practically no diagrams at the start except for the lift, the recycler, the stone furnace, and the drying rack. (I remember when the drying rack was on the list of items that had to be researched; just as well it became a default diagram.) Which threw me for a bit because I kept tossing data disks at Petra and wondered why I wasn't getting the basic diagrams. In Portia, you get them at the start.
It is kind of a nice change - though weird - to be able to hack at trees without penalty (I love Sandrock's Burgess, but....) and not have to worry if you're topping off your water tank. Also, not having to worry about sandstorms!
Other stuff (that I mostly didn't like):
* I forgot how much of a pain having to have items not only in your inventory, but selected in your quickbar for the assembly station. At least trying to get the game to give you the correct space to put stuff is not as irritating as I remember.
* I also remembered how much I hated the darn cooking station, which basically uses the same mechanic as the assembly station. There were two sidequests that required it and ugh.
* I've managed to avoid going on any dates/playdates. And then Mei needed a camera and Merlin wanted to understand dating and... well, that was kind of a disaster. It's just as well that she is never impressed by the date even if you do well. (I'm pretty sure she's non-neurotypical and aroace.)
* On the good side, you upgrade pickaxes/axes/some weapons by having the predecessor item, an upgrade kit, and the right materials. One of the few things I don't like about Sandrock is that you just accumulate tools/weapons.
* But on the other hand, I miss being able to move the worktable without going to A&G. And Portia doesn't have the same thing that Sandrock does for making adjustments when you're in your yard.
* I do kind off miss the QoL change in Sandrock that allowed you to use anything as a power source. Until I got the Tree Farm fully repaired refueling furnaces was a pain.
* I also miss the "upgrade in place" mechanism from Sandrock for machines. Have a stone furnace? You can only sell it.
* Also, I forgot how early in the game you have to do carbon steel. I hated it the first time I played it and I still hate it now.
* I learned to my dismay that doing a feather duster in Portia is much more painful than doing it in Sandrock. The only ways to get tail feathers (the crucial part) is to either a) get lucky and get a bird's nest drop with a feather or feathers in it, or b) spend a couple of days doing nothing but attacking Pinecocks and Poppycocks. (It's a good thing that those are numerous near the Hazardous Ruins and respawn relatively quickly.)
I'm currently going between building the bridge to the Eufala Desert/South Block and building the crane for the Portia Museum. So, I've got access to the first two Abandoned Ruins as well as the first Hazardous Ruin and am 3/4 of the way through that Hazardous Ruin.
First of all, the thing that threw me the most was that in Sandrock, you have practically no diagrams at the start except for the lift, the recycler, the stone furnace, and the drying rack. (I remember when the drying rack was on the list of items that had to be researched; just as well it became a default diagram.) Which threw me for a bit because I kept tossing data disks at Petra and wondered why I wasn't getting the basic diagrams. In Portia, you get them at the start.
It is kind of a nice change - though weird - to be able to hack at trees without penalty (I love Sandrock's Burgess, but....) and not have to worry if you're topping off your water tank. Also, not having to worry about sandstorms!
Other stuff (that I mostly didn't like):
* I forgot how much of a pain having to have items not only in your inventory, but selected in your quickbar for the assembly station. At least trying to get the game to give you the correct space to put stuff is not as irritating as I remember.
* I also remembered how much I hated the darn cooking station, which basically uses the same mechanic as the assembly station. There were two sidequests that required it and ugh.
* I've managed to avoid going on any dates/playdates. And then Mei needed a camera and Merlin wanted to understand dating and... well, that was kind of a disaster. It's just as well that she is never impressed by the date even if you do well. (I'm pretty sure she's non-neurotypical and aroace.)
* On the good side, you upgrade pickaxes/axes/some weapons by having the predecessor item, an upgrade kit, and the right materials. One of the few things I don't like about Sandrock is that you just accumulate tools/weapons.
* But on the other hand, I miss being able to move the worktable without going to A&G. And Portia doesn't have the same thing that Sandrock does for making adjustments when you're in your yard.
* I do kind off miss the QoL change in Sandrock that allowed you to use anything as a power source. Until I got the Tree Farm fully repaired refueling furnaces was a pain.
* I also miss the "upgrade in place" mechanism from Sandrock for machines. Have a stone furnace? You can only sell it.
* Also, I forgot how early in the game you have to do carbon steel. I hated it the first time I played it and I still hate it now.
* I learned to my dismay that doing a feather duster in Portia is much more painful than doing it in Sandrock. The only ways to get tail feathers (the crucial part) is to either a) get lucky and get a bird's nest drop with a feather or feathers in it, or b) spend a couple of days doing nothing but attacking Pinecocks and Poppycocks. (It's a good thing that those are numerous near the Hazardous Ruins and respawn relatively quickly.)
