Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure

Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure

34 ratings
Creating High Throughput Bus in Mid-Late Game (How Hauling Sparks Works)
By FlerkenTheCat
This game guide demonstrates a unique solution to the logistics nightmare that often occurs in mid-late game, specifically addressing the unique aspect of sparks.
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Intro
Welcome to the most epic guide on creating a high-throughput bus in mid-late game. This game is unique, especially when it comes to those cute sparks. But fear not, for I shall demonstrate a possible solution to your logistics nightmare, and the best part? You can start preparing in early game with minimal modifications needed!

How Hauling Sparks Works
These sparks are a bit like cats – they take up the whole path and will crash into each other if they're not careful. But, unlike your cats, you can actually control them. To move more than one hauling spark along the same path, you might think to create a return path or a sorter that returns empty sparks early. But, let's be real, who has time for that?

Introducing the Payday 2 Technique
By applying the principles of the Payday 2 technique, we can create a high-throughput bus that surpasses traditional loop-based designs in both speed and space efficiency.


This method effectively turns sparks into true conveyor belts, allowing for:
  • One-way item movement, eliminating the need for return loops
  • Built-in buffer and back pressure for reliable item transfer
  • spinning sparks are funny looking


Your New Splitter
For a factory game, you need a fast and reliable splitter. There are two possible designs for a splitter:

On the right, A traditional splitter, which evenly distributes incoming items into two output streams
On the left, A prioritized splitter, which attempts to fill up the first output stream before moving on to the second
What About Merger?
The design for a merger is equally straightforward, using the same logic as the splitter.
Multi-Item Belt (Sharing a Path)?
By combining multiple item belts onto a single path, we can further increase the throughput of our system. However, be aware that compressing the path can cause unusual behavior in the sparks.

Trivia
As you attempt to make the design more compact, you may notice that it no longer works as intended. This is because the sparks behave differently when their path is compressed. One such anomaly is the change in output priority, which no longer follows the right-hand rule.

Feel free to comment below if you notice any further unusual behaviors, or if you just want to share your own logistical horror stories.
11 Comments
BlueWeredragon 1 Jun @ 6:18pm 
I could be wrong, but it seems haulers prioritize picking up items before finishing movement on a tile. So like if you have a path that leads to a crate for pickup facing east and an item filter going south on the same path tile the hauler will pick up the item first and then complete it's right side priority. Making it take the south path instead of going back west.
Delerius 1 Jun @ 12:45am 
Thanks for the answer :)
Feed1stBlood 31 May @ 9:14pm 
@Delerius @Hunterzero my understanding:

Even splitter (arrows for crates, lines for paths, dots for nothing):

← ─┐←
........│
........↓

Priority splitter:

← ┌─ ←
.....│
.....↓
Delerius 31 May @ 11:49am 
The image for splitter is missing still. Can anyone explain how it works?
Hunterzero 19 Dec, 2024 @ 10:56am 
It looks like the splitter image is missing. How is it supposed to work?
Feed1stBlood 9 Dec, 2024 @ 1:33am 
I understand after I unlock hauling sparks. Normal sparks only interact with right hand side on the path, whilst hauling sparks interact with both side.
Feed1stBlood 7 Dec, 2024 @ 9:44am 
I tried the merger setup with carry spark, it is not same as your picture shows. In my case it goes to right to pick, then goes down (without put the wood on the left) and do nothing, and back to left to put. So it only takes the wood on from right but not from down. Is your case only working for hauling spark or was it any update changing the spark behavior?
Feed1stBlood 30 Nov, 2024 @ 5:41pm 
Hi,

Is there any picture for the splitter and sushi belt? I couldn't see it.
infektedsyringe 1 Sep, 2024 @ 8:21am 
That splitter using the crate is genius... and so simple too! I love seeing stuff like this because I tend to overthink things in these games and miss the forest for the trees.
Hydroculator 15 Aug, 2024 @ 11:31am 
Is this how you would do long distance belts? I'm struggling to figure out how to do those at any kind of decent efficiency. I don't have these types of sparks, though. Just got the ones who carry 2x items. I have the feeling I'm still early days yet.