How To Manage Your Base In The Alters

TL;DR

  • Use the Airlock as your central hub and build a single elevator shaft for optimal navigation
  • Prioritize Research Lab, Workshop, and Communication Room placement near entry points
  • Balance module quantity with mass requirements for base movement between regions
  • Maintain radiation filters in Machinery rooms and ensure adequate food production
  • Optimize character motivation through proper recreational and rest facility placement

Constructing and maintaining an efficient mobile base represents one of the most critical survival elements in The Alters. This massive structure serves as your primary operations center throughout the entire campaign, providing shelter, production capabilities, and essential services for Jan Dolski and his alternate versions.

While external planetary threats pose constant danger, your internal base management decisions directly impact character survival rates and mission success probabilities. This comprehensive guide delivers actionable strategies to transform your hub into a well-oiled survival machine.

Base Functions Overview

Your mobile base functions as a self-contained ecosystem that must support multiple characters simultaneously. Each module contributes specific functions that collectively determine your operational capacity and resource sustainability.

Resource Management Fundamentals

Successful base operation requires balancing resource acquisition with consumption patterns. Metals, minerals, organics, and rare anomaly byproducts form the foundation of all construction and maintenance activities.

Upon gaining access to your mobile command center, you’ll discover several pre-activated modules already operational. As campaign progression advances, strategic expansion becomes essential for accommodating new characters and technologies.

Command Center Operations

The terminal within your Command Center provides two primary functions for base development:

  • Build – This interface enables addition of new modules and specialized rooms to expand your capabilities
  • Expand – Increasing available construction space allows placement of additional specialized facilities

Resource Acquisition Strategies

All construction and expansion activities demand substantial resource investments gathered from the planetary environment. Surface collection suffices for basic materials, while advanced components require scanning and mining deep deposits using specialized equipment.

Layout Management Tools

Important Navigation Tip: You can review your current hub configuration anytime by accessing the Base Overview screen from the main interface.

How to place down new rooms and modules

The Alters’ base construction interface within the Command Center permits comprehensive module organization and repositioning according to your operational preferences. You maintain the ability to refund construction costs for obsolete facilities.

Critical connectivity consideration: Every module must display a green outline indicating accessible pathways. Rooms lacking proper connections become non-functional and may trigger character dissatisfaction.

Essential progression note: Numerous advanced rooms remain locked initially, becoming available only after completing specific research tasks within the Laboratory module.

You can make changes to your base's layout in the Command Center.

Strategic base layout adjustments significantly impact daily operational efficiency and character morale management.

The most integral rooms for your base

Effective base management in The Alters demands thorough understanding of each module’s specialized functions. Core facilities including Airlock (entry/exit point), Captain’s Cabin (sleeping quarters), Communication Room (transmission hub), Command Center (administrative core), and Elevators provide fundamental operational infrastructure.

Production Facilities

  • Research Lab – Unlocks technological advancements when staffed by a Scientist specialist
  • Workshop – Enables tool fabrication and consumable production; multiple Workshops can operate simultaneously
  • Quantum Computer and The Womb – These interconnected modules enable examination of Jan’s life path divergences to generate new alter clones
  • Machinery – Requires active Radiation Filters during nighttime operations and Magnetic Storms to prevent radiation sickness

Character Management Rooms

  • Infirmary – Provides medical treatment for injuries and radiation exposure; recovery rates accelerate with Doctor specialists
  • Greenhouse and Kitchen – Crop cultivation and food preparation facilities; food sources include organics or harvested crops; each character consumes one daily meal
  • Dormitory – Sleeping accommodations for alter clones; essential for maintaining adequate living conditions
  • Recreation: Social Room and Gym – Motivation enhancement through relaxation and physical exercise
  • Contemplation Room – Counseling facility for unmotivated or distressed alters; Shrink specialists provide therapy while Guards enforce discipline

Resource Processing Areas

  • Storage – Capacity expansion for resource stockpiling; early game requires 4-5 units; excess uncollected resources disappear without storage capacity
  • Recycler – Post-research module generating +5 organics daily based on base population

How to rearrange modules in your base

Several hours into your campaign, dedicating time to comprehensive base reorganization pays substantial efficiency dividends. Optimal layout configuration should prioritize frequently accessed facilities and logical operational groupings.

Traffic Flow Planning

  • Airlock – Position as central navigation hub since this serves as your fast travel arrival point.
  • Elevators – Construct a single vertical shaft spanning the entire base height from the Airlock; superior to default dual-shaft configuration requiring complex navigation
  • Command Center, Workshop, Research Lab, and Communication Room – Cluster these high-traffic areas near the Airlock and primary elevator for rapid access
  • Quantum Computer and The Womb – Maintain adjacency since both facilities handle alter creation processes

Efficiency Groupings

  • Kitchen, Dormitory, and Recreational Spaces – Group character rest and socialization areas together to facilitate emergent dialogue opportunities
  • Machinery – Maintain surplus Radiation Filter inventory with automated activation protocols to eliminate last-minute crafting emergencies
  • Storage – Position near base bottom levels since these require infrequent access compared to production facilities

Production Management Efficiency

Critical Workflow Tip: You can queue craftable items through the Production menu without physically visiting each facility, then assign tasks via the Assignments interface. Manual crafting still requires physical presence in relevant rooms.

Reconfigure and reposition modules so that it's easier to navigate the interior of your base.

Strategic module repositioning dramatically reduces navigation time between critical operational areas.

Base Navigation System: Structures and mass

Campaign advancement necessitates relocating your base before solar radiation incineration occurs. The Base Navigation System provides comprehensive relocation data accessible via the Command Center’s right-side panel.

Mass Management

  • Each additional structure/module increases your base’s total mass significantly
  • Regional relocation—triggering chapter progression—demands two completion criteria:
    • Fulfillment of all primary chapter/region objectives
    • Organic resource stockpiles equivalent to total base mass; example: 300 mass requires 300 organics

Strategic Expansion Decisions

Ultimately, you must carefully time module expansion decisions. Early comprehensive development maximizes functional capabilities but substantially increases mass requirements and organic mining demands.

That concludes our comprehensive guide to managing your base in The Alters. Since we’ve covered internal habitat management, consider exploring how to increase the happiness of your characters for enhanced productivity. Additional survival techniques await in our beginner’s guide for newcomers.

Can you ensure Jan Dolski and his clone variants survive their extraordinary circumstances? For further specialized guidance, visit our The Alters guides hub containing advanced strategies.

Action Checklist

  • Establish Airlock as central hub with single elevator shaft
  • Cluster Command Center, Workshop, and Research Lab near entry points
  • Group Kitchen, Dormitory, and Recreation areas together
  • Maintain surplus Radiation Filters in Machinery rooms
  • Balance module quantity with organic stockpiles for base movement

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