Do you evolve in the branches? and several other noob questions

[mathSq]

I recently got into a really bad spot and found myself with low core integrity on -7. Of course, given my luck, I wound up in the Caves instead of -6, and managed to hobble my way to Data Miner with NINE core integrity. I of course mined the data and it was glorious.

NINJA EDIT:

Spoiler

'mining the data' means connecting to all the terminals; I wasn't ambitious enough to try to evict the DM.

[close]

After raiding the terminals, I went through the exit, expecting to enter -6/Prox Caves reinvigorated with an evolution. Indeed, after leaving Data Miner I found myself on -6, one level higher than where I was. But alas, I didn't evolve. Instead, I was surrounded by hostiles, and died on literally my next turn.

Major question: when do evolutions happen? Do they occur in branches, or only when you reach the next level of Complex 0b10?

Also, a couple of minor questions over things I noticed:

• How exactly do I use the access codes Data Miner gives me? I've surmised that the one on the terminals is intended for the Recycling entrance, but I'm not sure what the God Mode code is for. Where do I punch it in--any 0b10 terminal, any Data Miner terminal, or some special machine?
• Do Force Fields stack?

Morgue: (you'll also notice I built up a lot... of heat...)

Spoiler

Code Select Expand

Cogmind - Alpha 8

Name: mathSq

---[ CORE DESTROYED ]---

Performance
-------------
Evolutions (3)             1500
Robots Destroyed (66)      330
Value Destroyed (1651)     1651
Prototype IDs (7)          140
Alien Tech Identified (0)  0
Bonus (300)                300
              TOTAL SCORE: 3921

Cogmind
---------
Core Integrity             0/700
Matter                     297/300
Energy                     50/50
System Corruption          0%
Temperature                Cool (0)
Location                   -6/Proximity Caves

Parts
-------
Power (3)
Propulsion (2)
Utility (5)
Weapon (3)
  Makeshift Spear
  Autogun

Inventory
-----------
Gravmag System
Makeshift Spear
Makeshift Spear
Enhanced Flamer

Peak State
------------
Power
  Improved Deuterium Engine
Propulsion
  Gravmag System
  Gravmag System
Utility
  Force Field
  Force Field
  Force Field
  Matter Filter
  Matter Filter
Weapon
  Makeshift Spear
  Enhanced Flamer
  Enhanced Flamer
[Rating: 39]

Favorites
-----------
Power                      Light Ion Engine
  Engine                   Light Ion Engine
  Power Core               Light Nuclear Core
Propulsion                 Aluminum Leg
  Treads                   Light Treads
  Leg                      Aluminum Leg
  Hover Unit               Gravmag System
Utility                    Large Storage Unit
  Device                   Force Field
  Storage                  Large Storage Unit
  Protection               Light Armor Plating
Weapon                     Makeshift Spear
  Energy Gun               Advanced Beam Rifle
  Energy Cannon            Beam Cannon
  Ballistic Gun            Light Assault Rifle
  Special Weapon           Enhanced Flamer
  Piercing Weapon          Makeshift Spear

Stats
-------
Bonus Breakdown            300
  Met Data Miner           300
Classes Destroyed          9
  Worker                   2
  Builder                  1
  Hauler                   2
  Recycler                 3
  Watcher                  1
  Swarmer                  28
  Grunt                    22
  Brawler                  2
  Sentry                   5
NPCs Destroyed             0
Best Kill Streak           4
  Combat Bots Only         4
Matter Collected           1123
  Salvage Created          2174
Parts Attached             76
  Power                    14
  Propulsion               17
  Utility                  15
  Weapon                   30
Parts Lost                 58
  Power                    12
  Propulsion               11
  Utility                  15
  Weapon                   20
Average Slot Usage (%)     66
  Naked Turns              2
Spaces Moved               2467
  Fastest Speed (%)        200
  Average Speed (%)        123
  Slowest Speed (%)        41
  Overloaded Moves         0
  Propulsion Burnouts      0
  Targets Rammed           2
  Cave-ins Triggered       0
  Teleports                0
Heaviest Build             82
  Greatest Overweight (x)  25
  Average Overweight (x)   0
Largest Inventory          10
  Most Items Carried       10
  Average Items Carried    6
Core Damage Taken          1351
Average Core Remaining (%) 42
  Depth 10 Exit            29
  Depth 9 Exit             35
  Depth 8 Exit             62
Volleys Fired              253
  Largest                  3
  Hottest                  166
Shots Fired                429
  Gun                      343
  Cannon                   80
  Launcher                 0
  Special                  6
  Kinetic                  200
  Thermal                  214
  Explosive                0
  Electromagnetic          15
Shots Hit Robots           274
  Core Hits                108
Overload Shots             0
  Energy Bleed             0
  Heat Surge               0
  Short Circuit            0
  Meltdown                 0
Melee Attacks              0
  Impact                   0
  Slashing                 0
  Piercing                 0
Damage Inflicted           4287
  Projectiles              4118
  Explosions               159
  Melee                    0
  Ramming                  10
  Kinetic                  1436
  Thermal                  2611
  Explosive                0
  Electromagnetic          230
  Impact                   0
  Slashing                 0
  Piercing                 0
Self-Inflicted Damage      61
  Shots                    1
  Rammed                   2
Highest Temperature        1051
  Average Temperature      186
  Shutdowns                20
  Energy Bleed             12
  Interference             6
  Matter Decay             5
  Short Circuit            7
  Damage (minor)           9
  Damage (major)           30
  Damage (core)            3
Highest Corruption         5
  Average Corruption       1
  Message Errors           1
  Parts Rejected           2
  Data loss (map)          4
  Data loss (database)     2
  Misfires                 0
  Misdirections            1
  Targeting Errors         2
  Weapon Failures          1
  Depth 10 End             4
  Depth 8 End              5
Haulers Intercepted        2
Robots Corrupted           0
Robots Melted              0
Power Chain Reactions      0
Tactical Retreats          23
Communications Jammed      0
Parts Field Recycled       0
  Retrieved Matter         0
Parts Merge Repaired       0
Drone Launches             0
  Drone Recoveries         0
Derelicts Assembled        0
Traps Triggered            0
  Indirectly               0
Trap Hack Attempts         0
  Triggered                0
  Disarmed                 0
  Reprogrammed             0
  Reused                   0
Data Cores Recovered       0
  Used                     0
Machines Hacked            10
  Terminals                4
  Fabricators              0
  Repair Stations          0
  Recycling Units          0
  Scanalyzers              0
  Garrison Access          0
Total Hacks                37
  Successful               22
  Failed                   9
  Catastrophic             1
  Database Lockouts        0
  Manual                   4
  Unauthorized             0
  Terminals                11
  Fabricators              0
  Repair Stations          0
  Recycling Units          0
  Scanalyzers              0
  Garrison Access          0
Terminal Hacks             42
  Record                   10
  Part Schematic           2
  Robot Schematic          3
  Robot Analysis           0
  Prototype ID Bank        3
  Open Door                2
  Level Access Points      0
  Branch Access Points     1
  Emergency Access Points  0
  Machine Index            0
  Terminal Index           0
  Fabricator Index         0
  Repair Station Index     0
  Recycling Unit Index     0
  Scanalyzer Index         0
  Garrison Index           0
  Alert Level              1
  Unreport Threat          0
  Locate Traps             0
  Disarm Traps             0
  Reprogram Traps          0
  Dispatch Records         0
  Maintenance Status       0
  Security Status          0
  Surveillance Status      0
  Patrol Status            0
  Transport Status         0
  Investigation Status     0
  Extermination Status     0
  Reinforcement Status     0
  Assault Status           0
  Garrison Status          0
  Intercept Status         0
  Recall Investigation     0
  Recall Extermination     0
  Recall Reinforcements    0
  Recall Assault           0
  Hauler Manifests         0
  Registered Components    0
  Registered Prototypes    0
  Zone Layout              0
  Sector Layout            0
  Machine Controls         0
Hacking Detections         4
  Full Trace Events        2
  Feedback Events          0
  Feedback Corruption      0
  Feedback Part Disabled   0
  Feedback Blocked         0
Trojans Installed          0
  Terminals                0
  Fabricators              0
  Repair Stations          0
  Recycling Units          0
  Scanalyzers              0
  Garrison Access          0
Fabricators Overloaded     0
Garrisons Disabled         0
Garrisons Compromised      0
Robot Schematics Acquired  3
  Robots Built             0
  Total Robot Build Rating 0
  Robot Fabrication Matter 0
  Robot Fabrication Time   0
Part Schematics Acquired   2
  Parts Built              0
  Total Part Build Rating  0
  Part Fabrication Matter  0
  Part Fabrication Time    0
Parts Repaired             0
  Part Repair Time         0
Parts Recycled             0
  Recycled Matter          0
  Retrieved Matter         0
  Retrieved Components     0
Parts Scanalyzed           0
  Part Schematics Acquired 0
  Parts Damaged            0
Robot Analysis Total       0
Robots Rewired             0
Robots Hacked              0
  Non-combat               0
  Combat                   0
  Parse                    0
  Link                     0
  Rebooted                 0
  Overloaded               0
  Assimilated              0
  Manual                   0
  Secondary                0
Robot Hack Failures        0
Allies Hacked              0
Hacks Repelled             0
Total Allies               0
  Largest Group            0
  Highest-Rated Group      0
  Highest-Rated Ally       0
Total Orders               0
  STAY                     0
  GOTO                     0
  ROAM                     0
  FOLLOW                   0
  GUARD                    0
  AID                      0
  BUILD                    0
  TUNNEL                   0
  DROP                     0
  PICKUP                   0
  COLLECT                  0
  EXPLORE                  0
  RETURN                   0
Terraforming Orders        0
  Walls Built              0
  Walls Tunneled           0
Ally Attacks               0
  Total Damage             0
  Kills                    0
Allies Corrupted           0
Allies Melted              0
Peak Influence             295
  Average Influence        125
  Final Influence          0
Maximum Alert Level        1
  Low Security (%)         72
  Level 1                  27
  Level 2                  0
  Level 3                  0
  Level 4                  0
  Level 5                  0
Squads Dispatched          11
  Investigation            3
  Extermination            1
  Reinforcement            7
  Assault                  0
  Garrison                 0
  Intercept                0
Derelict Logs Recovered    5
Exploration Rate (%)       24
  Regions Visited          10
  Pre-discovered Areas     3
Garrisons Visited          0
  Relays Disabled          0
  Generators Disabled      0
Network Hubs Disabled      0
Actions Taken              3285
Turns Passed               3781
  Depth 11                 60
  Depth 10                 936
  Depth 9                  573
  Depth 8                  768
  Depth 7                  1443
  Depth 6                  1
  Scrapyard                60
  Materials                2173
  Factory                  277
  Mines                    104
  Lower Caves              1116
  Proximity Caves          1
  Data Miner               50

Prototype IDs
---------------
Heavy Deuterium Engine
Experimental Cesium-ion Thruster
Heavy Particle Gun
Advanced Beam Rifle
Heavy EM Shotgun
Precision Rocket Launcher
Combat Drone Bay

Alien Tech Recovered
----------------------
None

Route
-------
-11/Scrapyard
-10/Materials
-9/Materials
-9/Mines
-8/Materials
-7/Factory
-7/Lower Caves
-7/Lower Caves
-7/Data Miner
-6/Proximity Caves

Game
------
Seed: 1464582480
^Manual?: 0
Play Time: 61 min
Sessions: 1
Mod: N/A
Game No.: 6
ASCII: 0
Keyboard: 0
Movement: Numpad
Fullscreen: 1
Font: 12/Crisp
Map View: 83x54
FOV Handling: Fade In


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03

[close]

[biomatter]

Major question: Yeah, you basically have it figured out. You only evolve when you both go up a level AND hit the main complex (Materials, Factory, Research, Access).

Minor 1: You can't use the God Mode code yet. You'll be able to use it when Warlord's branch is implemented though, sometime in the next version or two. The Recycling code is permanent, unlike most other codes you come by, so you can use it in future runs.

Minor 2: Good question.

While we're here, I have a question of my own. It's really dumb, but... Corruption refreshes back to 0% every time you level up, yes? I am 99% sure this is how it works, but it's not in the manual lol. I dunno, maybe it deserves a line in there somewhere.

[Kyzrati]

Minor 2: Any utility that stacks will have a "<stacks>" indicator by its description. (The "Advanced UI" section of the manual talks about this and other special indicators.) Force Fields don't have that indicator, so no stacking. The only reason to have more than one active is if you're afraid one will be shot off in the middle of taking a lot of fire (but generally you'd rather have something else in that second slot to begin with).

@biomatter: ?!?!?!?! I am very surprised that you of all players aren't sure of this by now . Correct, and I've just added a line for that to the manual, thanks.

[biomatter]

I mean, like, I was 99% certain... but it wasn't in the manual. I dunno. I had a brain fart when I came back and just wanted to make you aware it wasn't in the manual.

[Kyzrati]

Yeah, makes sense to throw it in there with the evolution and corruption talk.