[Genhis][2.1.8] Mixed rockets cause delays

[ignatio]

If a platform requests two items A and B, where A has a lowered minimum payload set, the mixed rocket loading in 2.1 may launch a rocket with a mix of A and B, satisfying A but not B, which means it may then sit around for a long time to wait for a new full rocket of B. Before 2.1 it would load a full rocket of B and a partial rocket of A, following the lowered minimum payload for that item.

Why is that a problem? In my case, it's because of the spoilage timer on Gleba items. A is bioflux and B is agricultural science pack. I need a continuous supply of both, but less of bioflux. If I request a full rocket of bioflux, one would be delivered approximately every fifth roundtrip, which would make them spoil in the meantime. My solution was to lower the minimum payload for bioflux and accept the price of launching partial rockets with it. With 2.1, my "shuttle" platform will often stay around for too long on Gleba waiting for a second full rocket of science packs, which increases the roundtrip time and puts both items closer to their spoilage timeouts when they arrive on Nauvis.

If this was possible to solve without resorting to lowered minimum payloads then I could switch to that, but I think the spoilage mechanic fundamentally needs to allow for automatic partial rocket launches, and I don't see any other options than a lowered minimum payload. I guess one workaround (that I haven't tried) is to separate the requests so that the partial rocket loads go to a second platform that shuttles nothing else, but that's not a very satisfying way to deal with it.

I've attached a save that should show this happening. In it the "Shuttle Nau-Gle" platform is en route to Gleba and will receive a mixed rocket that doesn't satisfy the request for science packs. Before 2.1 it would be on its way back again soon after receiving two rocket loads, one full with science packs and another partial with bioflux.

[Whippzz]

I was able to design a work around for this.

By making the circuit condition "Set Requests" for the space platform using a decider combinator I'm able to subsequently request Bioflux after Agricultural Science. There is a slight delay while the first delivery is being launched but I think this is the best way to work around the mixed delay in the mean time!

I like this instead of having to make a separate space platform or tweaking minimums.

[ignatio]

I realised that lowered minimum payloads aren't necessary for this to occur. It can also happen if some amount of item A (bioflux in my case) already is present on the platform, so less than a full load of it is necessary. A mixed rocket is launched which will not have a full load of item B (the science packs), and it sits waiting for another full batch to be manufactured.

To avoid that I'd have to ensure the platform goes back to Gleba either without any A at all on it, or (at least) a full load. That seems tricky, since the platform needs to go back when it runs out of B.

What I'd like to see is a toggle in the "Set orbital request" dialogue that allows me to exclude the item from mixed rocket loads, which I'd use on item B. Then, with only A remaining to be fulfilled I think the lowered minimum payload would work as expected.

[ignatio]

By making the circuit condition "Set Requests" for the space platform using a decider combinator I'm able to subsequently request Bioflux after Agricultural Science. There is a slight delay while the first delivery is being launched but I think this is the best way to work around the mixed delay in the mean time!

This workaround is reasonable, and actually a satisfying little puzzle to set up.

Another variant, which I'm using now, is to ship up bioflux to a stationary platform around Gleba, and then request from that instead of the surface. That way the "shuttle" platform can request both items in parallel, minimising stopover time. The bioflux in the stationary platform does get a little older and closer to spoiling, but the spoil time is so long that it doesn't really matter much.

This would probably be harder to work around if there are more than two items involved. However since there aren't (at least not in the base game, as far as I know), I think having to figure out this workaround actually adds to the gameplay. Maybe it doesn't need fixing.