So what is the general build order? I just started playing but I totally starved to death by attrition. I stabilized and got to a point where I had too many duplicants to feed and too much upkeep to keep my place running. So I just withered away.
I kept going farming, but without irrigation farming is not as worthwhile as I hoped and I am unsure of exactly how it needs to be irrigated outside of priority and manual bottle carry. I was pretty good with my hamster wheel and batteries but I got behind on oxygen regeneration. The algae terrariums require more upkeep than they're worth it seems?
I'm not even sure what the "perfect" build order is. Some will vary based on SEED. Everything in the game you build, has +/- in terms of its needs. the game is incredibly well made in how much everything interconnects. And yeah, first thing to learn is, don't take too many dupes, just because they are being offered.
Algae terrarium. requires lots of water, lots of maintenance. But, creates more oxygen per algae, then Algae Deoxydizer.
Algae Dexoydizer. Requires lots of power. Power itself, having a good deal of maintenance, and material consumption. and uses more Algae per oxygen.
I will say yes, the terrariums probably arent worth it. 1 Deoxydixzer is probalby enough for early game till you get a full electrolyzer up and running. (Aided with deoderizers, cleaning out polluted oxygen.)
But, Running out of Algae is a very big deal as you transition into midgame, very potentially. Coal, algae and clean water are the big hurdles you need to be ready to hit around cycle 80-100 or so.
Coal and algae outside of starter zone do exist, but locations and amount will vary from Seed to Seed. being prepared to run out of either is very desirable.
clean water is also obviously a big deal. With irrigation, food, and oxygen electrolyser making heavy use of it. If you are not prepared to replenish your source, you will be running out of it again around 80-100 cycles in.
Its also one of the easiest to deal with thankfully. Late game you might be harvesting an infinite amount of water from a geyser. but for now, its easy enough to simply turn all that germ free, polluted water, in slime biomes into clean drinking water with a water sieve. that polluted water can also be used before it enters the sieve, to cool the water that comes out of the sieve with an aquatuner.
Be sure GERMY water is directed somewhere else. look up closed loop bathroom systems for that.
Dupe time is a valuable commodity. set all interior doors to stay open. Manual generators are pretty good.. but yeah, cost dupe time. farm tiles-dupe time spent doing manual irrigation.