It can be completed in 3 loops (after you start it), or 4-5 if you're not a speed runner.
Not affecting fuel is a known limitation of the system (since fuel cells aren't consumed by the player, it uses a different system and will be non-trivial to add to it). It likely will be added, but not sure when.
How does that work? The power generated by the rover, doesn't transfer to the Laurion station. I've tried. So any power generated, wouldn't do anything. But mostly it wasn't the lack of power that slowed down my progress. It was running out of food/water in those loops, that is why it took me so long. Laurion has no infinite food or water supply, so it is quite easy to run out of those resources there. It does have the water filter device, but that thing is SO DAMN SLOW, that by the time the next water bottle is generated, you'd have consumed more water, than the bottle gives. Its like 2.5 water, and the time to wait to get a bottle you consume 2.6 water.
here step by step what I do:
1.in Talos install solar panel, use artifact on solar panel.
2.drive to Laurion and install generator and water recycler at Laurion (to Laurion), also install the solar panel at Laurion (to the rover) and use artifact on generator.
3.use all fuel cell in generator and charge drone (also install 2 empty power cell) then takes the artifact back to the solar panels.
4.drive to dam and get the 1 empty power cell and 1 power coupler.
5.close dam and drive to Santorini.
6.drive to quarry and call tram (also restock to have max all item and take the environmental suit).
7.drive to central to charge rover (also install the empty power cell) and restock food and water.
8.drive to quarry to take vegetable.
9. drive to central to charge rover (also install the empty power cell) and restock food and water.
10. go to Laurion, put the artifact in the generator and then use all fuel cell and start digging.
at this point you should have 2 water recyclers (infinity water), a lot of energy (if not enough energy than you can put artifact in solar panels after the fuel cell ran out and not park the rover in Laurion and take full power cell the transfer it to Laurion), 5 ration pack, 5 protein bars, 5 basic foods,5 vegetable and that not even count the amount of food you don't take in Laurion.
if you think this have any problem, please let me know
edit: 2,3 loop is just an estimate I seriously don't know this Strat can take the artifact in just 2,3 loop or not
also, your comment has some flaw like " The power generated by the rover, doesn't transfer to the Laurion station." which is false you can transfer by take the full power cell in rover and then transfer to Laurion
and food and water problem can be solved somewhat by better resource management and install the quick water recycler in Santorini to rover
This makes zero sense to me, as you are skipping steps. Primarily:
-> You only get the Power artifact from Astrape, after charging the Drone Block. Once you got the artifact, there isn't any value left with the Drone.
-> I needed the Resource artifact from Laurion to survive my trips to Astrape and then explore Astrape long enough to get the Power artifact. Astrape has lots of food and water, but air is limited and the trip to Astrape takes a long time, so the Resource artifact extends your food and water to get to Astrape reliably.
-> So, this explanation assumes that I'm skipping Laurion, to go straight to Santorini and eventually Astrape... to get the Power artifact first, and then return in future loops, once I have the Power artifact, to solve Laurion's Resource artifact problem.
-> Sure if I had the Power artifact, Laurion would be a piece of cake. I could probably solve it in 2 loops, maybe one if I had the water available. But you need the Resource artifact, to get the Power artifact in any amount of sane loops as its hard to make it to Astrape without running out of water or food.
->idk why it relevant (could be because you assume me get the artifact and mine at the same loop, but I get the artifact first already)
->I don't even go to Astrape (could be the same reason as the first one)
->you are right (but I don't skip Laurion to get artifact personally)
->I don't even go to Astrape (could be the same reason as the first one)
->to be clear what I meant by "done it in just 2,3 loop" it means when I start digging and what I think you are miss understand is done digging in just 2,3 when just start the game (which I think it's impossible)
->please let me know if I am wrong or not
so, you don't know the artifact can be keep between loops?
edit1: what I do is after getting the Astrape artifact I press loop now and I still keep the artifact because the artifact can be keep between loops.
edit2: I think because you attach the artifact something and then loop so the artifact does not return to you after loop and the artifact just in what thing you attach it to.
please test if you attach the artifact to something or not (I have no hate toward you or trolling you I just want you to know the game better).
and please reply if you see this.
