My Time at Sandrock: Research and Data Discs My Time at Sandrock guide, walkthrough
Constantly learning to construct new devices is a daily occurrence at My Time at Sandrock. Through machine research, you will learn complex constructions that will be used to create hard-to-find materials.
Last update: 23 June 2022
This page describes all the activities involved in researching projects at the Research Centre. You will also learn which research to conduct first, what Data Discs are for and how to get them.
How to research
To do research, go to the Research Center located next to Mi-An's house. The screenshot above depicts the center's location. Qi the scientist is waiting for you in the building. Talk to him and select the "Research" option.
The research screen lists all of the currently available projects. Some plans are blocked and you will need to research earlier projects to unlock them, following the order pictured on the tree.
You'll need Data Discs to pay for each research project. Each plan also takes a certain amount of time (1 to 4 days) to complete. As soon as Qi finishes the work, he will send a letter to your mailbox by the workshop to inform you about it. You'll be able to build the machine after reading the letter.
What to research first?
Sooner or later you will do all the research available, but it is important to choose plans in the right order. It's worth the suggestions of the research tree, i.e. to invest in the plans at the very top of the screen first.
The Furnace, Processor and Grinder are fundamental in the early game, as these machines allow you to craft the materials required for future projects. The blueprints for the upgraded versions of these devices can be set aside for later.
It's worth checking out the Dew Collector plan, which will automatically earn you the Dew required to craft water barrels. This way, you'll spend less time gathering dew from bushes and enemies.
Since research takes time, it's a good idea to always have one active research project in progress, as long as you have enough Data Discs.
Where to find Data Discs?
Data Discs are a valuable resource and are crucial to scientific research. There are four ways to obtain Data Discs:
- Digging in the Eufaula Salvage Abandoned Ruins - they're located northeast of your workshop. To gain access to the ruins, you need to complete the Picking Up the Slack quest.
- Buying them at Eufaula Salvage Shop - the store is right next to the Abandoned Ruins. 1 Data Disc costs 10 Gols, which is a reasonable price.
- Processing Scraps in the Recycler machine - the type of Scraps processed doesn't matter, but the chance of getting Data Discs this way is low, so you shouldn't treat it as your main source of discs.
- Searching/digging through Piles and Scraps - you'll find many different resource piles on the map. There's a random chance that you'll find Data Discs when digging through them.