It took me a while, but once I got far enough into my Space Exploration game to experience the epoxy plastic and vitalic acid batteries recipes, I couldn't help but notice something. These recipes do not in any way offer me a workaround for the necessity of water and coal for my batteries and plastic. I suppose this way it does not upset any sort of balance considerations made by Earendel. I have mixed feelings about this. I don't want to upset balance either, but I am trying to find ways to produce plastic and sulfur in space more easily without planetary shipments.

On the other hand, I'm not sure what value these recipes do have in a game of Space Exploration. They feel like they ought to exist, but I can't come up with a scenario in which I'd find them useful. Perhaps this is because their requirement of vitamelange products keeps them linked to places where I typically have access to abundant water, coal, and oil. Maybe if they cost biosludge instead, then I would find them more useful. That might be overpowered but it might not be. After all, biosludge is made most easily with vitamelange products, but it can still be made in large amounts with fish which come from planets, or in small amounts from various in-space processes.

That all being said, I LOVE the Iridium axe! It takes a while getting to it so I spend my early game WANTING it, and that really makes it feel special when I finally GET it!