FIELD NOTE 01

Your first useful observation

Watch what changes while you clean. The official loop says jobs produce cash and resources, but those outcomes serve different decisions. Cash supports purchases; resources and processed materials connect to other systems.

Do not worry about a universal early route before launch data exists. Your first goal is to identify the constraint you can actually see.

The cleanup vehicle extracting sludge beside an industrial building.
Official Sludgineers press-kit media · documented in the site manifest

FIELD NOTE 02

A simple upgrade check

Before buying, note the cost, the current value and the upgraded value. Subtract to get the gain. Divide cost by gain for a payback measure only when both rates use the same unit.

If the upgraded value is not better, or if it affects a different system, leave it out of the numerical ranking and compare the qualitative benefit separately.

  • What does this purchase change?
  • Is that system slowing me now?
  • How many matching rate units repay the cost?
  • Will an unlock or quest matter more first?

FIELD NOTE 03

Where the refinery fits

Refining is a processing stage between collection and later value. Learn its inputs and outputs from your current game screen, not from an invented launch table.

If input accumulates while machines sit busy, processing may be the constraint. If machines wait empty, field collection may deserve attention first.

The official refinery grounds before all processing lanes are active.
Official Sludgineers press-kit media · documented in the site manifest

FIELD NOTE 04

What remains unknown before launch

Full-game upgrade values, recipes, quest details, area order and achievement requirements are intentionally absent here until current evidence exists. That is a feature of this guide's accuracy policy.

Use custom Tracker items for anything you see now. Once Steam confirms the live build, verified registries can add names without erasing your notes.

EVIDENCE LOG

Sources