What drew you to play No Man's Sky initially?
I was searching for a space game to play with my son. I love sci-fi and comic books, and No Man's Sky looked like exactly that. My son didn't like it much, but I got sucked into it and never left.
Now that you're an experienced NMS player, what do you think of the game?
The fact that Hello Games continues to give away new content is amazing and I still really love the game. My love for building stays the same, but the exploration part is not as exciting as it was in the beginning. But I do still stumble across something extraordinary from time to time and get all the excitement back.
How did you become interested in base building?
A couple of years ago I saw someone post a build in a NMS facebook group. It was a round building and I learned, that it was created by glitching wires to a biodome. The technique has evolved a lot since then, but my journey down the rabbit hole of glitch building started there.
What is it about building bases that you enjoy most?
Recreating buildings, ships etc from my favorite sci-fi movies, just so I can wander around in them. Learning new ways to bend the in-game rules for building, and the joy of finding a use for build parts they were not intended to have.
How would you describe your design aesthetic?
As a huge sci-fi fan, my build style is mainly futuristic and I like to create a very realistic feel to my builds. But I also love to create magical, fantasy inspired builds.
Where do you find your design inspirations?
Mostly from sci-fi movies, but I've also built some bases inspired by fantasy books and movies. Besides that, I get inspired by other builders.
Do you usually have a clear picture of what you're going to build before you start?
If it's a big build, absolutely. I know exactly what I want to build and plan it carefully.
How do you choose locations for your builds?
As my plans for the build itself, I have a clear image of the location, terrain, backdrop etc. I've found that the flying pets are excellent for scouting for perfect build sites from above.
Tell us a little about your thought process when you begin a build.
I usually have a clear idea for a build and if it's a complicated build, I draw sketches and simple schematics. For me it's very important to find the perfect location, and I definitely take my time finding it. The right terrain or view is what adds a little extra magic to a build.
What techniques and tools do you use?
Standard building, glitch building and freehand placement.
How do these techniques and tools fit into your process?
In my build process, I try to find a build part that have the shape I need for a specific element in my base, and use various techniques to manipulate the part to fit my need. As an example, the cannons on the Rocinante are glitch-resized gas extractors with a base of wall fans and side panels.
What are the pros and cons you encounter by using these techniques and tools?
Glitch-building provides a much broader variety of colors, shapes and sizes, which enables me to create whatever I like.
What do you find most challenging about building in NMS?
The fact that not all parts are resizable and those damned snap point are driving me insane sometimes. And we need more parts. And a build light, because it's impossible to see anything when building at night.
How do you deal with a design that just isn't working?
I tear down and rebuild until I'm satisfied. It can be a very, very long process.
Has there been any specific design type or style you've not found a way to create?
Food is difficult. The parts just can't get small enough.
How would you recommend someone new to NMS begin learning to build?
Learn the basics and dive into glitch-building. If you need to create something specific, look for a part that has the shape you need, and ignore the intended purpose of it.
What additional advice would you give to new Builders?
Never be afraid to put something weird together, just do crazy experiments.
