Automating recipes with multiple ingredients (like the high-profit 7 or 8-step mixes) is significantly more complex in the current version of the Schedule 1 game. The most commonly described and functional method involves physically chaining multiple Mixing Stations together, one for each step of the recipe.
Here's the general concept for an N-step mix:
- Stations: You will need N Mixing Stations.
- Shelves: You need a shelf for the initial base Granddaddy Purple and separate shelves for each of the N ingredients. Using dedicated shelves per ingredient helps prevent Handlers from grabbing the wrong item.
- Employees: You'll likely need multiple Handlers and potentially multiple Chemists, depending on the scale and complexity.
- Chemist Assignments: Assign Chemists to operate the Mixing Stations. A single Chemist might be able to handle multiple stations if they are close together, but for larger setups, multiple Chemists might be needed.
- Handler Routes: This is the crucial part.
- Handler moves base Granddaddy Purple from its shelf to Mixer 1.
- Handler moves Ingredient 1 from its dedicated shelf to Mixer 1.
- Handler moves Ingredient 2 from its dedicated shelf to Mixer 2.
- ...and so on, for each ingredient and corresponding mixer.
- Mixer Chaining: Use the Management Clipboard on each Mixing Station to set its output destination.
- Set Mixer 1's destination TO Mixer 2.
- Set Mixer 2's destination TO Mixer 3.
- ...continue this chain until the final mixer (Mixer N).
- Set Mixer N's destination to a final Output Shelf.
With this setup, the Chemist(s) will operate Mixer 1. When the first mix is complete, the Chemist automatically moves it to Mixer 2. The Handler should have already delivered Ingredient 2 to Mixer 2. The Chemist then operates Mixer 2, and the process repeats down the chain until the final product lands on the Output Shelf.
This multi-station chaining method appears necessary because, unlike some other stations in the game, Mixing Stations currently lack the ability to be programmed with a specific multi-step recipe. This physical chaining is functional but resource-intensive in terms of cost, space, and employee requirements. Some players have experimented with single-mixer automation using carefully ordered shelves, but this seems more prone to errors.
When setting up automation, remember that Handlers often grab items from shelves starting from the top-left position. This might be relevant if using shared shelves, but dedicated shelves per ingredient are generally safer for complex recipes. The Handlers' logic seems to be the most complex part to manage correctly, while Chemists simply operate the stations they are assigned to once supplied.
Successfully automating complex production lines like the best Granddaddy Purple mix shifts the player's focus. Instead of spending time manually crafting, the main task becomes managing the supply chain: ordering vast quantities of ingredients and ensuring all the input shelves for the automated system remain stocked.
