Preparing for Season X’s Peninsula Island Challenge
Hello and welcome back—I’m B Jo. In this guide, I’m breaking down the results of testing 19 different industries to determine which offers the best return on investment (ROI) in Workers and Resources: Soviet Republic. With Season X kicking off on June 7th at 9:00 a.m. Central Time—the hardest challenge I’ll ever attempt—I needed reliable numbers to decide which industry path gives you a fighting chance. Relying solely on spreadsheets just didn’t cut it, so I set up a live test in my “Beginners Guide City” and here’s what I discovered.
1. Test Setup and Methodology
Before diving into the industry-by-industry breakdown, here’s an overview of the testing environment and how ROI is calculated:
- City Setup:
- Population: Approximately 2,500 at peak, with about 20% unemployment.
- Workforce: This configuration yields roughly 255 workers per shift for the industries.
- Education: A high number of educated citizens are present to run more sophisticated industries.
- Test Timeline:
- The industry construction is completed at the end of July.
- The first workers start arriving on July 31st/August 1st, and the test runs for the entire month of August.
- Industry Layout:
- All industry buildings are set up within walking range of a central export point (custom sales), with a sufficient number of trucks to handle export logistics.
- Efficiency in truck export wasn’t a focus here—trucks drive as much as they want, and fuel export is factored in but not optimized.
- ROI Calculation:
- ROI is calculated as the profit (export value minus import costs) divided by the import cost.
- For clarity:
- 100% ROI means you double your money.
- 200% ROI means you triple your money, and so on.
This real-world test revealed that numbers on paper can differ dramatically from in-game performance due to factors like truck efficiency, fuel consumption, and even research requirements.
2. Industry-by-Industry Breakdown
Fabric and Clothing
- Combined Setup:
- The most common setup is to run Fabric in the middle with two Clothing industries on the outside.
- Combined ROI: Approximately 159%—meaning you nearly double your money.
- Separate Components:
- Fabric Only: About 58% ROI.
- Clothing Only: Around 53% ROI.
- Key Insight:
- When combined, the numbers add up in a way that dramatically outperforms the individual industries. This synergy suggests that if you can produce all the lower-level products and only import one component, you can effectively boost your ROI.
Plastic, Electrical Components, and Electronics
- Plastic:
- In my test, plastic wasn’t just low-ROI—it actually resulted in a loss.
- Electrical Components & Electronics:
- These industries don’t yield worthwhile returns unless built as part of a complex (similar to the Fabric/Clothing setup), where they can at least approach the ROI level of Fabric only.
Food and Alcohol
- Food:
- Theoretical ROI: Expected to be around 172%.
- Test ROI: Came in at about 110%—a significant shortfall, likely due to high export volume and fuel consumption for trucks.
- Alcohol:
- Theoretical ROI: Around 125%, which should outperform food.
- Test ROI: Approximately 20% lower than the theoretical value, bringing it close to food in performance.
- Observation:
- Variations in ROI here are sensitive to the volume of exports and the associated fuel costs. Even small changes in truck efficiency can swing the numbers dramatically.
Refinery with Pipes
- ROI Analysis:
- When export is done via pipes, the calculated and actual ROIs are nearly identical.
- Why? Power, water, and sewage costs are minimal compared to truck-based exports.
- Using Trucks:
- If you rely on trucks for exports, the ROI for the refinery drops significantly—sometimes to less than a third of the theoretical figure.
- Conclusion: Fuel consumption is a major ROI adjuster here.
Chemicals
- ROI: Around 210%—tripling your money in theory.
- Downside:
- Low profit per worker.
- Requires high volume to be effective.
- May not generate enough cash flow early on to cover hefty loan repayments (e.g., a monthly loan repayment of around 30,000 Rubles).
- Role:
- Chemicals can serve as a reliable, safe supplement to your production but might not be the best primary revenue generator if rapid cash flow is required.
Vehicle Production Line
- Surprise Winner:
- ROI clocks in at about 350%—roughly 4.5 times your investment.
- Blueprints:
- It didn’t matter which blueprint was used; selling NATO vehicles to a USSR site consistently generated high returns.
- Efficiency:
- Generates roughly 650 Rubles per worker, which makes loan repayment easier.
- Requires only a few trucks, as a single vehicle truck can handle the export once raw materials are in place.
Nuclear Fuel
- My New Favorite:
- Nuclear Fuel production stands out with an ROI of around 276% in basic tests.
- When you set up the full production line (involving a uranium mine, uranium oxide, UF₆, and a nuclear fuel refinery), ROIs can soar up to 567%—truly an industry that moves a buttload of cash.
- Setup Requirements:
- Extensive research is required to unlock the nuclear fuel production line (starting with uranium mine, then uranium oxide, UF₆, and finally the refinery).
- The production line is relatively low in vehicle demand—perhaps only two or three trucks are needed.
- Why It Works:
- Nuclear fuel is exceptionally cash-positive and handles large volumes efficiently, making it ideal for surviving the financial pressures of Season X.
3. Research, Research, Research
An important consideration is the role of research in these calculations:
- Free Industries:
- With research turned off, industries like Fabric, Clothing, Food, Alcohol, and Explosives are “free.”
- However, once research is enabled, you lose that benefit, and the research tree becomes a significant factor.
- Sequential Research:
- Most industries are part of the Technical University Research tree, meaning you can’t significantly speed up the process.
- Research Time:
- For example, research for cars requires 12,800 days before you can build the industry.
- Consider the length of the research tree when making your industry choices.
4. Key Takeaways for Season X
- Fuel Efficiency is Crucial:
- Industries reliant on truck exports are highly sensitive to fuel consumption. Reducing fuel use or switching to trains where possible can drastically improve ROI.
- Synergy Can Boost ROI:
- Combining industries (e.g., Fabric with Clothing) can yield significantly higher returns than running them separately.
- Nuclear Fuel Reigns Supreme:
- Despite high research costs and the need for a full production chain, nuclear fuel offers the highest ROI in my tests—up to 567% when optimized.
- Volume vs. Profit per Worker:
- Some industries, like chemicals, are safe but don’t generate enough cash flow per worker early on. In contrast, vehicle production lines move cash quickly and help with loan repayments.
5. Final Thoughts
In my test run—designed around a city with a shopping center, 2,500 peak population, and 20% unemployment—I discovered that theoretical spreadsheets often overestimate ROI. Real-world inefficiencies such as fuel consumption, transport delays, and imperfect production setups can reduce the expected numbers by up to 30% or more.
For those preparing for Season X’s Peninsula Island Challenge, the numbers suggest that while many industries have potential, nuclear fuel and vehicle production lines offer the most robust returns. Each industry has its nuances, and even a 20–30% difference can mean the difference between survival and financial collapse in the heat of the challenge.
If you’re interested in the detailed spreadsheet and further breakdowns of these numbers, I’ll be making those available exclusively to Patreon and YouTube members when Season X drops its first episode.
Thank you for reading this comprehensive ROI analysis. I hope it helps you plan your strategy and choose the right industries for your Republic. Good luck out there, and I’ll see you next time!
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