We publish verified current-version data instead of the biggest possible wiki: each fact is graded, each page must pass Search · Data · Content · Freshness gates, and quantity figures we cannot confirm for 1.0 are labeled rather than guessed. Numbers without badges are not silently repeated from Early Access.
Evidence grades
Sources are graded like editorial newsrooms — highest grades publish as current facts; lower grades only guide what to verify.
| Grade | Source type | Use |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Current in-game UI / direct gameplay | Exact recipes, quantities, unlocks |
| A2 | Official current patch notes / developer statement | Version changes, additions, fixes |
| B | Current reproducible gameplay test | Mechanics, throughput, edge cases |
| C | Multiple current community reports | Problem discovery, hypotheses |
| D | Third-party wiki / calculator / guide | Leads and SERP research only |
| H | Historical Early Access source | Version history only |
| X | Conflicting evidence | Re-verification required |
Version dependency
| Level | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| V0 | Stable identity | Entity name/existence |
| V1 | Normal gameplay | Recipe quantity, unlock path |
| V2 | Balance-sensitive | Craft time, rate, price, research cost |
| V3 | Launch-sensitive | Workbench migration, old saves, current bugs |
The four-gate publishing model
A page is indexed only when it passes all four gates. “Thin encyclopedia entry” is not enough — the page must have a search task, verified data, real content depth and freshness.
- Search — an independent query exists that this URL best answers.
- Data — the underlying numbers are verified or explicitly flagged.
- Content — the page is substantive, not a database row dressed as an article.
- Freshness — version-sensitive facts match the current build.
Roadmap
- Wave 1 (live): Wiki hub, Cauldron wiki + formulas, How Cauldron Works, Achievements.
- Wave 2 (live): Research (+order), Workbench & Catapult troubleshooting, Beginner path.
- Wave 3: expanded recipe reference and item pages as 1.0 verification completes.
- Tools (later): Cauldron calculator and production planner reuse verified wiki data — they are enhancements, never the center of the product.
How we expand
Expansion is driven by real search exposure, not a pre-generated checklist: impressions on an existing page update that page first; a distinct recurring intent earns a new page; low CTR improves titles; no demand means we stop investing. Entity-specific pages require both a data gate and a search gate.
Corrections and verified observations are welcome. See the privacy page for site information.
Independent fan reference for Alchemy Factory. Game data refers to the current official 1.0 build (Steam, PC). Field-level evidence is flagged on each page with OFFICIAL / OBSERVED / COMMUNITY badges; amounts shown without a badge come from the official 1.0 patch notes or store descriptions.