In Frostpunk, the choice between coal thumpers and coal mines is pivotal for managing your city’s coal production effectively. Each option carries distinct benefits and limitations based on daily coal output, efficiency, manpower requirements, and resource costs.

Detailed Comparison

1. Daily Coal Output:
– Coal Thumper: A basic coal thumper provides approximately 560 coal per day, while a steam coal thumper can escalate productivity to 1120 coal per day.
– Coal Mine: In contrast, a coal mine yields around 240 coal per day when staffed primarily with engineers on extended shifts. This stark difference signifies that coal thumpers are the more productive option in terms of raw output.

2. Manpower Requirements:
– Coal Thumper: Requires 10 workers to operate. Although it is efficient in output, the continuous demand for workers can become a challenge, especially as the city grows.
– Coal Mine: Also requires 10 workers (ideally engineers), but generally implies a more stable workforce demand. Given its comparative efficiency in manpower usage, it is often more sustainable in larger cities with limited worker availability.

3. Resource Requirements:
– Coal Thumper: Has a low cost in terms of resources for construction, needing just about 15 wood, and does not require Steam Cores, making it accessible in the early game.
– Coal Mine: Involves a high initial investment with requirements for steel and wood, alongside needing 3-4 Steam Cores for construction and automation. This can be a significant resource drain in the early to mid-game stages.

4. Research Level Needed:
– Coal Thumper: Available from Tier 0 technology, making it one of the first options players can unlock.
– Coal Mine: Classified under Tier 1 technology, requiring more time and research effort to access.

5. Efficiency & Automation:
– Coal Thumper: More efficient in terms of daily coal production and can utilize automatons effectively to scale output without straining the worker population.
– Coal Mine: Although less productive initially, it becomes more efficient when automated with engineers or automatons, but this requires a substantial number of Steam Cores for upgrades.

6. Space & Upgrade Considerations:
– Coal Thumper: Requires more physical space to operate. While it is more productive, its demand for manpower and space needs careful management.
– Coal Mine: More compact and manages manpower requirements effectively, particularly once resources like steel and wood are secured.

7. Use of Automatons:
– Coal Thumper: Automatons can handle thumpers very well, often surpassing engineers in coal collection rates, enhancing overall production capacity.
– Coal Mine: Automated mines perform efficiently on their own, especially at higher levels, but they are comparatively more dependent on Steam Cores for their functionality.

Strategic Consideration

Summary:
The decision hinges on your current city resources and strategic goals:

– If manpower is abundant but Steam Cores are limited: Coal thumpers should be the preferred choice. Their higher output compensates for the increased worker demands, allowing you to gather significant amounts of coal quickly.

– If Steam Cores are plentiful and you wish to reduce the burden on your worker population: Opting for coal mines with automatons becomes advantageous. Once properly automated and upgraded, they offer more sustainable management of resources and workforce.

Player experiences consistently support the notion that coal thumpers lead in overall coal production capacity (560 to 1120 coal per day) compared to coal mines’ 240 coal per day, despite the latter’s more stringent requirements for Steam Cores and research investments.

In conclusion, evaluating your city’s specific circumstances and resource distribution will guide you in maximizing your coal production efficiency effectively.