Thoughts on Factorio Space Age?

[Dead End]

I love base game Factorio, primarily for building and expanding a sprawling factory.

I do not like Space Age, as it essentially made you build a new factory from scratch each time you explored a new planet. I personally prefer the gameplay of being able to continuously perfect a singular base. I also disliked learning the different gameplay mechanics for each individual planet, as I'd prefer to just hone my railway/factory building ability.

I also dislike the fact that in Space Age, your efforts are divided between 6 disjointed screens (Nauvis, your space platform and the four alien planets). I'd rather be able to admire my efforts on one singular map screen.

That being said, I do appreciate many of the additions 2.0/Space Age made. The addition of the quality system is great, alongside the elevated rails. The QoL improvements are amazing. Many of the technologies Space Age implemented were really cool as well.

 

[ESL]

havent played the space age dlc but the base game was pretty good when i last played it

 

[Dead End]

havent played the space age dlc but the base game was pretty good when i last played it

Yes, the base game is phenomenal. It is my favourite game created. It's my most played on Steam and it's incredibly well built from a technical perspective in terms of optimisation and UI. The gameplay is incredibly streamlined and intuitive as well. The trains are the best part of the game IMO. I never made anything too complicated with them using the rail signal system, but I love watching them drive around and transport cargo between different parts of my factory.

 

[Exhunter45]

I love base game Factorio, primarily for building and expanding a sprawling factory.

I do not like Space Age, as it essentially made you build a new factory from scratch each time you explored a new planet. I personally prefer the gameplay of being able to continuously perfect a singular base. I also disliked learning the different gameplay mechanics for each individual planet, as I'd prefer to just hone my railway/factory building ability.

I also dislike the fact that in Space Age, your efforts are divided between 6 disjointed screens (Nauvis, your space platform and the four alien planets). I'd rather be able to admire my efforts on one singular map screen.

That being said, I do appreciate many of the additions 2.0/Space Age made. The addition of the quality system is great, alongside the elevated rails. The QoL improvements are amazing. Many of the technologies Space Age implemented were really cool as well.

I love space age only problem is price since never goes on discount,you don't start off on new planet from scratch you ship stuff to your space ship and then to the new planet

 

[Exhunter45]

Trains are the most anyoing thing in Factorio since it's hard to set it up

 

[Dead End]

I love space age only problem is price since never goes on discount,you don't start off on new planet from scratch you ship stuff to your space ship and then to the new planet

I meant more like you have to begin a new branch of your factory every time you want to set up on a new planet, even though you can transport supplies. I'd prefer a continuous expansion without having to set up new starter bases. I also didn't like learning the new mechanics for each planet, but that's just me (I'd prefer repetitively engaging with the same mechanics).

Also, the interplanetary logistics/space platforms were probably my favourite part of the DLC.

 

[Cuckoja]

Haven played any of it.

 

[Dead End]

Trains are the most anyoing thing in Factorio since it's hard to set it up

But it's so cool to see them transport materials around your base.

I like how big and fast they are as well and seeing them follow the logistics system: leaving and entering stations predictably, stopping for one another at rail signals, etc. The elevated rails are even cooler I love watching trains travelling over large sections of the factory unimpeded.

I like to sit in the trains and watch them as they go about their activities, it's extremely comfy. Also watching them load and unload is amazing.

 

[Dead End]

Trains are the most anyoing thing in Factorio since it's hard to set it up

But yeah, they are hard to set up once you've begun designing a megabase.

Normal trains running to resource outposts are easy to set up (just rail signals at intersections).

Trying to make modular railway blueprints for a megabase is far more difficult, especially when you have to make components like 4 way intersections that function without collision or gridlock.

I honestly just use the internet for blueprints like that. Too much effort to design it myself, and if I did design a competent solution, it'd be near identical to online blueprints anyways.

 

[Exhunter45]

But yeah, they are hard to set up once you've begun designing a megabase.

Normal trains running to resource outposts are easy to set up (just rail signals at intersections).

Trying to make modular railway blueprints for a megabase is far more difficult, especially when you have to make components like 4 way intersections that function without collision or gridlock.

I honestly just use the internet for blueprints like that. Too much effort to design it myself, and if I did design a competent solution, it'd be near identical to online blueprints anyways.

The problem is train signals is what I struggle with

 

[Dead End]

The problem is train signals is what I struggle with

Makes sense, that's what most people struggle with, but they're not that hard to use (under most circumstances) once you learn the basics. Also, don't bother watching any of those hour long YouTube tutorials, they just overcomplicate things.

Basically:
Normal train signals just divide the tracks into colour coded segments. The signals have directionality which is determined by the side of the rail they are placed on. If the sigal detects the segment in front of it is occupied (has a train in it) or intersects with another occupied segment, it will have its state set to red. If the next segment is unoccupied and doesn't intersect with another occupied segment, the signal will be set to green. When a train approaches the signal, it will either stop or go straight through depending on whether the signal is red or green respectively.

Chain signals effectively do the same thing as normal rail signals, but they read the rail segment two ahead rather than the segment directly ahead.

These are the primary things you need to know about rail signals in order to build basic train networks that don't lead to collisions or blockages.

Also, how many hours do you have in the game and what is your highest SPM base?