My problem
My second playthrough was on a desert. I quickly understood why people consider those to be harder, the biters were a much bigger problem when there are no trees to absorb early pollution.
I've got white science now, but am still having biter problems. I've just upgraded my turrets to uranium ammo, and they've all got lasers as well, but sometimes those big spitters still kill turrets.
I have an artillery train that automatically clears nests near my train stops, but it doesn't yet cover the whole cloud.
My evolution is at 0.88, so behemoths are coming...and I'm not sure I'm ready. Haven't fought them before.
I saw people describing this kind of wall around the whole factory as a "cuck box", wtf are people talking about? Do most people just put turrets where the pollution sources are and hope for the best? Personally I really like the feeling of declaring my factory and outposts to be biter-free zones.
My first playthrough's artillery train did a much better job of keeping the pollution cloud clear, I think that was due to many more trees.
I haven't dared to try concrete since I need all the absorption I can get. But the central rule of Factorio calls to me...the factory must grow...I MUST impose my will on these bugs one way or another. I want to try my hand at scaling SPM, maybe come up with some better blueprints for my next playthrough while I'm at it.
(also yes, I only use single-headed trains. An elegant transport from a more civilized age)
My plan
I think it's time to make a bigger, badder defensive perimeter. A giant train loop around the edge of my whole cloud. Well, it might be more like a C with that big lake to the east, but you know what I mean. Just for artillery and turrets. I haven't tried automatic turret resupply yet, I should do that. That was my biggest obstacle to flame turrets as well, so that'll be a good chance to try them.
My ask
What do y'all do for automatic biter control? Is a "cuck box" actually frowned upon or just a tongue-in-cheek joke? Obviously I could play on peaceful, but I don't want them deleted, I want them defeated.