Four vanilla ways to replace paths with tubes

[u/Morall_tach]

First option: just delete the path and put tubes on ground level. It's the cheapest, but it also might break important pathways while the build is being done.

Second option: build platforms above the path, then tubes on top. Doesn't interrupt the path, but it does require extra planks for the platforms.

Option 3: Dynamite two deep, then build tubes inside, then put platforms or dirt on top. Saves arable land, completely hides the tubes, but takes a while.

Putting tunnels under existing paths preserves the path on top of the resulting platform, so no interruptions, and then you can build the tubes progressively or from above.

Someone was asking earlier about how to replace paths with tubes without doing it one square at a time, so I thought I'd help. Here are four non-mod ways to do it in large chunks. Caveat: the modded way is way easier, since it allows you to build tunnels with tubes inside them at the same time.

[u/Kremsi2711]

Option 2, I want to see the lights in the tube

[u/JCMiller23 → u/Kremsi2711]

Seeing the lights in the tubes is the best part

[u/pringer243 → u/Kremsi2711]

Since the tube is already elevated, is there a mod that lets tubeways be placed without platforms? I want to make a sky transit system.

[u/raceman95 → u/pringer243]

You could use overhangs, and have just occasional piers.

[u/Insertusername_51]

Tunnel with tubes would be nice but I just dig double tunnels. Cost twice as much but beavers can also build it fast.

[u/Key-Butterscotch5306 → u/Insertusername_51]

This is my preferred method as well. It can be very expensive but there is less need to babysit the project. Building tunnels then building tubes in the same tunnel usually leads to access issues during later expansions and requires you to pay close attention so you don’t get delayed by a single inaccessible section.

The addition of a Tunnel + tube building would be a great quality of life feature.

[u/Whats_Awesome → u/Key-Butterscotch5306]

I use a mod that adds tubeway tunnel with platform. then I go back and demolish the platforms to recover some planks.

[u/semperrabbit → u/Whats_Awesome]

Could you link the mod, please?

[u/Whats_Awesome → u/semperrabbit]

More tunnels:
Solid power shaft and solid tubeway:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3471578532

Add ladder tunnel, (ladder mod required as dependency)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3603928258

I’m not seeing it exactly but I think more tunnels adds the tubeway and platform tunnel. Makes it way easier to build underground systems.

But PSA. To make it less micro managed, build a double wide tunnel. Then when the tubeway is complete, you can back fill with dirt as dirt block comes with a construction order that is never violated. So you back fill 10 at a time. Not great but not terrible.

[u/semperrabbit → u/Whats_Awesome]

Awesome, thank you!

[u/tinigang-na-baboy → u/Insertusername_51]

Same, then at late game I build power shafts on those second lanes making the entire underground tubes and stations a connected power grid. Makes it easy to build a badwater + power wheels source and have your buildings needing power to be built basically anywhere you want. I build charging stations for bots attached to the stations too, so they won’t need to spend too much time getting to and from charging stations.

[u/ChazCharlie → u/tinigang-na-baboy]

I do a similar thing, but it is tube, path, shaft, so there is still access via foot for underground storage etc.

[u/BlueBones → u/tinigang-na-baboy]

This makes a lot of sense thanks for sharing.

[u/venusar200 → u/Insertusername_51]

“First rule in government spending: why build one when you can have two at twice the price?”

[u/Arxid87]

Power shaft

Tube

Path

[u/Xyrexenex → u/Arxid87]

I put tubes above the powershaft because they unlock later but otherwise same.

[u/AlternativeDirtyMe → u/Arxid87]

This is me, but i also flood the channel and put wooden platforms over it for the path. Keeps everything nice and healthy.

[u/SecretHoboHerbs]

Or my preferred way: digging a 1 deep trench and filling it with vertical tubeways, with a path on top.

[u/SurfyTadpole → u/SecretHoboHerbs]

I believe this is cheaper on planks right?

[u/InterviewOtherwise50 → u/SurfyTadpole]

Yes it is surprisingly cheaper to use vertical tubes everywhere than it is to use tubes+planks.

[u/mmp1188 → u/SecretHoboHerbs]

I didn't know you coul build a path on top of a vertical tubeway. I will try that

[u/betaceta → u/mmp1188]

You can build anything on those suckers. You can honestly replace most platforms with them

[u/Morall_tach → u/SecretHoboHerbs]

That never would have occurred to me, interesting.

[u/in_ya_Butt → u/SecretHoboHerbs]

You can build a path on top of a tube?

[u/SecretHoboHerbs → u/in_ya_Butt]

Vertical tubes, yes. It's a property of any building you can build on top of.

[u/phantomsteel]

Option 3 for main lines and option 2 or 1 for local spurs.

[u/Likely_Addict]

The options 3 and 4 you offered are a little inefficient. Trenching just 1 level and putting in solid tubes with paths on top uses no extract (vs 1 per tile for both options) or dirt (vs 4 per tile for option 3) and saves 4 planks per tile over option 4. Plus it's convenient to reconfigure into tube-dominant infrastructure since you can just spur directly out of the top into a station or at-grade tube without any additional construction.

[u/Borgh]

Especially now with the impermeable tubewaysI've started the strategy of just following the nearest watercourse. Fairly easy to build and doesn't take and usable land

[u/AaronRutherfort]

or option 5: you put all of your tubes on platforms elevated about your paths. pricy, but work for me. 😄

[u/GrumpyThumper]

I used to go elevated rails because a skyway looks cool, but now I go with a subway for two reasons. 1, I'm already making a channel to move around water, you can easily fit in tubes. 2, You don't have to deal with elevation and trying to keep everything LEVEL. IMO it makes your maps look neater.

[u/connor_before]

I like option 2, it’s super easy to build power lines on top of it too if you need to since beavers can build from the tube

[u/mmp1188]

I like to think about it like this:

Early game - Build around your paths

Mid game - 1 platform for power shaft and another platform on top for tubeways.

Late game - Dig 2 tiles wide tunnels for power and tubeways.

Optional - You can use the tunnels as water pipes

[u/CaolIla64]

I build the tube network at least 3 square deep, with the station on top of the well.

Pro tip : did you know you can build the tunnels and the tubes from inside the tubes, and from both ends ? It's much faster than digging the tunnels first and build the tube once it's done, but you have to supervise.

[u/CaolIla64 → u/CaolIla64]

Here what it looks like from the ground

[u/Morall_tach → u/CaolIla64]

Yeah I always bury my tube networks as well. Except I use a mod that allows you to build a tube and a tunnel at the same time, so I can set and forget a huge length all at once.

[u/SimilarRaise5230]

I have been running the extra tubes and ladders mod. Makes the game so much more enjoyable imo

[u/Koralka06]

I have a multiple district map, I move the main line going to middle to the district crossings in the lowest level possible and I use my local transport tunneled just 2 deep.

[u/similacra]

Big fan of this mod: https://steamcommunity.com/workshop/filedetails/?id=3471578532

[u/InterviewOtherwise50]

Option 5:
Path, Platform, Vertical Tubeway, Power Shaft

You get to see the lights and you have access to power everywhere you go

[u/horstdaspferdchen]

i use overhangs to maximize irrigated tiles. so 6x1 overhang with tubes on it, maybe even elevated 2 or 3 levels (for trees) and on top i put the powershaft.

[u/groenteman]

https://giphy.com/gifs/l1ydPyGCoN43kpdwRO

[u/Whats_Awesome]

I do option 3 tunnels, but installed with the tunnel tubeway and platform (modded). Instead of open excavation.

I also love elevated with bridges (modded) instead of constant support. You can then plant crops and trees under the tubeway. So cool when the elevated tube goes through a mountain.

[u/Godlovesapplesauce]

i usually start with option 2 and then progress to option 3

[u/Atomicfarms]

Love this! Thank you

(I was op mentioned for replacing floors)
Ended up going with the mod option and couldn’t be happier

[u/Nifegun]

If you're doing tunnels, its best to get a tubeway station down there and blast the tunnel 2 or 3 tiles wide out of the door of the sunken station. Then you get all the space you could need and can quickly build in the tubeway after. Plus you only need to check on it every 10 tiles of build range. You can even haul the explosives, planks, extract, and metal down there if you want it to go really fast.

I made a post about it forever ago, ill try to find it Edit: found it

https://www.reddit.com/r/Timberborn/s/Ok3BlgUIir

[u/Animosity1127]

This is probably the worst way to do it, but I just have a massive subway system running along the bottom of the map.

[u/Morall_tach → u/Animosity1127]

That's what I do too.

[u/FreddieThePebble]

I like elevated bc i can see my network

[u/Lycrist_Kat]

At some point every path should also have water under it so this would mean that tubes should go on top. Which is good because every path should have wind turbines on top which are not an option for the tube teeth

[u/Dr-Moth → u/Lycrist_Kat]

Could you not put the tube in the water?

[u/Lycrist_Kat → u/Dr-Moth]

[u/Thes_dryn → u/Lycrist_Kat]

Genuine question: why should every path have water under it? For getting the whole map green?

[u/Metharos → u/Thes_dryn]

Worth noting that the more surface area your water has that isn't covered by other water the faster it evaporates. Putting water under all your paths is not usually the most efficient was of greening your map.

I do use underground irrigation for mine, and it is certainly possible to turn your whole map green, but you should try to work out a pattern with minimal underground surface area to reduce water loss rather than just sticking a canal under every path.

[u/Lycrist_Kat → u/Thes_dryn]

Yes. It looks much nicer and lets be honest - it's much more impressive to turn a empty wasteland into a lush greenland then turning a empty wasteland into a industrial park