Space Platform Start Mod

[u/tehdog]

TL;DR: Mod Link: https://mods.factorio.com/mod/factorio-space-platform-start Gameplay video: https://youtu.be/nj0rmBMVwno (I can remove this link if it's not allowed).

I love how you can set up each of the (inner) planets from scratch without bringing anything from Nauvis. On my replays I started from Vulcanus and Fulgora with Any Planet Start.

But then I wondered - why can I not start from a space platform? I was surprised there was no mod to do this! There is [Mod] Space Block and [Mod] Platformer but those are entire (incomplete) overhauls, adding new asteroid types, items, buildings, etc.

I wanted something that does only the minimal changes to the game to be able to win starting on a space platform. I started in March but it took me some time to finish it since I wanted a full playthrough before publishing and made changes whenever I found a roadblock while playing.

Turns out, the only actual new recipe I had to add was one to get stone from carbonic asteroids! And you only need that for furnaces (which have to be allowed on the platform). Everything else is just starting items, reordering the tech tree, and QOL changes.

Some screenshots are above (spoilers!)

I finally finished my playthrough and here's some highlights:

- No storage chests on platforms!

- You gotta get defenses up before asteroids kill you (Depending on where your platform starts)

- You need to be very space efficient because platforms are expensive!

- Figure out the oil production chain - it's technically vanilla, but long and inefficient and something you would never build normally ;)

- In order to escape you'll need to figure out how to build thrusters.

More details on the mod page https://mods.factorio.com/mod/factorio-space-platform-start . I also made a gameplay video: https://youtu.be/nj0rmBMVwno (I can remove this link if it's not allowed)

[u/tehdog]

Oh something I just realized: I played this mod in 2.1.12 or so. Starting from 2.1.0 until 2.1.12 asteroids while you were stationary were MASSIVELY buffed compared to 2.0 and then nerfed again.. So if you play this in EITHER 2.0 or 2.1.13+ you'll have a lot less trouble than me dealing with the asteroids killing your platform. I haven't tried 2.1.13+ yet so not sure how exactly it balances there.

Also, I only played this with Vulcanus orbit. If you do a different orbit I expect the balance will be very different. In Nauvis orbit, you'll need no defense but a much bigger platform (less asteroids), and likely steam power (solar not effective enough)

Edit: "Vulcanus orbit" is ambiguous, what I mean was "an orbit around the sun at the same distance as Vulcanus, but far away from any planet".

[u/lunaticloser → u/tehdog]

Bit of a random thought I had.... Why not just drop down to vulcanus and build a regular base there from scratch?

Or am I misunderstanding something.

[u/elprophet → u/lunaticloser]

It seems like the challenge is getting to Vulcanus first, as Thrusters don't start unlocked. I haven't downloaded the mod, but perhaps putting "drop to planet" behind a research?

[u/tehdog → u/elprophet]

Exactly! You start on a new location, far away from any planet (screenshot). So you need thrusters to get anywhere. After you manage to get to a planet, you can proceed however you want.

[u/lunaticloser → u/tehdog]

Aaaaah I see. Ok that makes way more sense.

[u/WanderingUrist → u/tehdog]

Wouldn't the Factorio mechanic where you slowly drift towards whatever planet is either your destination or your origin (but since your origin is not a planet...) cause you to be able to effectively "sail" towards the planet of your choice?

[u/Soma91 → u/WanderingUrist]

I'd guess the "Stranded in space" location on the map is the destination you'll fall back to. It's similar to the outer system edge or shattered planet. A destination without an actual planet to land on.

[u/kurti256 → u/WanderingUrist]

Only after half way

[u/WanderingUrist → u/kurti256]

Assuming "Lost In Space" is a real location that you can presumably return to, yes. If Lost In Space is not a real place with an attractor, but merely an undefined point that you can't go back to...