Train Roboport

[[SOM] † GrueSauvage]

Wouldn't it be nice to have a roboport embedded in a train which activates only when the train stops so you could automatically build bases or deliver goods without going through a deposit station ?

[BitterSwede]

Or you could use the personal roboports for just that purpose. You need to physically be there to control the train if the track isn't laid yet, or to put down a station if you want to send it automatically anyway, so if you're there, why not just let your own personal robots do that work?

[Jupiter3927]

I think Grue wants the base to be able to repair itself but only when a train comes to repair it.

I just plop down a regular roboport and a stack of bots and repair packs and that lasts longer than the base usually.
You can sacrafice 2 slots in 1 car and use filter inserters to constantly resupply your base with repair materials if you really need to.

For the base building bit, I have my own personal train filled with all the construction bits and ride around in that whenever I need something built really far away.
It would be nice to have that bit completely automated but it would be an easy target for any biters walking around.
It breaks the tedium of optimizing everything when you go out to build a new outpost too.

I can't see the developers adding this without adding some way for a train to defend itself and a large area around the train.

[piccolo255]

Kind-of already done; there are several mods that add grids to vehicles, in which you can put stuff like personal laser defenses and roboports. One of them is Vehicle Grid[mods.factorio.com].

Not limited to stopped trains, however.

[[SOM] † GrueSauvage]

@BitterSwede, It was about pure lazyness (what the game is about X) ), I want to seat in a place and just monitor everything remotely with blueprints and as little micro as possible but yeah, currently I'm doing what you and @Jupiter do.
@Piccolo, thanks for the mod I'm gonna look into it ;)

[BitterSwede]

Originally posted by GrueSauvage:

@BitterSwede, It was about pure lazyness (what the game is about X) ), I want to seat in a place and just monitor everything remotely with blueprints and as little micro as possible but yeah, currently I'm doing what you and @Jupiter do.
@Piccolo, thanks for the mod I'm gonna look into it ;)

But still, how are you getting the train where you need it if you're not in it or at the destination in person?
You could pop a station down with a robot, but then you'd already have roboport coverage of the area...

A thing I think would be far more advantageous would be a Active Provider Cart, an entire cart that acts like an Active Provider Chest, so you don't need to do the extra step of unloading the cart and then have the robots taking it from chests... Maybe that could work for your intentions as well?

[Warlord]

Originally posted by BitterSwede:

A thing I think would be far more advantageous would be a Active Provider Cart, an entire cart that acts like an Active Provider Chest, so you don't need to do the extra step of unloading the cart and then have the robots taking it from chests... Maybe that could work for your intentions as well?

Interesting. With a train-based roboport and a "provider wagon", all you need is the ability to place a station remotely (or allow temporary "GOTO" orders) and you can build almost anything with the right blueprint and a well-supplied builder train.

[Hedning]

One roboport has enough build range to expand the network with one more robopport and so on until infinity. Create a single enormous logistic network and cover everything with radars. Now you can sit in one place and build everything from map view.

[[SOM] † GrueSauvage]

Originally posted by BitterSwede:

Originally posted by GrueSauvage:

@BitterSwede, It was about pure lazyness (what the game is about X) ), I want to seat in a place and just monitor everything remotely with blueprints and as little micro as possible but yeah, currently I'm doing what you and @Jupiter do.
@Piccolo, thanks for the mod I'm gonna look into it ;)

But still, how are you getting the train where you need it if you're not in it or at the destination in person?
You could pop a station down with a robot, but then you'd already have roboport coverage of the area...

A thing I think would be far more advantageous would be a Active Provider Cart, an entire cart that acts like an Active Provider Chest, so you don't need to do the extra step of unloading the cart and then have the robots taking it from chests... Maybe that could work for your intentions as well?

You pinpointed what I wanted, it's an active providerCart maybe with some restrictions to avoid stupidly fast unloading

@Warlord, "GOTO" actions for trains would be awesome if in addition to it you could place the roboport and start a new base <3

@Hedning, I want to keep separated logistic networks for efficiency sake. That's why I was thinking about a train filled with components able to place a base from a long range. Currently the most efficient and lazy way to do it is to get into the train, move the train to the desired place (You can use FARL if you're lazy :) or just your blueprints if you like the feeling of dropping rails <3) and once you reached your desired place, put a derived stop, put an unloading station (made with a blueprint), include a roboport to the unloading station and set a train connection between your providing base and your "to be built" base.