Bot Count Question

[IgNorrinRadd]

I’m doing a Space Age playthrough and I’m using the bot network more than I have in the past. I’m curious if you all have a maximum number of logistic bots that you try to stay under per planet?

For example, on Gleba, I have ~600 logistic bots at the moment. I’m planning to expand production and I’m wondering if I can double my current bot count, or if I should start trying to incorporate more belt-based logistics. I’m asking so I can prevent my frame rate from dropping below 60.

[Liro Raériyo]

isnt the correct answer "as few as possible" whenever possible?

[knighttemplar1960]

The answer is... it depends. If you played 1.1 the updates in 2.0 to bots improve bot performance and overall UPS conservation by 15-25% according to dev testing during the closed beta. There have been other patches post release that help also but the biggest thing that saves UPS from 2.0 may be the changes to the fluid system.

In my current play through I have over 6,000 bots on Fulgora, 3,000 on Nauvis, 1,000 on Vulcanus, and about 500 on Gleba with no loss of frame rate. In 1.1 I would have all ready had a some mild performance issues.

[argrond]

Imo, if you have avg count of logistic bots more than 1000 of actively used ones, you are definitely doing something wrong.
It's not even fps matter, just, the more bots you use, the less effective each bot becomes.
So, I'd rather use more belts. They demand serious planning in great scales, but give you much better, foreseen result.

[malogoss]

Unless your computer is a potato, bots won't be a problem in a casual play through. By casual, I mean not aiming for 10k science per minute early on. 600 bots is nothing. You could do everything with bots whenever possible (well, maybe not mining, but idk), you'll easily beat the game with less than 1k SPM and keep UPS at 60. Especially with all the new buildings available that are like 4x better than the old buildings. 1k SPM in SA must be less taxing on a PC than 400 SPM in the old 1.1 if I had to guess, even with the new science packs. In fact, my old PC was an absolute potato and 1k SPM all with bots in 1.1 did not hurt UPS at all.

[IgNorrinRadd]

Thanks for the advice. The only planet that relies heavily on logistic bots for me is Gleba. With the spoilage mechanic, that planet feels almost tailor-made for bots.

I played Factorio a lot while in early access and have only just now gotten back to it. Based on the replies here, it sounds like a lot of my concerns have been alleviated in 2.0. I would like to start retooling my science production to get much higher SPM. I’m around 350 right now and I’m on Aquilo. My plans are: make legendary items, improve my SPM to at least ~1k, then shattered planet and promethium science. Seems like continuing to heavily rely on bots on Gleba won’t be an issue.

[Chindraba]

Naw, used with reason and discretion bots shouldn't be an issue.

As an example, when I had a potato running 1.1 I had occasion to start a massive rebuilding project. Launched over 40K bots in a wave. The UPS did take a hit, but not much. With a decent modern (not 2012) computer I'd probably not have even seen an impact. The optimizations for 2.0 just blow that out of the water.

[oyssoyss]

bot number is not problem. with you base grows the number should grow with it.

if your bots diverge far from its delivery destination for recharging that's something wrong.

[Judge Dread]

I have a middle of the line computer at this point, and I can have like 20k bots active and the performance hit from them specifically is pretty minimal.

[robert225]

You can read number of available (ie currently not doing anything) bots of each type from a Roboport, and use wires to release more into the Roboport network when these outputs go below a certain number. (Currently I have this set to 100 Logistic Bots and 200 Construction) This way you will always have enough bots and a small surplus while your factory grows.

[Liwet]

I try to always have a certain minimum number and add more to the network when I drop below that minimum.