Factory layout for noobs

[Kastrolus]

Hi, i am sort of new to the game, and i am trying to build a factory with multiple floors, i need to make basicaly everything basic from screws and plates, to rotors, reinforeced plates, smart plating, modular frame, etc. i am also starting to get into the steel production so also that, but my question is, maybe i could have on 1st floor smelting area, and on 2nd floor the basic stuff like screws and plates etc. and 3rd floor maybe the more "advanced" stuff like the rotors and smart plating ect. but with this approach it would get spaghettified quickly, but idk maybe i am saying nonsense, i never played factory games before, so i dont really know what i am doing :D anyone got some ideas how can i lay out on what floor goes what?

[Vectorspace]

It depends on how you want to build.

You could go the megabase approach, where you have one giant building doing everything

You could go for interconnected factories scattered around the map that feed each other by belt, train, drone, etc.

You could do stanfalone factores. Where e.g. you have one standalone factory that makes iron plates for your personal use, and another standalone that makes reinforced iron plates and all the intermediary parts it needs (i.e. iron ore in, reinforced plates out).

Or you can place anything anywhere in one big spaghetti blob 😁

Me, I do a mix of standalone and intercomnected. I have standalone factories that make items mostly from raw resources, but in some cases where that is not practical I'll bring in some premade parts from other factories.

If you browse YouTube you will find examples of all of these. Watch a few, and see which feels good to you.

[Kastrolus]

Originally posted by Vectorspace:

It depends on how you want to build.

You could go the megabase approach, where you have one giant building doing everything

You could go for interconnected factories scattered around the map that feed each other by belt, train, drone, etc.

You could do stanfalone factores. Where e.g. you have one standalone factory that makes iron plates for your personal use, and another standalone that makes reinforced iron plates and all the intermediary parts it needs (i.e. iron ore in, reinforced plates out).

Or you can place anything anywhere in one big spaghetti blob 😁

Me, I do a mix of standalone and intercomnected. I have standalone factories that make items mostly from raw resources, but in some cases where that is not practical I'll bring in some premade parts from other factories.

If you browse YouTube you will find examples of all of these. Watch a few, and see which feels good to you.

Okay thank you very much for info, standalone and intercomnected sounds good to me and fun, i will try playing that way, thank you for info :)

[Vectorspace]

Individual factories are also much easier to change and expand, compared to a floor of a larger building

[Kastrolus]

Originally posted by Vectorspace:

Individual factories are also much easier to change and expand, compared to a floor of a larger building

Okay thanks :)

[RadioIesbian Fluid]

Keep it simple in the beginning. you will most likely be tearing and rebuilding once you reach mid-late game.

As you play you can kinda get a feel for your preferred playstyle. Be it smaller factories or make a mega one. Both will require extensive logistics and have pros and cons. If you have a low-mid spec PC then you prob would prefer to space the factories out as a mega factory can severely impact your framerates.
If you want to build vertically, then incorporating a logistics floor every two floors can be very helpful to avoid a lot of spaghetti.

example:
3: Assemblers
2.5:Logistics Floor
2: Constructors
1: Smelters/Miners (ground floor).

[Kastrolus]

Originally posted by RadioIesbian Fluid:

Keep it simple in the beginning. you will most likely be tearing and rebuilding once you reach mid-late game.

As you play you can kinda get a feel for your preferred playstyle. Be it smaller factories or make a mega one. Both will require extensive logistics and have pros and cons. If you have a low-mid spec PC then you prob would prefer to space the factories out as a mega factory can severely impact your framerates.
If you want to build vertically, then incorporating a logistics floor every two floors can be very helpful to avoid a lot of spaghetti.

example:
3: Assemblers
2.5:Logistics Floor
2: Constructors
1: Smelters/Miners (ground floor).

Ok, thank you

[PsYcHo_O]

Plan a lot of space for logistics! If you go vertical, You will probably need a few splitters / mergers to sort all your stuff and distribute it further between your floors. I use a combination of logistics floors and a central utility shaft for taller factories.

[stoomgamer]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2336354128
this man has made several videos like this for different items,
just posted the link for information purpose

as for me, i make several standalone factories not exactly like these but in a simple version.
as an example: in my iron factory (utilising 3 iron nodes) i make screws, iron rod, iron plates, rotors, reinforced iron plates and modular frames. my copper factory (utilising 1 copper node) makes wires, cables and copper sheets. i also have a steel factory making steel pipes, steel beams and encased steel beams (this uses 1 coal, 1 limestone and 2 iron nodes).

[Kastrolus]

Originally posted by stoomgamer:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2336354128
this man has made several videos like this for different items,
just posted the link for information purpose

as for me, i make several standalone factories not exactly like these but in a simple version.
as an example: in my iron factory (utilising 3 iron nodes) i make screws, iron rod, iron plates, rotors, reinforced iron plates and modular frames. my copper factory (utilising 1 copper node) makes wires, cables and copper sheets. i also have a steel factory making steel pipes, steel beams and encased steel beams (this uses 1 coal, 1 limestone and 2 iron nodes).

Okay, thank you very much for info, it clarified it for me, as a noob it was overwhelming and now i understand it better, this isnt just for you, but for all of you guys, thank you everyone :)

[stoomgamer]

Originally posted by Kastrolus:

Okay, thank you very much for info, it clarified it for me, as a noob it was overwhelming and now i understand it better, this isnt just for you, but for all of you guys, thank you everyone :)

we've all been there once, glad we could help a new pioneer

[BuildBrain27]

Originally posted by Kastrolus:

maybe i could have on 1st floor smelting area, and on 2nd floor the basic stuff like screws and plates etc. and 3rd floor maybe the more "advanced" stuff like the rotors and smart plating ect. but with this approach it would get spaghettified quickly, but idk maybe i am saying nonsense, i never played factory games before, so i dont really know what i am doing :D anyone got some ideas how can i lay out on what floor goes what?

I think this is a good idea but plan ahead.
Try painting the floor to visualize where everything goes.

[Private]

The noob in me says build on a flat surface to start. Get use to how you need to connect different machinery together. Ignore trying to build a fancy base to start, that will come later.

Early game goals are fairly simple and easy to manage, but the game will quickly scale up the difficulty. DO NOT GET FRUSTRATED! Part of the fun of the game is figuring out how to make things more efficient.

I also have several full creative mode games saved to try new building techniques that I then move to my full game. When I get to a point that I am not satisfied with my base, I go back into full creative and try some changes. And with over 2500 hours in the game, I still find myself learning new tricks in creative that then I translate to my regular game.

And while others may disagree with my approach, that's fine. I don't play their way either and we are both right.

[PegasusJF]

My current base is going to be mostly mega factory. I'm in the highlands so my first thing after basic construction was to lay from the flatlands near the canyon heights to the lake. It's pretty big. Not sure if it will be big enough.

My previous run (same start) had several interconnected buildings.

[Ultima]

As you progress through the game, you may unlock new items, new belts, new recipe who knows ?

Be sure you will either:
- rebuild everything to update/upgrade/expand your factories
- move to a new location because you don't want to rebuild
You can't escape that.
When you start with belts MK1 and unlock belts MK2 you have to rebuild everything to optimize. Mid/late game Tiers will do the same.

So based on that, you can choose your preference in building big or not.
As a new pioneer, you may not like to erase/redo an entire floor of a mega factory. So I'd advice you to build small factories at first.
And when you feel confident, you should start a bigger factory.

The game itself will help you with that, since you unlock more and more harder recipes.
You should probably wait these moments to build big and enjoy the possibility to build small right now ;).

----------

That been said. It also depends of which kind of player you are.
1) Some people enjoy building big, e.g. crafting 20 reinforced iron plates / minute. But this is definitely not needed to "finish" the game.
2) Some people like to go through Tiers and Phases faster, and then just build what's needed in order to unlock and enjoy new content quicker.

If you are 1), you can either go mega factories or not so early, since you probably will not care about requirements for Tiers and Phases. You will have 10.000 items when 300 are needed, and you will be happy with that. Patience is key.
That way, some people conclude Phase 3 after 500 hours and are totally fine with that.

If you are 2), you may prefer not spend hours to build a mega factory for 'low' tier items, and just build small early on. And only build big when it will be necessary.
That way, some people finish the entire game and exploit all the content in about 200 hours and are totally fine with that.

[curtyuiop]

I think you're being too modest. You actually know very well what you're doing and what works well and what doesn't. Cheers to you, don't let the influence of others affect you too much. Be your own artist of a gigantic factory that you can call your own. Don't be shy to shy away from all help, go forth my satisfied one, go forth.